Gregory Jade 63 Backpack Review
The Gregory Jade 63 ($300) falls in the middle ground between minimalist and fully featured backpacking packs, prioritizing solid durability alongside a ventilated trampoline-style backpanel. We tested it on multi-day trips with loads ranging from 35 to 40 pounds and found that while the suspension system checks all the right boxes on paper, it didn’t quite deliver the comfort we expected in real-world use. It’s a solid pack for moderate loads and rugged trails, but there are stronger options out there if you’re chasing plush padding or maxed-out carrying comfort.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
4 lb. 3.2 oz.
Stated Load Limit
50 lb.
Fabric(s)
400D nylon & polyester
Adjustable Torso
No
# of Pockets
6
Access
Top, front, bottom
Capacities
30, 45, 55, 65L
Included rain cover
No
Pros
Cons
Gregory Jade 63
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.
The Gregory Jade 63 (men’s Zulu 55) has all the right ingredients for a comfortable pack on paper: a 4-millimeter steel perimeter frame, a fiberglass stay, a trampoline-style backpanel, and a stated 50-pound load limit. But in practice, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I typically carry 35 to 40 pounds on multi-day trips, and I still developed welts on both my collarbones and hipbones where the shoulder straps and hipbelt made contact. As someone with a bonier frame who’s prone to pressure points, I found the cushioning too firm and not plush enough to prevent discomfort over longer days.
Compared to similarly priced packs like the Osprey Aura AG LT 65 or the Gregory Deva 60, the Gregory Jade 63 feels underbuilt in the padding department, especially given that it still tips the scales at over 4 pounds. To its credit, the trampoline-style backpanel provided decent airflow and helped keep me from overheating. But overall, I expected better comfort from a backpacking pack in this weight class. I even found Gregory’s lighter Maven 58 to offer a better carry with a more dialed-in fit and cushioning system. If comfort is your top priority, there are stronger options out there.
The Gregory Jade 63 strikes a nice middle ground when it comes to organization—six external pockets plus the main compartment felt streamlined without being overly minimal. Along with the top drawcord, a U-shaped zipper offers full and convenient access to the main compartment, which is great for finding gear buried in the middle of your pack. The Jade also features a separate sleeping bag compartment (with removable divider), three external stretch-mesh pockets, hipbelt pockets, and a removable lid with pockets on both the top and underside. Its features thread the needle between minimalist and maximalist backpacking backpacks—a pared-down hauler like the Hyperlite Southwest 55 forgoes the top lid and secondary access to the main compartment, while a fully featured pack like the Osprey Aura AG 65 tacks on two more pockets on the front for even more organization.
This is no specific dig on the Jade 63, but I’d personally prefer more external pockets to stash quick-access items like a water filter, snacks, headlamp, or rain jacket. Having to stuff all of those into the main compartment—especially when I’m using a pack liner, like I did on a recent trip in New Zealand—makes those access zips pretty much irrelevant. That said, the Jade’s layout is still practical: I put the two stretchy side water bottle pockets to consistent use, loved the hipbelt pockets for trail essentials, and found the large dorsal shove-it pocket to work great for dumping layers on the go. It’s not the most compartmentalized pack I’ve used, but it keeps things manageable and clutter-free.
At 4 pounds 3.2 ounces, the Gregory Jade 63 feels stuck in a bit of a no woman’s land. It’s too heavy to fall in the lightweight or fast-and-light category, but it doesn’t offer the plush comfort or hauling ability I’d expect from a true heavy-duty pack either. On paper, it looks like a full-featured midweight hauler—but once I hit the trail, the carry didn’t live up to the weight.
For reference, the Osprey Aura AG LT 65 weighs an even 4 pounds and offers more comfort. The Maven 58, which is built on similar suspension tech, comes in at just 3 pounds 8 ounces and handles 40+ pounds better in my experience. And if you’re going light, options like the REI Co-op Flash 55 (2 lb. 12 oz.) or Osprey Eja 58 (2 lb. 13 oz.) blow the Jade away in terms of weight-to-performance. For me, the Jade didn’t quite justify its heft, especially given the pressure points I experienced on the trail.
The Gregory Jade 63 is built with 400-denier polyester throughout the pack body and a 420D polyester bottom—materials that feel sturdy in hand and hold up well in rough terrain. This kind of full-pack durability isn’t super common in this weight class (most packs feature thinner bodies alongside the more durable base), and I appreciated it every time I pushed through brushy sections or set the pack down on rocky ground. On a recent bush tramping trip in New Zealand, it felt like a smart choice: the frame stayed solid, the fabric resisted abrasion, and I never felt like I had to baby the pack.
Compared to competitors like the Osprey Eja 58 (100D all over) or REI Co-op’s Traverse 60 (210D with 420D reinforcements), the Jade’s construction inspires a lot more confidence. It’s not quite as overbuilt as the 600D polyester Osprey Renn or as rugged as the all-420D Osprey Ariel, but it strikes a solid middle ground between toughness and weight. Combined with Gregory’s generous warranty, it’s a reassuring option for newer backpackers looking for a pack that’ll hold up for years.
The Gregory Jade 63 doesn’t come with a rain cover, which is always a bit of a letdown—especially for a pack that costs over $200. The body fabric is fairly thick and held off a bit more than a drizzle on one of my early trips, but once the rain picked up, so did the moisture creeping in. Like most polyester packs, the Jade will eventually wet out unless you’ve got some added protection. I always pack a liner or dry bags just in case, but I still think a rain cover should be standard at this price point, especially when brands like Osprey include one with similar backpacking packs. The Jade is built to handle rugged terrain, but if you’re heading into wet conditions, just know you’ll need to bring your own waterproof protection.
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Resale and/or Recycling Services
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The Gregory Jade 63 comes in two women’s sizes (XS/S and S/M) along with a plus-size version. I have a 20-inch torso—right in between a typical small and medium—and went with the small. With the backpanel adjusted to its maximum length via the hook-and-loop system, the fit ended up working reasonably well, though I was definitely at the upper edge of its range. And while the adjustment system gets the job done, it’s not as smooth or intuitive as the slider designs you’ll find on packs like the Osprey Ariel. The rest of the Jade’s straps—load lifters, hipbelt, and sternum—are all functional, but nothing stood out as particularly refined. Overall, I’d call the fit serviceable and decently adjustable, though folks with longer torsos or in-between sizing might need to spend a little extra time dialing it in.
Gregory Maven 58 ($300): The Lighter, More Comfortable Sibling
The Gregory Maven 58 shares a lot of DNA with the Jade 63—they have identical 50-pound load ratings and six external pockets apiece. But in real-world use, the Maven delivers a more comfortable carry in a lighter package. At just 3 pounds 8 ounces, it trims serious weight compared to the over-4-pound Jade, and its padding felt noticeably softer and more forgiving on the trail. Despite lacking the Jade’s trampoline-style backpanel (a hit to airflow), the Maven’s frame and suspension system feel just as stable under load. That said, the Jade is the more durable of the two (the Maven uses a lighter 100D/210D nylon mix), has a bit more capacity, and tacks on a few extras like trekking pole attachments. But if you’ve got a streamlined kit and want to prioritize comfort and weight savings, the Maven 58 is probably the better overall backpacking pack. For more, read our review of the men's Gregory Paragon.
Osprey Aura AG LT 65 ($320): Similar Pack, More Comfort
The Aura AG LT is Osprey's analog to the Jade. It features a similar trampoline mesh/perimeter frame design and is rated to carry up to 40 pounds. In our experience, however, it offers a more comfortable carry experience. The pocket layouts are almost identical, although the Aura's secondary access to the main compartment is via a single zipper on the side, unlike the Jade’s two U-zips. With 210-denier nylon for the main compartment and 500-denier nylon on the bottom, the Aura LT is less durable overall, but some folks might prefer the nylon’s look and feel to the Jade’s polyester. And while it costs $40 more, it also comes with a rain cover. Fit and comfort will largely depend on your body, but in general, we give the edge to the Aura AG LT for its more comfortable ride. For more, read our review of the Aura AG LT 50.
Trampoline-style backpanels are all the rage, and the Jade's hugs the body for a stable carry. It pairs that with exceptional durability and a decent price point, but we were unimpressed with its comfort.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
The Gregory Maven 58 could be the Goldilocks backpacking pack you’ve been looking for: comfy but not too padded, capable but not overbuilt, and just the right weight. It suffers in durability and weather protection, but for a mix of function and comfort at a relatively low weight, it’s a total crowd-pleaser.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Introducing a simplified version of the standard Aura AG for those who believe that less is more. Osprey pared down organization but retained the comfort and support the pack is known for. They could have cut more weight by utilizing thinner materials to justify the “LT” name.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Is the Jade 63 for You?
The Gregory Jade 63 offers decent value and performance for hikers who want to carry medium-heavy weight, prize durability, and don’t want all the bells and whistles that come with more feature-laden backpacking packs. That said, we don’t recommend it for backpackers who prioritize comfort under heavy loads: The padding is firm, the fit takes some dialing in, and the real-world carry doesn’t live up to plush competitors like the Osprey Aura AG or Gregory Deva. If you’re newer to backpacking and plan to keep your pack weight modest, the Jade 63 can work well. But for all-day comfort or max-capacity hauling, there are better tools for the job.
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