Egan Blog

How to: Using the ski/board attachment points on the Targhee and Drift packs

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:11 +0000

It’s about that time, as those of us who live in more northern climes are well aware, for the blower to turn on. People are already hiking for turns in the Wasatch and elsewhere, albeit with caution mode on (hopefully). Those rocks aren’t too deep yet …

Which makes it good timing for a little Gregory gear school, heading into ski season. One of the beauties of Gregory’saward-winning Targheeand Drift ski and snowboard packs is that they carry skis and boards in a few different ways for different situations. However, because there’s a few options for attaching your snow toys, it’s also useful to have primer on the finer details.

Read on for some beta on how all this works.

Perhaps most common these days is the diagonal ski carry on the outside (back) of the pack. In many situations, people prefer this method for carrying skis because it’s very quick to get your skis on and off the pack, so it’s great for a quick boot up a ridge or something like that - basically times when you’re not going to be carrying your skis for hours on end. Since the skis are farther away from your back on the outside of your back, it’s not as optimal in terms of transferring the weight to your body as the more classic A-frame carry (skis attached to the side of the pack, one on either side of the pack). But again, it’s very quick, and you’re not going to notice that much if you’re only carrying your skis for 20 or 30 minutes, or even an hour.

Both the Targhee, Gregory’s full-day touring pack, and the Drift, a smaller version built for riding chairs and shorter backcountry tours, have a quick system for attaching skis vertically. Drop the tails (when the skis are base to base) into the tail loop (shown at right). Then affix the mix body of the ski to the pack by securing the strap higher up on the back of the pack with the buckle, then tightening as shown in the next shot (on left). You’ve then got a secure ski carry. But Gregory takes it one step further.

You’ll note that there’s an extra plastic slider with a tab on this upper strap (right image). Once the skis are securely tightened on the pack, slide this tab tight against the buckle that attaches the skis to the pack (next shot, on left). This locks of the buckle, so it won’t loosen as you walk. There’s nothing more annoying than having to stop and readjust your skis on your pack because the strap that holds them on has loosened, and your skis are flopping back and forth on the pack.

The end result is a super-secure vertical ski carry.

Yes, that is snow on the ground. OK, so maybe we’re a little early …

One thing that’s not visible in these photos, and unique to these ski/board packs, is that Gregory sews in two rods that link the lower loop of webbing for the ski tails (shown in the very first photo above) directly to the frame sheet of the pack. Why do they do that? Because, by linking that piece of webbing to the framesheet, the system more directly transfers the weight of the skis or board into the suspension system, which means the pack carries more comfortably. More on that in a minute …

Next question, how do you transition to carrying a board? If you look at the top strap on the outside of the pack, you’ll notice there are two points at which you can clip the male end of the buckle into the pack - one in the center of the pack, and one on the opposite side of the pack. The one in the center of the pack is located there to accommodate skis. Snowboards, obviously being wider, need a wider attachment point, so for carrying a snowboard, use the attachment point on the opposite side of the pack.

Similarly, there’s a strap at the bottom of the pack that spans the entire width of the back of the pack. Put the tail of a snowboard through the lower loop (photo at left), then attach the upper loop across the midbody of the board (photo at right). Then cinch and secure just as you would with skis, and you’re all set.

Yep, there’s that snow again …

Finally, on the upper strap, there’s one more cool detail. Since there are two points where you can attached that strap, the pack has a way to tuck away the buckleattachment point that’s not in use. Each point has a little sleeve for this purpose, so that the pack exterior remains clean.

In the photos shown here, the buckle at the center of the pack (ski attachment mode) is being tucked away.

Those designers, always thinking …

The final way to carry skis applies to the Targhee only. Since this is a larger pack, and made for longer endeavors, the designers wanted to also offer an A-frame carry option. As already referenced above, the A-frame carry works better when you’re going to have your pack on your back with skis or a board attached for longer periods of time - more than an hour or a few hours at a time. Again, that’s because whenever you can keep weight closer to your back, that weight is going to get transferred to your body more effectively. And then end result of effective load transfer is that you pack will carry more comfortably.

Carrying skis A-frame is perhaps the most straightforward way.

To do it, simply pass each ski tail through the tail loop (image on right), then secure the mid-body of the ski on each side with the loop higher on the side of the pack (left image).

To increase stability, it’s nice to use a ski strap to attach the tips of the skis together over your head.

That’s it. Start walking …

VIA: Gregory Goes There

Atlas is ready for snow, already in the press.

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:56:24 +0000

Backpacker Gear GuideOutside MagazineSierra MagazineFitness Magazine

Ibex Clothing 2011 Sneak Peek: Trendsetting

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:09:16 +0000

or it could be Halloween...

via IbexBuzz

Dart-nuun Reviews Gregory Active Trail

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:45:42 +0000

GREGORY'S ACTIVE TRAIL PACKS ARE DESIGNED FOR ADVENTURE RACING

Written by Cyril Jay-Rayon Created Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2009 16:28

Gregory's Active Trail packs were made for the rigors of trail running, mountain biking, and all those looking to move fast through the backcountry. In essence, the Active Trail line was made for adventure racing.

Five years ago, I was looking for a backpack sponsor for our team. After a lot of research and testing, we concluded that Gregory not only made superb packs but also was committed to innovating in the lightweight and fast moving pack category. Luckily for us, Gregory agreed to support us through our good friend David Egan, owner of Egan & Associates LLC , who distributes Gregory products in the Northwest and Alaska (David also distributes product from 3 other amazing sponsors: Teko, Ibex, and Atlas). Sponsoring a team like ours should only be undertaken by the most confident of companies because we don't treat our gear well when we take it through extreme conditions for days on end, So their commitment to innovation is expressed not only through their sponsorship of a team like ours (where we provide a constant feedback loop), but also through the actions they take every year when coming out with new designs. Some offer improvements on existing proven designs while others are quantum leaps in innovation. 2009 is one of those quantum leap year with the introduction of the Active Trail line.

Diablo

RufusWasatchMiwok

In 2009, we've used the entire line of Active Trail packs. Which pack we use depends mostly on how much gear we have to carry. With the 4 different sizes from the Diablo (or women's Dipsea) 6 L to the Miwok 18 L (or women's Maya at 17 L), you have a lot to work with. My favorite is the Rufus. It's an ideal day pack when you want to move fast and have easy access to gear while still having enough room for the essentials like a rain jacket and plenty of food. I love the mesh bottle holders in the front of the pack. I can put my favorite magic potion in a bottle and access it on the fly while keeping my hydration bladder with only water and nuun. I like the flexiblity of having both a bladder and bottles since I can separate my liquid nutrition better. I also often use one of the front pockets as a garbage holder for things like wrappers. Although I use the Rufus the most, all the packs in the line offer their own benefits. For example, the Miwok comes with an expandable front helmet compartment (you can put anything else there for quick access) which is really convenient. The Miwok also comes with a fleece lined media pocket. Now, that's luxury which we use all the time.

Although each pack in the line offers something a little different, what truly makes the Gregory Active Trail packs standout comes standard with all packs. We've tested all these key features not only during typical trail runs and mountain bike adventures, but also tested in all sorts of varied terrain and conditions found in adventure racing including bushwhacking endless hours in search of elusive checkpoints, coasteering menacing coastlines, canyoneering down intriguing canyons, paddling/riverboarding/rafting open waters, lakes, and rivers, negociating intricate rope courses, and navigating through labyrinth cave systems. And, we've done all this in races that last up to 8 days non-stop from the Australia Outback to the rainforests of Brazil. As we punished our minds and bodies during these adventures, our packs were with us every step of the way. Gregory had our backs covered!

Here are the key features that come standard with all the packs and that matter to us most:

Comfort and Fit
It's not surprising that comfort and fit are paramount to us. The new Active Trail line really shines in this area and really offers what I consider a quantum leap in innovation. With their BioSync™ Technology system, they've really set the bar for form fitting packs. The BioSync™ system allows the pack to conform more closely to your body and move with you. This reduces the bouncing effect found in typical packs while running. This feature alone exhances our comfort level over long hauls in the backcountry. Here's how Gregory explains this revolutionary system:

"The BioSync™ ATS system is inspired by the bio-dynamics of the human body in motion, these packs follow your every move out on the trail. The shoulder harness and pack body are joined together by a set of artificial tendons that allow the harness to stretch into the ideal fit—allowing the suspension to move with the body while in motion. The waistbelt uses the same BioSync™ system, giving you superior range of motion and exceptional fit while the moisture-wicking harnesses and waistbelt ensure you stay dry during your most rigorous trail activities."

In addition to the BioSync™ system here are a few other features that add to the overall comfort and fit:

Aero-Mesh backpanel (this helps keep us cool out there)
Adjustable sternum strap (the strap slides along a mini rail so it's easy to adjust on the fly)
Internal, on-the-fly compression system (another feature that's "on the fly". You can pull on the compression elastic cords to adjust to the size of the cargo you're carrying. Very cool since your cargo space changes as your hydration bladder empties.)

Ease and Speed of Access
As you can imagine, ease of access is paramount to us while racing. The less we have to stop to find stuff, the better. All the packs in the line have big stretch-mesh waistbelt pockets where we put all our essentials we need frequently like bars and supplements. On the bigger packs, the side mesh pockets provide additional storage space without having to open the pack or stop.. The ability to separate our food and other essentials in outer pockets ensures we keep pace during our races. Another time saving feature is the hydration port and sleeve with back fill access. This makes refilling a breeze. Also, their new tube management system connects to your hydration system tube mouth piece and retracts back to the shoulder strap when you've finished drinking. Say goodbye to a bouncing tube!

Durable
Given their lightweight design, these packs are almost indestructible. Althought the fabric is extremely light, it is very durable and handles the elements with ease. Small holes can even reseal themselves with a little rubbing of the fabric. Very cool stuff! Fabric durability is important to us since we frequently rub up against rocks and branches.

Women Specific Fit
Since our sport is coed, it's important that all members of the team are comfortable using their gear. Gregory makes sure that the packs also come in women specific fits which our women genuinely appreciate. Oh, and the women specific colors certainly help them keep their individuality.

The above key features are the reasons we keep trusting Gregory to carry our essential gear and keep us moving fast. I hope you've found this review helpful. If you have any questions, drop us a line. Here

If you like what you've read, check out their line on the Gregory website.

About.com Gives Teko High Marks

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:38:27 +0000

(Monthly Traffic over 43 million)

Teko tekoPOLY Socks
About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Teko tekoPOLY socks are seamless sports socks made of chlorine-free recycled polyester. The sweat-wicking fabric keeps your feet cool and dry, reducing the risk of blisters. The socks are shaped with a heel cup, wide toe area, and semi-fitted instep to help keep the socks in place. They come in men's and women's versions, each shaped for the foot characteristics of each gender. They come in low and minicrew versions. They have light cushioning and won't take up much volume in your shoes. Read more here.

Teko Organic tekoMERINO Wool Sports Socks
About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Teko Organic tekoMerino wool socks are seamless sports socks made of sustainably-grown organic wool and chlorine-free recycled polyester. These washable socks also insulate and manage foot moisture to reduce the risk of blisters. The socks are shaped with a heel cup, toe area, and semi-fitted instep to help keep the socks in place. They come in men's and women's versions, shaped for the foot characteristics of each gender. They have light cushioning and won't take up much volume in your shoes. Read more here.

Looks like you may way to check your stock. Contact your rep to get it done!

Gregory Palisade: Comfort, Stability, and Gargantuan Capacity

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:47:19 +0000

says recent testers in Backpacker Magazine's Fall/Winter 2009 edition:

Got a pile of awkward cold-weather gear to haul? Few packs we've used match this one... On family backpacking trips from Yosemite to the Tetons, our tester credited the hipbelt for the pack's load-bearing success: "The belt is rigid yet amply padded, and because it adjusts to five different angles, I was able to find the perfect fit. Even carrying loads of 70 pounds, I felt like almost all of the weight was channeling directly to my hips-not my shoulders." The smooth and precisely contoured shoulder straps never chafed, even after hours of load humping. "The wide top opening and main compartment swallow a boatload of gear- I never had space issues- and compression straps keep everything from shifting around," he reports.

Gregory VIBE: one little bag.............. SO MUCH ROOM

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:14:08 +0000

I have a problem–I have too many messenger bags for bike commuting. How I got all of them, I am not entirely sure, but last spring when I wandered into the BACKPACKER office and I was offered the Gregory Vibe bag ($96) to test I questioned the need to introduce another bike commuter pack into my life. My wife [a BP staffer] did as well and said that if I held onto the pack for over a month I had to give an old messenger bag to Goodwill. I took the bait.

My initial thoughts upon seeing the pack were not pleasant. First, the Vibe looks like a backpack. Why should I use a backpack when all the cool riders have messenger bags? There was a time, in grade school, when all the cool kids started wearing their backpacks with only one strap –soon everyone else, myself included, started to as well. Eventually, I reached a point in high school or college where I was carrying so many engineering textbooks that I decided fashion over function is a foolish idea.

For me, going from a messenger bag to the Vibe was the same revelation. Suddenly my back and shoulders felt infinitely better post commute. The straps have an ergonomic design to form around your chest while riding; they also contain just enough padding to be comfortable without being overly bulky. Additionally the back has some mesh padding, with a gap along the spinal column, to ease the discomfort of heavy loads.

My next concern was the size of the pack (10.5 x 25 x 46 cm, 835 g). It looked small, and compared to the Novara messenger bag I had been using for the past three years, it was. I typically end up leaving a number of important items at work to lighten my load but to really test the Vibe I filled it with my work clothes, a pair of shoes, a towel, laptop, and a lunch sack. Everything fit in, albeit tightly, and I remembered an overused expression from my father that "anything above the minimum is a waste" (you can argue for yourself when to apply that statement).

My final issue with the pack was the rubber-esque TBU fabric using EPO (Environment Pollution Omitting) technology; I have no idea what that scientifically means other than, apparently, it is all very environmentally friendly (toxin, PVC, and chlorine free) and water resistant. Now, I live in Colorado where it barely rains, so why would I need a super water-resistant pack? But this spring and summer turned out to be the wettest in the last five years in Boulder. The Vibe did an excellent job keeping all my stuff dry, even around the edges—the usual weak spot on most messenger bags. And hopefully the EPO will not show up if I ever have a doping test...

When all of my initial complaints were proven false, the Vibe also surprised me with an unexpected bonus. After more than a month of commuting with it I "discovered" a wondrous side stash pocket. Previously, I stored all my emergency bike repair gear scattered on the bottom of the bag’s main compartment and monopolizing the front organization pocket. The stash pocket is the perfect size to fit a mini-pump, tire levers, multi-tool, and a spare tube freeing the front pocket for its intended duty as my wallet, phone, and keys holder.

If you find my old messenger bag at Goodwill I wish you the best– I am sticking with the Vibe.

–Dan Corbett

You can follow Dan's (usually) clothed outdoor escapades on his blog, climbtrees.com.

via: backpacker.com

Egan & Associates, LLC Supports the Action for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:30:27 +0000

Gregory Targhee backcountry pack wins Outside Magazine 2009/2010 Gear of the Year Award

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:27:04 +0000

Buyer’s Guide Editor calls the Targhee “one of the toughest, most versatile winter packs we’ve seen.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 1, 2009) – Besting a field of more than 20 winter- and ski-specific backpacks, Gregory Mountain Products’ Targhee backcountry ski and snowboard pack this week won an Outside Magazine 2009/2010 Gear of the Year Award.

The Gear of the Y ear Award is announced in the Fall/Winter 2009/2010 Outside Buyer’s Guide, which is out this month and remains available for the duration of the fall/winter season.

"This is one of the toughest, most versatile winter packs we've seen," said Buyer's Guide editor Sam Moulton. "With a 2,100-cubic- inch volume, slick design, and various ski and board carrying options, it proved ideal for everything from quick dawn patrols to all-day tours."

Moulton added that the Targhee’s super-durable, proprietary fabric was another point in its favor.

“This fabric is bomber,” he said. “After four days of constant abuse – including throwing it in the helicopter’s basket and boot-packing up narrow rock chimneys – it still looked brand new.”

The Targhee is the first ski-specific backpack that ties the ski and snowboard carrying system directly to the pack’s suspension for optimal load transfer and the most comfortable carry. It carries skis diagonally, vertically or in the classic A-frame style, and accommodates a snowboard in the vertical position as well. The straps include a lockable attachment point, so skis and boards won’t shift in transit.

Other details include a quick-access shovel pocket with integrated sleeves for climbing skins, a dedicated side pocket that accommodates probes, shovel handles and snowsaws, an insulated shoulder harness sleeve to prevent hydration tubes from freezing, and a unique zippered top access. That main zippered access is a cross between a traditional top loader and a panel loader, works great in the snowy environments for which the Targhee was designed, and allows access with skis or a board strapped to the pack. A thermo-molded back panel, drainage holes in the compartments for snow safety tools, a waist-belt pocket and a gear loop cap the details. MSRP: $199.

The Targhee is available in small, medium and large frame sizes for optimal fit.

About Gregory Packs

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2007, Gregory Packs has been the longtime leader in expedition, backpacking and day packs. Gregory is world-renowned for setting durability, comfort and performance standard in backpacks. In recent years, Gregory won awards for its pack designs from such diverse media outlets as Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Popular Science, Men’s Journal, Consumers Digest and Alpinist Magazine. Responsible for many industry firsts in backpacking fit and design, the Gregory research and design team, including company founder Wayne Gregory, continues to lead the way in innovative backpack technology and performance. For more information about Gregory packs, visit www.gregorypacks.com or call 877.477.4292.

Summiting Mt. Washington Gregory Style

egan.info@eganllc.com (Egan & Associates, LLC) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:04:51 +0000

Gregory Gives Back, our donation program, is always looking for ways to help out. Two months ago, three Seniors from the University of New Hampshire Jeff Brown, Brett Clark and Dave Shimmel approached Gregory with a proposal to raise money for Gregory’s charity of choice, theAngelman Syndrome Foundation.

The group planned to summit Mt. Washington (6,288ft- the northeast’s highest mountain) for a good cause. We were able to help out by providing them with the pack that could handle some of ‘the worst weather in the world’: the Baltoro 70.

The boys raised over $1,000 for the foundation by posting a fundraising pageon the Angelman site. Jeff and the guys were even nice enough to report back and send us some photos of their trip. We loved hearing about it. Congratulations, Jeff, Brett and Dave.

Here’s what they had to say about the Baltoro 70:

“Overall the pack was great. It was very lightweight which made it very easy to hike with. The adjustment straps on the Baltoro 70 allow the user to make the pack feel as if it is a part of them. At times you can hardly tell you are wearing a backpack. Without a doubt the unanimous best feature of the Gregory Baltoro 70 backpack is the amount of storage compartments which can be found all over the bag. The compartments and straps make the bag so user friendly that there was never a time on our trip where we had to unpack our gear in order to get to something. Every location in the pack is easily accessible, which is a great feature to have while hiking.

Thank you Gregory Mountain Packs!”

Jeff Brown
Brett Clark
Dave Shimmel

VIA: Gregory Goes There

Egan Blog

How to: Using the ski/board attachment points on the Targhee and Drift packs

Atlas is ready for snow, already in the press.

Ibex Clothing 2011 Sneak Peek: Trendsetting

Dart-nuun Reviews Gregory Active Trail

About.com Gives Teko High Marks

Teko tekoPOLY SocksAbout.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Teko Organic tekoMERINO Wool Sports SocksAbout.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Gregory Palisade: Comfort, Stability, and Gargantuan Capacity

Gregory VIBE: one little bag.............. SO MUCH ROOM

Egan & Associates, LLC Supports the Action for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions

Gregory Targhee backcountry pack wins Outside Magazine 2009/2010 Gear of the Year Award

Summiting Mt. Washington Gregory Style

Teko tekoPOLY Socks
About.com Rating

Teko Organic tekoMERINO Wool Sports Socks
About.com Rating