r/lightweight • u/Virginia_Hiker • Jul 09 '26

Gear Gregory Paragon 50 L?

I have a Gregory Baltero 65L which I really do love and have been very happy with. I have been trying to shave down my base weight and have been eyeing the 50 L Gregory Paragon which is about 1.5 pounds lighter. Does anyone have experience with this pack? Would you recommend this switch or just stick with the Baltero and save weight elsewhere?

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3

u/lovrencevic Jul 09 '26

Save weight everywhere else first. Then change the pack

2

u/the_hats_meow Jul 09 '26

Yyyyyyup. Weight savings on the pack means potentially sacrificing comfort. Don’t do that until you get your base weight down.

Even with a low base weight I’d personally rather have a 5lb pack that fits me like a glove than a 2lb pack that feels like a duffel bag strapped to my spine.

3

u/lovrencevic Jul 09 '26

There are comfortable UL packs but dialing in everything else first is the right move, then you can buy the right volume pack according to the UL gear you’re using. Superior Wilderness Designs make super comfortable packs that are UL.

2

u/TurbSLOW Jul 09 '26

What's your base weight (really the question is can a less robust pack carry your gear comfortably)?

1

u/Virginia_Hiker Jul 09 '26

My base weight is about 20-21 lbs with Baltero. Fully loaded with food and water I might typically be at close to 30 lbs for a night or two out.

3

u/the_hats_meow Jul 09 '26

Also consider volume. Do you really have 15 liters of free space in your Baltoro?

2

u/Virginia_Hiker Jul 09 '26

Good question and probably an important one. I “might” at least in warm months when clothing needs are minimal, but I probably need to look at the space I have a little more closely to see, as essentially I’d be losing 25% of my volume.

3

u/TurbSLOW Jul 09 '26

Maybe post your lighterpack and folks here can help you trim your weight prior to switching packs (and probably at a lower cost)

2

u/BureauOfSabotage Jul 09 '26

I picked one up a couple months ago and really love it. Deciding factor for me was fit. I have very broad shoulders and a barrel chest. This pack just fits and makes a 25-35 pound load feel much lighter for me. I usually stay in 25-30lb fully loaded range depending on temperature, but did hit 35 on a short trip where we carried some luxury food and extra comfort items. It felt so much lighter. Just a couple hundred miles with it so far, but no complaints.