I just bought a GG Crown in the large flavor. It is 30.4 oz. without frame sheet, 36.7 oz with. The good news with my normal load I don't feel the need to use the frame (<22lbs). The build quality is excellent and it is overall well thought-out design.

The Large is for those with a long torso. I have a 21" torso and if it were any longer it wouldn't fit me. As it is I get a little wrap-around of the shoulder pads, certainly enough that it fits but another 1" and it would be too long for me.

The Bad? It has too much capacity for my summer load. I've wittled down my pack weight over the last several years and now I'm to the point where I don't need this much volume. It compresses down well but the 65+L volume is more than my Catalyst. If I carry the bear container and extra clothing the extra volume may be welcome but if I had a choice for summer use I'd trim the volume down to around 50-55L.

I think I also will miss my hip-belt pockets. I know I can add them but that pushes the weight up a couple ounces.

Overall I need some time carrying a load and living with it to draw a full-blown conclusion.

Edited by kevperro on 05/04/2012 21:42:24 MDT.

Thanks for the initial review. Do you find that the shoulder straps are a bit short (the padded portion)?

Same question as David. They look short-ish. Also, how well are they spaced apart from each other? I find the rotating ones on the Nimbus line of packs are great as they adjust to the correct width, but the ones on the Vapor line are fixed too narrow. Can you compare the shoulder straps (length, width) to any of those packs?

Thanks!

I'm taking it on a 3-4 hour day-hike today loaded up with my normal payload so I'll let you know after a couple hours of use. From the bedroom fitting I see no issues. I'm a barrel chested short guy so it may fit a bean pole differently.

David: Strap length is fine for me but note I'm on the short-end of the long size. That allows more shoulder strap to wrap down over my body.

Curt: Width is fine on me. No rubs but I'll have more input after hiking with it loaded with my typical pack load.

Edited by kevperro on 05/05/2012 10:11:45 MDT.

Based upon my first use... it gets a thumbs up. My Catalyst fits slightly better but it is only a slight difference.

Comparing the two:

Fit: The ULA Catalyst Wins. The GG is slightly long on me.

Shoulder Pads: ULA Catalyst Wins but not by much.

Hip Belt: ULA Catalyst Wins but not by much

Volume: About the same although the included hipbelt pockets are a bonus.

Price: GG Crown was slightly cheaper.

Weight: GG Crown wins by 12oz-16oz (depending on framesheet use or not)

Durability: The ULA is a proven quantity. I've 7-8 years on it and still going strong with no deficiencies. The stretchy pockets on the GG are suspect. I have a feeling a snag could easily rip them.

Top Open/Close: Tie... I thought the roll top would be a pain but it is suprisingly simple albet with a couple extra straps to fiddle with.

Compression: The GG Crown wins. I had to change the way I pack things but once I adjusted I retract my earlier complaint about the volume. I think it will work just fine once I have 3-5 days of food and it is just fine with my base load.

Overall... I like it. There are obviously advantages to the ULA but the weight advantage of the GG Crown trumps the deficiencies.