Baltoro 70, Deva 60 earn Backpacker 2008 Editors' Choice Award

Bestowing one of the outdoor industry's most prestigious awards on two of Gregory's newest backpacks, Backpacker Magazine gave its 2008 Editor's Choice Award to the recently redesigned Baltoro 70 and women's specific Deva 60. The award was announced in the magazine's April issue.

The Gregory Z30 was also named 'Best All Around' daypack in Backpacker's annual Gear Guide, the March 2008 issue. The magazine noted that its most finicky tester called the Z30 "darn close to the perfect daypack for general duty."

 
Go Here to read more about the awards and technology.

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Spend '36 Hours with Joe Kinder'

Gregory-sponsored climber Joe Kinder recently relocated base camps to a more, much more, rural location. Hurricane, Utah--pronounced "her-ah-cun" by the locals--is located in southwest Utah and is close to world class climbing and backpacking. Joe has set up shop there with some other professional climbers. Watch the video on YouTube and see how Joe spends his days away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Watch the video here.

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Gregory Gets a New Look Online

Creating a more user-friendly, interactive face for Gregory on the Internet, Gregory Mountain Products this week unveiled its redesigned web site at www.gregorypacks.com.

The new Gregory web site not only reflects a redesigned look and feel for the brand, it also offers more information on the Gregory line in a more organized format, incorporates a product finder to help people identify the best packs for given activities, and offers more background on Gregory's unique suspension systems, technologies, brand ambassadors and athletes.

In addition, the site incorporates a community aspect, encouraging Gregory customers to share their adventures - and offering gear giveaways as incentives.

Check it out and connect with Gregory.

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Upcoming events where you can connect with Gregory Packs

Washington Trails Association Trailsfest - Just back from Appalachian Trail Days in Damascus, Va., the next stop for the Gregory crew on the summer trails tour is the Washington Trails Association's Trailsfest, July 19 near North Bend, Washington, an hour or so east of Seattle. There - like they did at the AT's Trail Days - the Gregory team will be doing pack fits, trail repairs on packs, exhibiting the new Gregory line, and - yes - giving away Gregory packs. More information is available at http://www.wta.org/trail-news/trailsfest.

 

Backpacker Get Out More Tour - Gregory is an official sponsor of Backpacker Magazine's Get Out More Tour, which will feature more than 60 stops between April 10 and Nov. 16, 2008. Along the way, the tour coordinators, Randi and Sheri Propster, will be using Gregory packs in their presentations on how to plan and organize outdoor trips, use gear properly. They will also be giving away Gregory packs at five festivals along their route. Between April and June, the team will be in the east, with stops planned between North Carolina and Connecticut and out as far as Michigan in the Midwest. For specific dates and tour stops, visit Backpacker's Get Out More.com.

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Gregory Packs returns to private ownership

Simultaneously as Gregory Packs relocated to its new Sacramento headquarters in early April, the company also got new ownership. In a management-led buyout, Gregory was purchased in a deal that returns the company to private ownership - and gives it a significant boost toward continuing to build the most innovative packs in the world.

The new ownership, Gregory Mountain Products, LLC, was formed by partners John Simons, Gregory's President for the last two years, along with investors Warren Kanders and Robert Schiller. They purchased the business from Bianchi International, which has owned the company since 1983 and, since then, had been acquired by a larger parent company.

Go Here if you want to read more about the new ownership.

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