Gregory Endo 15 3D-Hydro

Gregory Endo 15 3D-Hydro

Reviewer: 5’9”, 155 lbs

Available Sizes: 15L, 10L

Materials:
65% Polyester + 35% Nylon
Spring Steel Perimeter Wire Frame

Stated Volume: 15 Liters

Stated Weight: 920 grams

Blister’s Measured Weight (w/ empty bladder): 1030 grams

Stated Features:

• SHIFT RS SUSPENSION | with adjustable RS (Ride Stability) hipbelt stabilization system.
• EVAP MOISTURE WICKING TECHNOLOGY | on low-profile ventilated back panel provides incredibly cool and comfortable riding performance in any climate
• 3D HYDRO RESERVOIR INCLUDED | featuring Gregory’s proprietary 3D QuickDry soft-molded technology, integrated drying hanger and anatomical fit
• QUICK ACCESS HYDRATION SLEEVE | with SpeedClip mounting system.
• MAGNETIC STERNUM STRAP | allows for one handed magnetic buckling of strap and integrated magnetic linkage for the DryLock bite valve
• REMOVABLE ZIPPERED TOOL POUCH | included with a dedicated, no-bounce storage pocket within the main compartment to eliminate bounce and protect tools
• CRASH PAD PROTECTION POCKET | with protective foam for valuables you want protected from impact and weather exposure
• QUICK ACCESS POCKET | for additional organization of the essentials on 15L styles
• BIKE-SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION | with a dedicated pockets and sleeves for tire and shock pumps, spare tubes, energy bars, etc.
• Sunglass QuickStow system on shoulder harness for quick, secure and scratch-free access to your shades without taking the pack off
• DUAL HIPBELT POCKETS | for quick access to phone and energy bars on the trail
• SAFETY LIGHT LASH | point on front of bag for night or urban riding
• MOLDED WEBBING KEEPERS | to keep straps quiet and out of your way on the trail
• STRETCH MESH STUFF POCKET | for gear overflow and organization
• Custom comfort-grip molded zipper pulls

MSRP: $129.95

Test Location: Montana, British Columbia

Test Duration: ~3 months

Intro

Gregory is a name that’s pretty well established in the world of backpacks, but it’s not a company that I generally think of when it comes to bike-oriented gear. Gregory’s trying to change that, and they now have an assortment of bike-oriented packs that come in different sizes, and that are designed for both men and women.

I put a fair amount of time in the Endo 15 this summer and fall. At 15 liters, it’s one of the larger bike packs that Gregory makes, and it’s a size that I find works well on bigger rides where I want to bring more water, more layers, and more “just in case” type items. Gregory also makes the Endo 10, which (you guessed it) is a 10 liter version that’s essentially the same pack with a shallower main compartment.

Design and Features

The Endo 15 is divided into two main zippered pockets. The largest pocket houses the water bladder, which is partitioned off into its own pouch. The included bladder is a good one — a partial plastic frame and a handy clip keeps it from slumping when half full, the filling port is easy to open and fits ice cubes, and there are baffles in it to keep the water from sloshing around while riding. And at the hose end of the bladder, the bite valve allows a decent flow, a switch cuts off flow when needed, and a magnet holds it on the sternum strap.

With a full bladder, the main pocket still has plenty of room to hold a first-aid kit and a layer or two. It’s a big enough pocket that I can fit a moderately insulated jacket in there without issue. There are also some mesh sleeves within the pocket for organizing tools, food, etc.

The second zippered compartment is a bit skinnier and doesn’t open up quite as wide. In that pocket are some more organizational pouches and a zippered phone pocket that’s nicely padded.

The exterior of the pack also has one other smaller zippered pocket that’s a good size for a sandwich and some food. On the face of the pack is a non-zippered compartment that’s fairly deep. It’s good for a quick jacket stash, bear spray (although it’s not very accessible with the pack on), or maybe a medium-sized camera. On the waist belt are zippered pouches on both sides that are big enough for snacks, multi-tools, or a phone (barely).

The Endo 15 also includes a tool pouch that’s essentially a zippered bag with some organizational pockets. I didn’t end up using it much since I tend to swap packs often, but the tool pouch is a good idea to keep fix-it items in one tidy spot.

Probably the most noteworthy feature of the Endo 15 is the back panel and waist belt. The back panel incorporates a lightweight frame that holds the pack away from your back, which makes a noticeable difference in terms of ventilation. The shoulder straps are also thin, but wide, and a medium-density foam lends support and keeps the straps sitting flat. And, unlike most bike packs I’ve used, the waist belt isn’t permanently attached to the pack — with Gregory’s “Ride Stability” system, it can be shifted up and down to adjust fit, which means the pack should comfortably work for a pretty broad range of heights.

Aside from those bigger features, I generally found the pack to be well put together. The buckles and straps are high quality, the zippers run smoothly and work with one hand, the adjustments function well, and overall, it’s pretty clear that this is not Gregory’s first foray into the backpack world.

On The Trail

I’ll be the first to admit that I avoid riding with a backpack if I can. Compared to a fanny pack, or better yet, no pack at all, backpacks are hotter, heavier, and they smack me in the back of the head off of jumps. The Endo 15 does a decent job of minimizing those downsides, particularly with respect to being hot. But at the end of the day it’s still a backpack, and a relatively large one at that.

But an all-day ride calls for a pack that can carry a lot of weight comfortably, and that’s where the Endo 15 comes in. Fully loaded down, the Endo 15 carries quite well, and if I kept everything cinched down, it did a good job of not swinging around all over the place on rowdier trails.

The shape of the Endo 15 is a bit more “vertically” oriented, meaning that it’s relatively tall, but not excessively deep. The upside here is that the weight stays fairly close to your back. The downside is that it’s a bit more inclined to hit me in the back of the head on steep trails, and it might feel too tall for shorter people. But with respect to the latter point, I think the adjustable waist belt will go a long ways towards helping out with fit for all but the shortest riders. It’s also worth noting that Gregory makes the Avos line of packs, which are very similar to the Endo except they’re designed for women and are a bit shorter.

So for most of the longer rides I did, I was pretty happy with the Endo 15 — it held everything I needed it to (with a bit of room to spare), and it carried that weight comfortably. That said, there were a few features that I wished it had.

First, the Endo 15 doesn’t have a great way to carry a helmet or any kind of knee / elbow pads. There’s some webbing that can be used to carry a helmet, but it’s not as elegant (or quick) as the systems on some other packs on the market. And pads can be crammed in the outer pocket, but that pocket doesn’t expand, and there aren’t any straps to ensure that the pads don’t fall out. Again, a few other companies (e.g. Dakine) have tackled this issue in a fairly simple and effective manner.

The other thing I’d like to see is a fuzzy pocket for sunglasses. Yes, the Endo 15 has a slick little system to hold your shades on the shoulder strap, but I’d still rather have a good pocket.

The last feature I’d like to see is some sort of water resistance, whether that be on the pack itself, or in the form of an included rain cover that can be stretched over the pack. On the sort of big rides that this pack is great for, weather tends to be a crapshoot, and it sucks when everything in the pack ends up wet.

Bottom Line

Gregory knows how to build a nice backpack, and it shows with the Endo 15 3D-Hydro. It’s a well put together pack with a suspension and adjustment system that’s better than most bike-oriented packs on the market. And because of that, the Endo 15 should be a comfortable fit for a fairly wide array of riders, even when it’s loaded down with a bunch of weight.

The Endo 15 is missing a few features that you find on some riding packs, which will likely be a deal breaker for some and a non-issue for others. But if you’re looking for a quality pack that prioritizes fit and carrying weight well, check out the Endo series of packs.