Gregory Focal 58L Backpack

Performance and Design
The Focal 58L is a lightweight pack designed to provide maximum support and ventilation with minimal cost and feature loss. At just over 1.2 kg (2.5 lbs), it technically misses the strict cutoff to be considered true ultralight. However, it compensates by providing significantly more support, comfort, and features than frameless niche packs—many of which cost nearly twice as much and can feel like a floppy bag hanging off your back. In contrast, the Focal 58 delivers dynamic suspension, structural integrity, and true carrying comfort.

Structure and Suspension
The pack’s 360-degree internal perimeter wire frame and horizontal backstay provide impressive rigidity despite its featherlight weight. Its carrying capacity is rated up to 35 lbs, and the shoulder and hipbelt padding is perfectly balanced to ensure comfort when fully loaded.

The pre-curved shoulder straps and hipbelt are wrapped in breathable mesh that seamlessly extends across the entire back ventilation system. Both shoulder straps feature dual elastic hydration hose keepers, which double beautifully as sunglass retainers or lash points for smaller items.

The Focal 58 is equipped with Gregory's exceptionally comfortable FreeFloat suspension system. This setup utilizes a tensioned mesh backpanel designed to keep the pack body off your back, allowing air to continuously flow and keep you cool in hot weather. Additionally, the ComfortCradle hipbelt hugs the body to minimize pack sway, efficiently transferring weight to your hips.

Versatility and Storage
For those looking to shave extra grams, Gregory includes an "ultralight weather flap." This is essentially a pocketless fabric flap that covers the main compartment, allowing you to remove and replace the floating lid if you don’t need the additional dual-zone zippered storage.

• Two oversized, smartphone-compatible hipbelt pockets for trail essentials.
• Deep, angled side pockets that allow you to easily access water bottles on the go without dislocating your shoulder.
• A massive front stretch-mesh pocket for quickly stowing a rain shell or extra layers.
• An internal hydration sleeve equipped with a SpeedClip hanger.
• A top-loading main compartment featuring a quick-pull cord closure system.

While the Focal 58L isn't quite as light as niche cuben fibre (DCF) packs, it remains remarkably light by utilizing high-tenacity nylon. This material strikes the ideal middle ground between weight savings and long-term durability without the exorbitant cost of specialized ultralight fabrics.

The men’s version is available in 38L, 48L, and 58L capacities. The women’s equivalent is called the Gregory Facet, available in 35L, 45L, and 55L.

Frame: Tubular Aluminum, Fibreglass Anti-Barreling Cross-Stay, and HDPE
Pack Body: 100D High Density (40% Recycled) Nylon & 210D High Density (45% Recycled) Nylon with C0 DWR
Pack Bottom: 210D High Density (45% Recycled) Nylon with C0 DWR
Lining: 135D Polyester (40% Post-consumer Recycled) with C0 DWR
Suspension: Lifespan EVA Foam with Polygiene® Technology

• FreeFloat Ultralight Suspension: Flex panels move naturally with your body’s motion.
• Odour Control: Ventilated mesh backpanel treated with Polygiene® Stays Fresh Technology to inhibit bacteria growth.
• ComfortCradle Hipbelt: 3D construction ensures a hotspot-free, body-hugging fit.
• Robust Framework: Perimeter aluminum frame and fibreglass anti-barreling cross-stay.
• Removable Floating Top Lid: Includes a large zippered compartment, an underside zippered pocket, reflective attachment points, and a key clip.
• Eco-Conscious Build: Designed without PFAS/PFCs and boasts a 29% reduction in carbon footprint.
• Nano Connect: Includes interior toggles to seamlessly connect a Gregory Nano 14 daypack.
• Warranty: Backed by Gregory's Lifetime Guarantee.

For years, my go-to pack was the fully featured  Osprey Aether AG 70L, which tips the scales at 2.365 kg (5.214 lbs)—nearly double the weight of the Focal 58. In 2021, I upgraded to the  Osprey Aether Plus 70. While I appreciated its innovation—like the top pocket converting into a daypack—the extra features pushed the total weight to a hefty 2.8 kg (6.171 lbs). Eventually, I realized I rarely used these extra components; they amounted to dead weight on most hikes. As the years tick by, carrying nearly 3 kg in empty pack weight loses its appeal.

Switching to the Gregory Focal 58L immediately shaved 1.6 kg (3.52 lbs) off my back. That weight savings essentially translates into a generous amount of gear or luxury items I can now carry for free.

Having tested the Gregory Focal 58L on several multi-day hikes in the Selkirk Mountains this spring, I was thoroughly impressed by its ability to cut weight without compromising comfort or functionality. At 58L, it is the ideal size for all my essentials. I didn’t miss the extra room of my old 70L pack at all; in fact, I find that the larger a pack is, the more unnecessary gear you tend to bring. In my book, less is more.

The build quality lives up to Gregory’s stellar reputation. I highly valued the ability to strip away the brain (lid), and it would have been nice to be able to remove the extra straps to lighten the load even further.

When comparing it to other lightweight options on the market, the trade-offs of niche brands became clear. Saving an extra couple of hundred grams simply wasn't worth sacrificing comfort, load capacity, and aesthetics. Here is how the hybrid ultralight pack options shape up:

Pack Model                                     Volume        Weight                     Price (CAN)
Gregory Focal 58                             58L              1.20 kg / 2.65 lbs    $399.95
Rab Muon 50L                                  50L              0.99 kg / 2.18 lbs    $250.0
Outdoor Vitals Carbon Evo 50           58L (Total)   0.85 kg / 1.87 lbs    $390.00
Osprey Exos Pro 55L                         55L              0.98 kg / 2.16 lbs    $380.00
Mountain Hardwear Alakazam 60L    60L              0.86 kg / 1.89 lbs    $720.00

While there are lighter or cheaper packs available, none quite match the exact feature-to-weight-to-price ratio of the Focal 58. The Mountain Hardwear Alakazam is incredibly light but carries a steep premium, while options like the Rab Muon sacrifice overall volume.

The Gregory Focal 58L hits the absolute sweet spot of lightweight functionality. Shaving over 1.6 kg off my base weight has been a total game-changer, helping me bring my total base weight (minus food and water) down to a nimble 4.5–6.8 kg (10–15 lbs). If you want to substantially lighten your load but aren’t willing to abandon the comfort and practical storage of a traditional suspension pack, the Gregory Focal 58L is, in my opinion, the best hybrid pack on the market today.