Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag review: get base camp ready with this hold it all carrier

Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag: first impressions

I tend to spend most of the year living out of a duffel bag, and the Gregory Alpaca 60 pack has been on many an adventure across the UK (from the coast to coast to the Hebrides) and Iceland. An intuitively designed bag that’s built to last is important for an active adventure life!

It’s been my go-to holdall for the past six months, thanks to its functional yet aesthetically pleasing design, whilst the water-resistant fabric has kept the weather from my things. Often the softer holdalls are the lightest, which is handy when you’re traveling abroad with heavy ropes and climbing equipment and every gram counts.

If you’re thinking, “I’ve already got a holdall in my life, so don’t really need another one,” you’d be mistaken in my view, as the Gregory Alpaca 60 packs a lot in for its capacity and the build quality is top.

Gregory is a US brand, which prides itself on using recycled, long-lasting materials that are designed to withstand wear and not ‘dirty up’ easily, and the Alpaca 60 uses a heavy-duty polyester throughout the outer, as well as a TPU coating that stops mud and moisture from penetrating inside. I was also keen on testing a holdall with comfortable shoulder straps, as well as simple methods of removing these straps so they can be protected for long haul travel.

Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag: functionality

The Gregory Alpaca 60 sits in the middle between 40L and 100L offerings in the range. It’s perfect for a few days away to fit a fair amount of kit in, but for a technical trip with lots of equipment, a 100L might be a better solution.

There are built-in packing cubes in the top, which are a great place to segregate useful bits of kit you don’t want to lose. At the end of the pack is an expandable dirty gear compartment that can hold worn clothes without causing the rest of the pack to smell. One slight downside is that when the main compartment of the bag is full, it can be harder to pack as much into the dirty gear compartment.

It’s perfect for active adventure travelers though, where you might not choose to unpack everything from the bag so you need it to have some rigidity to be able to see where everything is.

The Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag is made of a heavy-duty, blended 40% recycled 900D polyester fabric with TPU coating that is weather and abrasion resistant. This is ideal for when you’re travelling using public transport or boarding a flight and want to make sure your kit won’t get damaged in transit.

It feels malleable enough that it will give protection without feeling inflexible. The TPU coating gives the bag a sheen that looks high quality and stops the contents from getting wet if you’re caught in a shower.

Using materials that are 900D means that Gregory has prioritized durability yet still offer a a pack that won’t tip the scales at 3.37lb (1.53kg). The bag’s inner is made of a polyester fabric that feels well-made and resistant to tears and nicks and is also 40% post-consumer recycled.

The Gregory Alpaca 60 is easy to get into, thanks to the large U-shaped opening with a smooth zipper, which can be opened either end to help with repacking. I was really impressed with the T-grip zippers, as these helped with closing the holdall, especially when I was trying to squeeze in the last of my packing. The T-grip also help if you’re packing kit with gloves on.

Construction wise, there’s a three-layer padded bottom with an internal liner that is well made to prevent abrasion and wear. This adds to the duffel bag’s overall weather and abrasion resistance.

Finally, the reinforced carry straps have some nifty tech built in with internal fiberglass rod to evenly distribute weight. The shoulder straps can be easily removed by sliding them off a buckle so they can be stowed for transit when travelling long haul. For intrepid travelers, exterior webbing daisy chains provide a quick spot to attach gear, and to secure the bag for more off-the-beaten-track travel.

Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag: durability

The Gregory Alpaca 60 feels well made and has shown little wear in the six months I’ve been testing it. I’ve not had to wash it as it doesn't show up dirt and mud and has been great for multiple trip use. It comes in a handy matching pouch which means the holdall can be folded and stored away in a much smaller shape when not in use.

One thing I’d like to see is the option to have an additional pocket for keys, with an attachable key clip and ID/name badge window.

Gregory Alpaca 60 duffel bag: sustainability

Gregory packs are made with sustainability in mind. According to the company, at each stage of the manufacturing process the Gregory Alpaca 60 has been made with efforts to minimize its effect on the environment. This includes not using as much Blue water consumption, less water pollution, smog formation, primary energy consumption, carbon footprint and acidification at the manufacturing stage.

Gregory is a brand that has been making packs since 1977 and part of their mission statement is to make kit that lasts, which include high-performance, high-quality packs, bags, and adventure travel gear. This attitude and attention to detail is noticeable in the construction and build quality of the duffel bag.

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