Gregory Goes There

We were in Salt Lake City, Utah last week to show Gregory’s Fall 2012 products to outdoor retailers. The Border travel pack and Alpinisto mountaineering pack were very well received (see here and here) but there was also a considerable amount of buzz around Gregory’s Spring 2012 products which are reaching retail stores right now. While at the OR show, I caught up with product designer Mark Thibadeau to learn more about the packs that he designed.

GGT: Name and line of backpacks that you designed.
MT: Intuition 3D Suspension, Savant and Sage packs.

GGT: What are the main features of the backpacks that you designed?
MT: The main features of the bag include a water resistant top pocket, large organization pockets, and a horseshoe shaped zipper for easy access to the main compartment.

GGT: What type of person will find these backpacks most useful?
MT: The Savant/Sage were designed with a range of users in mind, and I think we ended up with packs that are very user friendly in general. I think anyone that wants a pack for all around outdoor use will love them.

GGT: What activities or sports are best suited to these backpacks?
MT: My Savant 38 is what I always use for fast overnights. I also load it up with my MTB gear when I’m heading to the trailhead. This pack actually gets more use than any of my other packs and I have a lot of packs!

GGT: Did you use any innovative materials or design techniques in your backpacks? What are they?
MT: We decided early in the design process that water resistance should be one of the key features of these models. As with rain jackets, packs usually only leak water on their seams. The coated fabrics that we use will naturally withstand a moderate amount of water pressure. So, we set about to reduce the number of seams and leakage points where water hits first, the top pocket. You may notice that the top pocket on the Savant and Sage packs looks a bit different than on some of our other products, and that’s because of its unique water resistant construction. In addition, we added a modified roll-top to help seal the zippered closure.

GGT: What served as your inspiration while designing these backpacks?
MT: I was excited to work on a product for a more general user — a person willing to step out of their comfort zone and try something completely new. Many of us take this for granted, but getting outside for the first time can be a pretty scary proposition. That person, I think, was my inspiration.

It became an interesting design challenge as well. Often, we associate fewer features and less technical design with entry-level product. But in reality, these users have very different, and often very technical, needs of their own. So, I tried to place myself in their shoes and then wonder what my concerns would be.

Also, check out a video that shows some of the features of these user-friendly packs.

Savant and Sage Packs from Gregory Packs on Vimeo.

Last week, we introduced you to John McGuire and the new Fury and Freia packs that he designed. This week, meet the man behind the packs in our Gregory staff profile.

GGT: How long have you worked at Gregory and in what role(s)?
JM: 2 years. Product Designer.

GGT: What are your favorite activities outside of work?
JM: Trail running, skiing, fly fishing, backpacking, and coming home to a cold beer.

GGT: What is your favorite Gregory product and why?
JM: Hmmm…tough one. Gotta go with the Baltoro 75. When you’re comfort backpacking, there’s nothing better. Wayne’s 3D harness is a thing of beauty.

GGT: What is one thing that someone would never guess about you?
JM: I can’t write that here. The second thing that someone would never guess is that I spent my 20s living in the inner city. I grew up in a small town doing  outdoor things all the time. Friends from home think I’ve been doing the same thing all along. My city friends wonder how I’m surviving in Salt Lake City!

GGT: What is Gregory’s strongest brand attribute in your mind?
JM: Form follows function.

GGT: What’s your favorite “Wayneism”?
JM: I love watching Wayne call bullshit on people’s design and pattern work.  He gets really fired up sometimes, but he’s usually right.

John McGuire at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah.

It’s 2012. Happy New Year! Here at Gregory, we’re pysched about 2012 because some of our best products ever are coming to market this year. And given our years of experience making great backpacks, that’s saying something!

One new line of packs this year is the Kinetic FTS in the Active Trail category. Designed for any “done-in-a-day” activity, these fully featured packs are perfect for peak-baggers, adventure racers, and even minimalist thru hikers. The Fury for men and Freia for women are sweet packs that we think you’ll love when you get them out on the trail!

We caught up with John McGuire, designer of the Fury and Freia, to learn a bit more about his inspiration while designing these packs.

GGS: What are the main features of the backpacks that you designed?
JM: These packs have everything for most technical pursuits.  They’re light but still tough enough to get the job done.

GGS: What type of person will find these backpacks most useful?
JM: Someone opting for a light and flexible suspension.  We trimmed the features to satisfy minimalists, but kept enough for gear organization.

GGS: What activities or sports are best suited to these backpacks?
JM: We’ve done everything with them. They work great for light overnights, ice climbing, backcountry skiing, and long day hikes.

GGS: Did you use any innovative materials or design techniques in your backpacks? What are they?
JM: I have 2 favorites. First is the ventilation channel on the harnesses that provides airflow without sacrificing stability. Second is the top lid design on the larger packs (40L and 32L for men, 38L and 30L for women) that opens in reverse, which really cleans up gear organization on the front of the pack.

GGS: What served as your inspiration while designing these backpacks?
JM: These packs are for moving fast, so I wanted everything to look and feel streamlined and integrated.

In addition, here’s a video that shows what the Fury and Freia can do out on the trail.

Fury and Freia Packs from Gregory Packs on Vimeo.

Full Name:
George Richard McCloskey IV (that’s right)

How long have you worked at Gregory and in what role(s)?
5+ years. I started out in customer service handling dealer sales, consumer technical questions, and warranty. I’ve worked my way into the marketing department overseeing events, trade shows, social networking, pro purchase sales, and consumer technical questions.

What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Skiing is my #1 favorite, closely followed by just about anything outdoors. I enjoy rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, camping, golf, fishing…you name it.

What is your favorite Gregory product and why?
Probably the Z35r. It was one of the first packs that I tried out when I started at Gregory and I still use it all the time.

What is one thing that someone would never guess about you?
I have a twin brother.

What’s your favorite “Wayneism”?
“Question: When did you get your shoe size? Answer: When you started buying your own shoes!”
Out of context this doesn’t make much sense but it is Wayne’s way of saying that your parents probably bought you shoes that you could “grow into.”  When you purchase your own shoes, you actually purchase shoes that fit you, much like you do with purchasing a backpack that fits properly.

George McCloskey at Alta, UT. Photo by aFeinPhoto.com.

On Sunday December 11, CBS hit TV show “The Amazing Race“ crowned its winners. After 10 countries, 20 cities and more than 30,000 miles, Chicagoans Ernie Halvorsen and Cindy Chiang won! For more on the race, check out this article in US Weekly.

Here at Gregory, we were excited because Cindy wore a Gregory pack throughout the show! We recently caught up with Cindy to learn a bit more about her experience on the show.

GGT: What initially attracted you to trying out for The Amazing Race?
I watched “The Amazing Race” for many years because I love to travel and I love extreme activities. When Ernie and I started dating, we watched the show together and would often play the game from home like many others. We would decide who would do which Roadblock and which Detour we would pick. After watching together for a few seasons, I convinced Ernie we would make a great team. We submitted our 3-minute video and hoped for the best!

GGT: What are your favorite activities when you’re not on TV?
I spend my weekends biking or running along Lake Michigan or through the trails on the north side of Chicago. I also love to travel to different places around the world, particularly developing countries or locations untouched by tourism. At home, I’m either cooking, reading or watching TV.

GGT: What is one thing that someone would never guess about you?
I’m an adrenaline junkie! I’m scared of heights but will still bungee jump or skydive just to experience the thrill of my stomach dropping. But, I’m also a really shy person, especially when I first meet someone.

GGT: How long did “The Amazing Race” last?
The filming lasted about 23 – 25 days. The show aired for 12 weeks on CBS.

GGT: What was your favorite place that you visited during “The Amazing Race?”
I really enjoyed visiting Taiwan where my parents grew up and where my brother was living at the time. I had never been there before and it was a fantastic chance to get to see part of my heritage. I also loved rappelling into the cave “Goa Jablong” in Indonesia. It felt like we were in pre-historic times! Then we had to run into the cave through very thick mud, and at the end was a gentleman playing the most beautiful music. It was really a little piece of paradise.

GGT: What was the strangest thing you had to do while on the show?
The scariest thing I had to do was tightrope across two very tall buildings in Panama City. I have a fear of heights, but I try to never let that deter me. I kept my focus on Ernie, who was on the other building, and slowly made my way across the rope to retrieve our next clue. It was exhilarating, but I wouldn’t chose to do that on my own!

GGT: What made you choose the Gregory Deva 60 for your race?
I have been traveling with my Gregory Deva 60 for a few years. It is extremely durable and trustworthy and has several pockets for me to stow away my belongings. I particularly like the pockets on the waist strap for easy access! I have a petite frame, so it can be difficult to find a pack that fits me well. The Deva was perfect because it can adjust it to fit my short torso!

GGT: How did the pack perform?
The Deva was a perfect partner for me on the race. I had to carry everything we needed for the month of travel and it was spacious enough for several changes of clothes, a spare pair of shoes and a winter parka.

GGT: Would you use a Gregory pack for another adventure in the future?
My pack has been around the world, literally, and has never failed. I am planning to bring my pack on my next adventure to Tibet and maybe Bhutan!

We talk about backpack fit all the time. It’s in our blood. It’s a big deal because if you don’t have a pack that fits you correctly, you won’t be comfortable carrying it.

Our founder Wayne Gregory has been designing backpacks for over 40 years so he’s learned a thing or two about what makes a pack fit. Among other things, he was the first to design packs in sizes that mimic the user’s torso length.

Check out the video below to watch Wayne explain how to properly fit a backpack and remember, fit is king.

Editor’s Note: The Editors over at Climbing run a monthly contest in their magazine for the best letter written in by a subscriber. For Issue #301 that is on newsstands now, we agreed to give away a Gregory pack to the winner. Patti Winford from Kentucky submitted the following winning letter and we agree that it’s a good one!

My introduction to climbing came abruptly one weekend when my 22 year old son asked me to go camping for the weekend.  As a mom, I jumped at the opportunity to spend some quality time in the outdoors with my son.  I should have realized that he didn’t just invite me for some quality time.  Turns out his climbing partner and belay ditched him for the weekend and left him high and dry.  Here is where Mom comes in.  Who better to teach to belay, and then trust to keep you safe for the weekend? “You won’t drop me, you’re my Mom”.  And he was right!

I listened closely to the instructions and held tightly with the brake hand.  While I don’t advocate trusting just any new belayer, your mom is a good choice in a pinch.  (Moms have superhuman strength when it comes to keeping their children safe.)  After setting a top rope on the pitch, he said it was my turn and sent me climbing. I climbed about 20 feet scared s**tless, and finally convinced him to let me down without completing the climb.   I think he threw some words out like, wimp or weakling, but I just couldn’t go up.  But, I decided that if the occasion repeated itself, I would be ready.

So I go to the local climbing gym, take the belay course, and tell him I was ready to try again.  Well, by that time his climbing partner and him are back to climbing, and he gives me the challenge. If you really want to be a climber, you should go the Chicks Rock climbing weekend sponsored by Sterling Rope.  This comes as we are sitting at our outdoor campfire at home, and I’ve had several beers.  I say, ” I might do that!”  He says, “you won’t do it, you’re too chicken”.  Note to sons out there, don’t call your Mom, chicken!  You don’t know the implications that will have for you later!!  Well, I went in the house, googled Chicks Rock, and signed up for the rock climbing weekend at New River Gorge in four weeks.  (You see, I’m no chicken.)  The next morning I thought about what I had done.  Whoa, I’m getting into some serious stuff….So then I thought.. I better learn some more skills before I show up with these young chicks and look like the whimpy old gal.  I had seen UCLIMB advertised at the Red River Gorge in a week.  Signed up for that.  That was close to home and was “beginner focused”.  Just what I needed!  Went to UCLIMB, and learned skills and started getting those muscles conditioned.  The second day I could barely move.  But I had fun.

My guide was accomplished and amazing, and gave me loads of advice and introduction to skills like “cleaning a route”…lots more fun than cleaning a bathroom,  ”using a nut tool”….. what “nuts” am I using this tool on…Hummmm…, and how to grab that “jug”….. Oh yea, like a milk jug handle!  I know, you all were thinking of other jugs…  That climbing lingo, “wow, you have a nice rack”  I just love to grab “jugs”,  do you have your “drawers” (yeah I’ve got my pants on), Oh, draws……..and those nuts, (no comment).  At the climbing gym the other day, as I’m looking at the boldering wall, a young man asks if I have a brush??  Why, yes I do have a hair brush in my bag, just a sec, I’ll get it for you?.  Nevermind he says, and quickly goes to the other side of the gym, where he gets a “you know those little brushes you brush those holds with, duh”.  You know if I was in my 20′s, I would have been mortified, and wouldn’t have shown my face in the gym again, over 50… I had a good laugh.  The Girlie Weekend comes, and I have what I can only call an awakening.  Fun, Inspiring, Exhausting, Exhilerating, Amazing Weekend with some strong and talented women.

“I love climbing! I feel like I’ve found my sport.  Where else can you hang out with young people, get a good workout, spend time in the beautiful outdoors, challenge yourself, get amazing looks from coworkers when you tell them you’re going climbing for the weekend, AND have a 20 something girl at the gym tell you, “I love your earrings, they make you look bad*ss.”  Well, those earrings are NEVER coming out.  So back to the implication it holds for introducing your Mom to climbing.  She starts hanging out at the climbing gym and local climbing spots.  My son tells me the other day, “Mom, when I’m trying to pick up a girl at the gym, Stop coming up and introducing yourself as my MOM, act like you don’t know me”.  You can’t get away with misbehaving at the post climbing party… well you shouldn’t misbehave to begin with!!  And your Mom may start tagging along for your weekend climbs, just to watch.  But when the count is uneven for that multipitch climb, she comes in handy to be a partner.  ”Sure, I’d love to climb rather than watch.” It’s all good and fun, especially when your Mom starts buying gear, “Mom, can I climb on your rope?”, and “Mom can I get a catch on this pitch?”.  I have to thank my son for introducing me to climbing, and the friendships and community it brings.  I read the Climbing eagerly each month, and learn much from the experiences and skills presented in the magazine.  I rely on the gear guide to help in choosing gear wisely. And to all sons out there with Moms, ask your Mom to climb, train her well, then give her my name, I’m looking for a good climbing partner!

Congrats Patti on writing the winning letter and enjoy the pack!

Editor’s Note: John McGuire is a Gregory product designer and trail runner who travels to Asia on a regular basis to do ongoing research, accept product feedback, and collaborate with our ambassadors. On a recent trip to Japan, he connected with the Gregory Asia Pacific team. They met Japanese trail running ambassador Hiroki Ishikawa who was running the 110km Shinetsu Five Mountains Trail Race while John was there. After returning from Japan, he provided the following race report:

I arrived and stayed the night at Madarao ski resort with my buddy Takuji from Gregory Tokyo. This is a sub region of Nagano, where the Winter Olympics were held in ’98.  We got up early, had breakfast, and then met with our Asia distributors and Hiroki. This was my first time meeting Hiroki, and he didn’t disappoint. It was really interesting to listen to him talk and think out loud (via translation of course.) In Japan, he’s what you call a “natural” which roughly translates to “enigma.” Nobody really understands what makes him tick, but he has an infectious passion for the sport of trail running and is a true inspiration for trail runners around the world.

After breakfast, I spent most of the day at the Gregory booth, which was set up alongside a handful of other outdoor brands including Patagonia and Suunto. The guys from Patagonia Japan were really digging our Axis Travel luggage and Stash duffel that I worked on, so that was fun to talk about.

Once racers picked up their race packets they then attended Hiroki’s race meeting complete with a flying Google Earth tour of the course.  Do they do that in the states?  Anyway, the night ended with a giant banquet for the 500 runners and their supporters.  A local high school girls drum team played some traditional Japanese drums and pretty much rocked.  I made sure Takuji had everything he needed for his run and then headed to bed.

On race day we woke up around 4am and went down to the start line. There was a pre-race meal provided. All of the runners lined up at the start, and then there was a pause while introductions were made for the top 5-10 male and female racers. Hiroki MC’d most of the event, so that was exciting. The Japanese-style media spectacle didn’t disappoint either and were out in force. The star attraction for them was Patagonia athlete Jenn Shelton, likely because she prefers to wear almost nothing while running. Being the only other American at the entire event besides me, it was easy to strike up a conversation after the race, which she ended up winning on the women’s side.

Race day began by traveling around the course to the different aid stations to set up facilities with our distributor.  It was wonderful to experience the country’s rolling hills and mountains, all covered in thick forest. Several racers told me that most of the day is spent in a “tunnel” of the forest because the vegetation is so thick and high. Aid stations, however, were mostly set up in the clearings.  Once the race began, we chased the lead runners from aid stations 3 to 8, and then on to the finish. Half of the aid stations were equipped with their own MC to announce the arrival and status of the lead runners so if you ever get the chance to attend this race, which I highly recommend, get ready for the fanfare!

The best aid station of the race was by far #8. It was located in Togakushi, a region known for some of the best cold Soba noodle in Japan. Watching the runners grab Chopsticks to suck down noodles before continuing the race was pretty awesome!

The finish was equipped with giant banners, a stage and ramp to finish on, and plenty of flash bulbs from the cameras of the Japanese media. The bulk of the finishers came through in the early evening, which I watched before catching a train back to Tokyo. Overall, it was a great race that I was honored to be part of!

Hiroki Ishikawa is a Japanese trail runner and Gregory Ambassador. You can learn more about him here. He is a well-known athlete in the trail running community and travels extensively to experience the world’s best races.

Most recently, Hiroki traveled to Spain. His main purpose was to experience the atmosphere and scene of trail running there. Hiroki had noticed that Spanish runners were experiencing very strong results in international races lately. So, Hiroki visited Spain and participated in the Ultima Frontera 160. Here he is just before the start:

The race traveled through several villages that are typical of Southern Spain, then through an olive farm and into the mountains of Loja. Hiroki reported that he was stunned by the beutiful scenery.

Hiroki finished 2^nd in the 50 mile race. His time was 6:46, with the top time coming in at 6:29, put up by Miguel Mudarra Sanchez of Spain.

After the race, Hiroki befriended the course director, who was kind enough to let Hiroki stay at his house and take him on another beautiful run of a trail near Alhama.

After experiencing the world of trail running in Spain, Hiroki was excited about what he learned but also felt that he needed more time to fully understand the scene in Spain and why Spanish athletes are so successful. So, he has plans to visit again next year and participate in another major trailrunning race.

Hiroki’s next race is in California, the “Red Rock 50 mile” in Santa Barbara. Check out the race web site to see how he does!

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of Gregory staff profiles that we’ll run periodically over the next several months.

Full Name:
Andy Yorkin

How long have you worked at Gregory and in what role(s)?
I started in the Marketing department in January, 2011, when the company moved its headquarters to Salt Lake City.

What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Skiing tops my favorite activity. It is the reason I moved to Utah from Connecticut. In addition, I love spending time with my family: wife Sheila, son Kurt, daughter Nora, son Tom – all also love to ski, imagine that.

What is your favorite Gregory product and why?
My favorite product seems to change each season. When I first started, it was ski season and we were doing a lot of ski touring so I used the Targhee a lot and loved it. Then in the summer, I went on a few backpacking trips with the Baltoro 65 which was awesome, superbly comfortable even with half of my son’s stuff in there. Now with fall, I been doing a lot of traveling and have been using the Cache 22 – amazing roller bag that swallows clothing and rolls like a dream.

What is one thing that someone would never guess about you?
I think people are surprised to hear that I have 3 kids. To tell you the truth, so am I. I’m older than I look I guess.

What is Gregory’s strongest brand attribute in your mind?
The fit and comfort that the design team puts into everything is truly remarkable.

What’s your favorite “Wayneism”?
Big Red! Wayne has an old, red Suburban that is a true classic. His secret to its long life? ATF! Yep, automatic transmission fluid mixed in with the gas.

Andy Yorkin enjoying his favorite activity.