Granite Gear Crown3 60 Eco Backpack

Product detailed description

The Granite Gear Crown3 60 Eco is an excellent alternative to more expensive UL backpacks. With every piece of gear, you always have to decide what matters most to you—size? Weight? Durability? Comfort? Design? Versatility? Simplicity? These are qualities that often conflict with one another, and you always have to sacrifice something.

It’s strange, but this backpack scores high in every category! It doesn’t lack any of the important features. It’s made of durable, recycled Regen Robic® material with a water-repellent DWR finish. The designers at Granite Gear really put a lot of thought into the backpack’s design, so all the straps pull in the right direction, there’s reinforcement where needed, and the stitching is sturdy, ensuring it will last you for years. If you remove the lid and back panel, you have an UL backpack with massive capacity at the price of a classic heavy backpack. Plus, by tightening the compression straps, you can turn it into a very compact backpack for a weekend trip.

This is the successor to the successful Crown2 model. In the US, it is a well-known brand, as evidenced by the fact that they are one of the main sponsors Warrior Expeditions  —an organization that helps military veterans suffering from war trauma return to civilian life by providing them with equipment and spending money to complete long treks (CDT, PCT,  AT). The first generation of the Crown backpack was also used during the historic first winter traverse of the Pacific Crest Trail by the adventurers “Trauma” and “Pepper.”

On long treks like the CDT, PCT, and AT, it’s one of the most widely used backpacks ever!

The backpack is available in a single, fairly bold colorway that is particularly popular among female hikers.

Thoughtful details

There are plenty of features, so I’ll list them briefly: durable (and water-resistant) Regen Robic® 210D material on the bottom and 100D body, an easily removable lid (with buckles) that can be attached to the straps with carabiners and worn as a front pocket, a roll-top closure, compression straps also with detachable buckles. A large, stretchy mesh pocket on the front of the backpack with two securing straps. Spacious side pockets with drawstrings (easily fits a 1.5L plastic bottle even when the backpack is full). Large pockets on the hip belt. The hip belt can be easily adjusted to fit your waist circumference (so-called Re-fit) – after removing it from the backpack, unfasten the Velcro and adjust it so that the pockets fit you well. The pockets are large enough to fit, for example, a Sony RX100 compact camera. The plastic stiffener can be removed from the backpack (no disassembly or fiddling required—it’s out in a few seconds) and just as easily put back in. The back panel will still remain fairly rigid, though it will be harder to adjust the backpack’s balance straps, so it depends on how much you’re carrying. If you remove the lid and take out the stiffener, you’ll end up with a backpack comparable in weight to   Gossamer Gear – Mariposou, but at a significantly lower price.

The previous version of the Crown2 was tested by Tomáš Němec, who compared it to the Osprey Exos 58:

“I tested the backpack on a weekend hike in the Křivoklát region and a one-day trip to the Šumava Mountains. I’ll be comparing it to the Exos 58L, which I’ve owned for many years. The backpack has a compact, vertically oriented shape; it doesn’t flare out at the bottom like the Exos does. Thanks to this, the center of gravity sits nicely against your back, and the backpack doesn’t tip you backward or to the sides. When you tilt your head back, the lid doesn’t get in the way. The hip belt pockets are easily accessible and, thanks to the material, water-resistant (they don’t have mesh like the Osprey). The side pockets hold a lot, but if you want to carry a larger water bottle while walking, it takes a bit of a contortionist’s skill—the Exos is better in this regard. What I really liked is the roll-top closure. If you go without the lid, accessing the backpack is a matter of seconds. The last important thing is the shoulder straps. The Crown2’s are pleasantly firm, but they could be a bit wider; if you load more than the recommended 15 kg, they’ll be less comfortable than on the Exos. The best in this category is  GG Mariposa – the most comfortable backpack in our lineup.”

Women’s version of the Granite Gear Crown3 60 Eco

The Regular (medium) back length is for torso lengths of 46–53 cm. The Long length is for torso lengths of 53–61 cm.

You can purchase the following for the backpack aluminum support  which increases the backpack’s load capacity by approximately 4 kg.

Granite Gear Crown3 60 Eco:

• Adjustable hip belt.
• Roll-top closure.
• Removable lid and back panel.
• Large, elastic mesh pocket.
• 2 side pockets with drawstrings.
• Large pockets on the hip belt.
• Compression straps.

Technical Specifications:

• Weight: 1254 g (size M), 1323 g (size L).
• Volume: 60 L.
• Dimensions: 58 x 27 x 20 cm (size M), 64 x 27 x 20 cm (size L).
• Optimal load capacity: up to 15 kg.
• For torso length: 46–53 cm (size M). 53–61 cm (size L)
• Waist circumference: 66–140 cm.

Materials:

• 210D and 100D Regen Robic®.