ProView – Gregory Verte 18 Review

As a purpose built frontside ski/snowboard pack, the Gregory Verte 18L is as at home on lifts as it is in the slackcountry. Ergonomically designed for riding chairs, the pack excels on the slopes compared to larger touring bags; in addition, the Verte’s thoughtful design even lends itself to touring and sled-skiing.

Even the legendary status of Whistler Blackcomb, located in the Coastal Mountains, was no match for El Niño this year, which had left us all wondering if winter was ever going to show up. Then, like a starter’s pistol going off, two big weather systems sounded the beginning of the season.  As we gained elevation winding along the Sea to Sky highway, ferns covering the ground gave way to skiffs of snow. British Columbia offers a buffet of ski opportunities in addition to weather. It’s commonplace to queue up for the gondi in the rain and rise through the understory to improved conditions in the alpine. Weather and ski conditions are as varied as the mode of transport up the mountain. With the Spearhead Traverse a short skin and gate away from a high speed quad what better place to test a dedicated ski pack? Lifts, skins, machines fueled by Jet A or Two Stroke Mix the Coastal Range is a skier’s dream and would be our testing ground for the Verte 18L.

Performance

Major standouts of the pack include: the elastic waistband, back panel, and hybrid top/panel access. Narrower than most hip belts, the Verte’s waistband was surprisingly comfortable; I never once noticed it while making turns. Gloved hands easily operated the buckles while shuffling in the lift line. The longevity of the elastic in the hip belt is to be determined, time will be a true arbiter of this feature. The back panel is both stylish and comfortable with performance to match. Even while wallowing in pow, the panel shedded snow well. Laying somewhere between a top and panel loader the ¾ length zippers and gussets allow for easy visualization of the contents in the bottom and easy packing.  Opening the pack in deep conditions, the gussets worked very well in keeping snow out of the pack.  I did notice however, that if you are pushing the 18L to capacity, it can be somewhat difficult to zip the pack closed, the fabric gussets tend to prolapse, and get caught in the zipper.

Designed for more than chair laps, the avy gear pockets opens this pack up to slackcountry or even small backcountry missions where a larger pack or airbag isn’t necessary. With the support of a tunnel bag on my snowmobile, the pack performed well as part of my sled-ski kit. I easily fit a 280cm probe and BD Transfer 3 sized shovel in the pack. In addition to the main and avy pocket, the pack features a small rear pocket with a key keeper and side zip pocket that is easily accessed on the lift or dropping the left shoulder strap. Two areas of suggested improvement include: a rear pocket shaped and lined for goggles and the addition of a small pocket inside the main compartment for keys, wallets, etc….  Having lost more than one set of airpods in the snow, I am leery of having to dig into the pocket containing essentials like keys.  Finally, the side pocket, while a nice feature is notably undersized.  It will easily take a snack bar or a flask, however, larger items are a no go. A water bottle or even a small thermos is difficult to accommodate.  Having said that, the pack does feature an insulated hydration sleeve.  Coming in two volume options, the 18L offers enough room for lunch, water and extra layers allowing one to avoid a crowded lodge break. 

 

Friendliness to the Earth

Constructed with 40% to 100% recycled materials, Gergory claims results in a 35% reduction of their carbon footprint.  Additionally, Gregory is sourcing 50% of its buckles and zippers from Bluesign sources (however, the pack itself is not Bluesign certified and the exact composition is unknown).    

The Final Word

The Gregory Verte 18L is a very comfortable pack to ski with. While intended primarily for the frontside, the thoughtful design of the pack has given it a place in the slack and even (albeit light) backcountry. I found the hybrid gusseted entry, (a novel approach that performs well as a snow sports pack) to be far superior to other top loading packs in the size class.  The biggest drawbacks are the size of the side access pocket, lack of goggle/glasses pocket and absence of an internal stash pocket.    

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