Real owners lean toward the Gregory Zulu 55: 88% of 25 owners recommend it, vs 73% of 44 for the Osprey Aura AG 65.
Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score
Comfort, ventilation, and adjustable fit show up in both the Aura AG 65 and the Gregory Zulu 55, and owners of each accept that these are heavier packs in exchange. Aura AG 65 owners rave about the ventilated suspension that limits back sweat and excellent adjustability, especially for petite and shorter-torso frames carrying 30-40 lb loads, while faulting its roughly 5 lb weight, a hip belt that's uncomfortable for some, and a tall frame their head can hit. Zulu 55 owners praise an effortless carry, an adjustable torso and shoulder fit that spans a wide range of bodies, and how much it holds, though they note it's heavier than ultralight packs, has too many buckles over few compartments, and that newer versions dropped the rain cover. A hiker who wants a fit tuned for a smaller or shorter-torso frame leans Aura AG 65, while one who wants roomy, adjustable capacity for overnight loads leans Zulu 55. Both reward trying the hip belt and torso first, so the choice rests on which fit system matches the body better.
“Got a Zulu 55 early spring and have taken it on a number of 2-3 day backpack camping adventures.....love the pack!!!!”— @va3ks on YouTube
“is an excellent pack which I use for almost all of my overnight trips these days”— WeAreThePizza on Reddit
“Gregory's decision to stop including rain covers is such a dirty shrinkflation move. They took out the bungee sunglasses holder on the shoulder straps too.”— @GetUpTheMountains on YouTube
“I love my pack, it is unbelievably comfortable compared to anything else I’ve used. I’ve become very partial to the brand specifically because of it’s adjustability.”— Jessica_Kahlee on Reddit
“My wife has the same! She loves it too.”— @SiMachiavelli on YouTube
“the hip belt felt just awful for me”— @karencaskey6210 on YouTube
Comfort, ventilation, and adjustable fit show up in both the Aura AG 65 and the Gregory Zulu 55, and owners of each accept that these are heavier packs in exchange. Aura AG 65 owners rave about the ventilated suspension that limits back sweat and excellent adjustability, especially for petite and shorter-torso frames carrying 30-40 lb loads, while faulting its roughly 5 lb weight, a hip belt that's uncomfortable for some, and a tall frame their head can hit. Zulu 55 owners praise an effortless carry, an adjustable torso and shoulder fit that spans a wide range of bodies, and how much it holds, though they note it's heavier than ultralight packs, has too many buckles over few compartments, and that newer versions dropped the rain cover. A hiker who wants a fit tuned for a smaller or shorter-torso frame leans Aura AG 65, while one who wants roomy, adjustable capacity for overnight loads leans Zulu 55. Both reward trying the hip belt and torso first, so the choice rests on which fit system matches the body better.
Owners point the Gregory Zulu 55 at backpackers who prioritize load comfort over minimal weight, and multi-day and overnight trips with heavier loads.
Owners point the Osprey Aura AG 65 at backpackers who prioritize comfort over pack weight, and petite and shorter-torso women needing adjustable fit.
The most-cited downside of the Gregory Zulu 55 is heavier than ultralight packs. For the Osprey Aura AG 65, it's heavy at around 5 lbs.