Review on Gregory Citro 36 H2O Hydration Backpack: Ideal Gear for Men on Mountain Ventures by Flex Graham

Bought for 14 (or two) and small hikes at the end of September. It's too big for a 14, but I also wanted something more forward-thinking that I could take with me on other hikes, camping, or flights (its dimensions are close enough to make up for that). To be honest, the physical dimensions of a 36L backpack aren't much larger than a 24L backpack, so keep that in mind when weighing your options. I kept walking back and forth because even the 24L backpack looked "big” in the photos. Dimensions from Gregory's website: my back, but it's great too (Spark Orange) so I don't care. It's difficult to find photos of the internal organization and movement of the pack, but I was able to find some decent YouTube videos that convinced me to buy. The main compartment is completely open, which is great if you're good with your backpack. Center compartment offers additional storage (like a folded jacket) and a woven key/wallet pocket. There are smaller pockets on the front for general organization, but if you like over-organized packaging you might want to look elsewhere. Or invest in storage cubes to further compartmentalize your backpack. It also has a front mesh pocket which is great for a hat, beanie or compact rain jacket. The special compartment for the hydration bladder is awesome! I wish more backpack manufacturers would do this. You can tell a lot of effort has gone into this design, from the top hose guide to the hydration hook for drying. I also like the "click" in the bladder suspension. My only concern with the bladder is that it will shift (or wobble) with movement, but with a fuller pack this will likely alleviate the problem and help it stay in place. I was also really excited about the hip bags, but unfortunately my Pixel 4 doesn’t fit in without a case. They also sit a bit wider than I would have liked, but I have a special phone case that will still live on one of the straps. The back pockets and the material that connects them to the bag are also soft and flexible, so leaving them behind when you're not planning to use them isn't uncomfortable. The bag also has an internal frame that allows it to remain somewhat rigid, giving it some inherent flex and preventing it from "leaning" when not fully loaded. The bag comes with shoulder straps to keep it off your back if you tend to get a sweaty mess during your hike(s). Once you put it on, it will definitely hug your body in a nice and even distribution. The straps were one of the things I definitely needed in a bag, which made the Gregory stand out even more from other packs I've looked at - specifically the REI Trail, Osprey Stratos, Deuter Trail and Deuter Futura Pro. Dislike is a chest strap combination. I'm not a big fan of magnetic clasps. It seems unnecessary to combine the hose clamp and chest clip into one piece. Luckily, there's a hose clamp on the right strap, so you have options. Whether the magnetic buckle on the chest strap is sufficient remains to be seen. Overall I love this bag so far. I have a few issues with some design decisions, but they don't detract from an absolutely stunning bag. I'll update this review if my opinion changes after my 14, but my opinion doesn't really change. Anyway, I'm really upset that I didn't buy this bag sooner!