Comfortable, Affordable, Light: Gregory Maven 58 Pack Review

By days two or three of a backpacking trip, I’m normally resigned to some level of hip pain. My hips will bruise, become tender to the touch, or sometimes even bleed.

No matter what pack or what weight I carry, it’s bound to happen. So you can imagine my relief when, on day three on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) in Minnesota, I put on my Gregory Maven 58 pack, cinched it up, and felt no pain.

For the first time, my hips did not loudly protest. There wasn’t even a whimper. Gregory claims its Maven line of packs is designed and sized to fit women better, and I was skeptical of this claim at first. After many miles on the trail, though, I’ve become a full-blown convert. 

I took the Maven nearly 40 miles on the SHT and used it as my crag bag while climbing at Jackson Falls, Illinois, to really put it through its paces. Nothing tests a bag’s durability more than jamming it full of awkwardly sized climbing equipment and scraping it against sandstone. While the bag could use a few more select features, Gregory’s Maven packs are some of the lightest and yet affordable on the market. 

In short: The Gregory Maven 58 women’s backpack is a spacious pack at an affordable price point. It’s light, durable, and has a lot of thoughtfully placed pockets both inside and out. It easily fits everything you need for two to four nights on the trail. User experience and comfort may differ based on body type and shape, but Gregory’s design includes a breathable back panel and supportive hipbelt that move with you as you hike.

Compare the Gregory Maven 58 to other backpacks on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.

Gregory Maven 58 Backpack Review

I tested the XS/SM size of the Maven 58 for 3 days and 40 miles on the Superior Hiking Trail in Northern Minnesota. I’m 5’6” and backpacked in temps ranging from 60 to 80 degrees. I was backpacking solo, so I had to carry all the necessary gear, including a 9L capacity bear canister. The trail was not steep, but had relatively frequent mild ups and downs.

I also used it as my bag while sport climbing in Jackson Falls, Ill. I used its full capacity to carry a 70m rope, helmet, quickdraws, and a stick clip on rocky, uneven approaches lasting 20-30 minutes. 

Storage & Features

My go-to size when it comes to choosing a pack is 65 L or more. I prefer to have a bit more space and not have to play Jenga with my gear. So, I was concerned whether a 58L bag would be large enough. Thankfully, the fabric was stretchy and the top of the bag beneath the brain expanded enough to hold everything I needed: tent, sleeping pad, 15-degree sleeping bag, bear canister, fleece, stove, fuel, etc. 

One thing I loved was the internal floating pocket. This pocket separates the bottom section of the pack from the bulk of the rest of it. This space is made with a detachable nylon piece of fabric. It is also zippered, so it was ideal for storing dirty socks and oddly shaped items like fuel canisters. Often, the inside of my pack can feel like a black hole, so I appreciated having some extra internal organization. 

One of the shoulder straps has a small mesh pocket that perfectly fits a Garmin inReach. It’s a handy feature. I wish it existed on both shoulder straps so I could also easily stash granola bars and fruit snacks. Unfortunately, the pockets on the hip belts were too small to securely store a phone. However, they were still great for stowing other things I wanted easy access to, like a lighter and a headlamp. 

There’s one large external stretchy mesh pocket that is secured with a vertical buckled strap. While the pocket was sizable, I wish it came up a bit higher on the pack for extra security. I found that larger items that I put in, like my Helinox chair, shifted around a lot. I was honestly worried they might fall out.

The Maven doesn’t include a built-in rain cover, so you’ll need to supply your own. While not a dealbreaker by any means, I do prefer Osprey’s built-in rain covers. They easily store away in designated pockets and are always there when you need them. 

Wearing the Pack 

As previously mentioned, the Maven 58 was a godsend when it came to hip comfort. According to Gregory’s website, “The FreeFloat hip belt flexes with you independent of the pack frame, so you use less energy while you hike.”

I can’t say I noticed a difference in energy expenditure. However, I definitely did notice a difference in comfort, with no chafing or bruising, even after a 21-mile day. 

I hiked in pretty warm temperatures, with highs up into the low 80s. While my back sweated (of course), I didn’t notice an accumulation or band of sweat on my back when I took the pack off. The brand’s AirCushion mesh back panel excelled at breathability. 

As much as I can extol the virtues of the pack’s comfort when it comes to the hipbelt, I can’t say the same thing about my back. I spent my days on the SHT adjusting the Maven in every which way. But no matter what I did, in time, I’d feel the same nagging pain in my upper back, in between my shoulder blades. The adjustable back panel had four different heights, and I tried each one to no avail.

I tested the XS/SM size. So maybe the larger size would’ve fixed this problem, but sizing up would have created another one. I could barely get the XS/SM to cinch tight enough around my waist. 

Given how comfortable all else was, I’m still not sure what caused this intense, persistent back pain. Maybe my torso length and body just aren’t the right dimensions for the Maven’s available sizes. I would recommend that people try different sizes in the store. Add weight and leave it on for a good 20 minutes to identify any potential pain points. 

A Note on Price

The Maven 58 retails for $300 and weighs 3.5 pounds. While by no means an ultralight pack, this is one of the lighter bags on the market, and costs less than other heavier models.

For example, Osprey’s Auro AG 50 weighs 4.16 pounds, even with its lower capacity, and retails for $340. Deuter’s Aircontact Core 60 + 10 is $40 cheaper than the Maven 58, but it does weigh over a pound more. Mystery Ranch’s Radix 57 costs the same as the Maven ($300), with fewer features and a higher weight of 3.83 pounds.

The Maven 58 is a good in-between bag if you’re looking to cut weight, but don’t want to splurge on upscale, ultralight brands like Hyperlite, whose 55L bags cost $400 and up. 

Gregory Maven 58 Backpack Review: Conclusions

It’s hard to find a pack on the market that offers a better combination of capacity, weight reduction, and price than the Maven. I had no problem stuffing all my gear in, and appreciated the small touches that aided organization. 

I can’t say my back pain experience will be universal. When another GearJunkie writer tested out the men’s version of this pack, the Paragon, he found it to be quite comfortable in all respects. Other Gregory backpacks, like the Jade and Zulu, have also proven to be comfortable in testing and have not caused the same back pain.

My recommendation would be to purchase a Maven from a site with a generous return policy, so you can get a refund if the same thing happens to you. If you’re a multiday backpacker or weekend warrior looking to upgrade your pack without breaking the bank, the Maven should be on your list.