$168 (40 percent off) at REI — Paragon 58
$155 (42 percent off) at REI — Maven 55
It’s nice to be surprised sometimes. When we gave an Editors’ Choice Award to the Gregory Paragon and Maven (the men’s and women’s versions respectively) in 2020, we didn’t think this go-anywhere, do-anything pack could get much better. Fast-forward to today, and our testers report that it’s done just that. While you’ll need to pay full price to get the 2026 edition, you can grab last year’s version of this comfortable hauler for nearly half-off right now: Organizers will find a lot to love in this pack, thanks to a full-length side zip, a brain with a zippered outer pocket and internal key pocket, and stretchy mesh stash pockets on both sides and the front of the pack. Comfort is top-tier too, with a cushy 3D hipbelt, a breathable suspension, and a perforated foam back panel to increase airflow. A wishbone-shaped metal frame and fiberglass cross-stay efficiently transferred weight to our hips while preventing the pack from barreling.
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