Award : Gregory Wins US Outside magazine “Gear of the Year” award for Border 35 Travel Backpack

Gregory, the leading pack maker for over 35 years, has been presented the coveted “Gear of the Year” award from Outside for its Border™ 35 travel backpack. Announced today in the magazine’s Buyer’s Guide, the award adds to the haul of accolades that Gregory has already collected in 2013, including an ISPO award for the Targhee™ 32 and “best luggage” for the Alpaca™ 28 as part of Outside’s Active Travel Awards.

“This award validates the time and energy our team dedicated to designing the Axis Travel series,” states John Sears, director of product development at Gregory. “We spent a lot of time in airports watching and talking to travelers to develop a line of travel bags that perfectly balances convenience, organization and most importantly, fit. We’re thrilled that the experts at Outside agree.” 

In addition to the 35L model, the Border is available in 18 and 25 liters. All models feature an innovative “butterfly” opening that is TSA compatible to allow the bag to go through security screenings without the hassle and delay of removing electronics. The 25L and the 35L versions comfortably carry 15-inch and 17-inch laptops respectively. The back panel easily integrates with the existing Gregory wide handled luggage to create a fully integrated system for the savvy traveler. Additional compartments and interior organizing pockets make the backpack extremely versatile for anything from a coffee shop run to an international business trip. 

The Axis Travel series also includes wheeled luggage that utilizes the Gregory Custom Chassis with wide handle design to maximize interior space and deliver stable rolling. This design moves the handle frame that typically cuts through the middle of wheeled suitcases to the exterior of the bag, so that the bottom of the bag is flat. The wide handle design provides greater stability when rolling the bag, along with more hand positions for greater maneuverability. The handle also provides a generous and stable platform to support additional bags. The series’ oversized custom injection molded ball bearing wheels are designed to roll just about anywhere, but when faced with a steep staircase or other obstacles, the bag's deployable padded strap allows you to sling the bag over your shoulder, or wear it as a backpack. 

The Outside Buyer’s Guide not only highlights the very best in adventure gear, from sports equipment, tools, and gadgets to footwear, outerwear, and sunglasses, but also calls out the best values in each class. This year’s summer edition contains over two dozen ‘Killer Values’ — as well as 170 products under $150—in everything from mountain-bike shoes to waterproof cameras. Organized according to sport and activity, the summer Buyer’s Guide is the ultimate resource for product reviews, technology, news, and tips. 

Now in its 18th year, the annual summer Buyer’s Guide also features editor’s Gear of the Year selections and reaches over 1.3 million frequent gear purchasers. It will be on newsstands all summer, from April 26th through July 22 and at Outside Online. The iPad version, along with other monthly and special issues, will also be available for purchase starting April 26.

Cory Lowe / Backbone Media / cory.lowe@backbonemedia.net / 970-963-4873