Backpacks
Product 2022
Woman, Man
The Gregory Targhee FT 35 is aimed at ski tourers who just go exploring a slope for the day but who also want to rely on a technical bag that can carry a helmet, ice ax, and all the technical gear. But it is especially how you carry the skis which sets this pack apart from others.
The Gregory developers were inspired by how ski mountaineers carry their skis, but they played around with the system. The skis aren’t positioned diagonally on the pack (on the back) but vertically on the right-hand side. The skis can be attached by yourself without taking the pack off.
So, you just slip the tail of your skis into a loop (which can be stored in a compartment to avoid suddenly snagging on a branch in the forest). The skis are then put vertical. There’s an elastic strap, whose end is fixed on the left shoulder strap on the Gregory Targhee FT 35 that goes around the skis, around the pack before sliding the strap back into the stopper located on the left shoulder strap. Sounds easy, out and about you need a bit of practice to shift the skis a little to the rear so the bindings don’t get in the way. Note: carrying comfort is pretty good thanks to the Gregory Targhee FT 35’s semi-rigid and light frames, yet you still have the skis’ vertical position with the tails fairly close to your feet, especially when climbing vertical slopes. Another point, this way of carrying is effective with light touring skis for 35 liters but less convincing with heavy freeride skis kitted with big bindings: they produce too much weight on one side. With a 45-liter volume, it is easier to balance out the masses. At any rate, this Fasttrack carrying system is clever and fast.
In our opinion, the Gregory Targhee FT 35’s other strong point concerns the alliance between the back of the pack and its frame. You get a semi-rigid carrying comfort that follows most of the fore/aft spinal movements but also provides good heavy-load distribution on your back. The shaped shoulder straps are thick, and the foam padding doesn’t flatten down with use.
The Gregory Targhee FT 35 pack gear is complete, with straps and options that don’t add too much in the way of superfluous grams. In fact, it’s a perfect mix between technicality and practicality, like the large diagonal zip that allows the bag to be opened laterally. One point about the storage for the shovel and probe: you need to open three systems before gaining access. You could probably have a direct accessible compartment to save time in an emergency.
The Gregory Targhee FT 35 is a technical ski touring pack with an original and practical carrying method. It can carry heavy loads thanks to its semi-rigid frame. A very good packski tourers and ski mountaineers.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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