Gregory Arrio Review

Testing the Arrio

We took a couple of the Gregory Arrio’s with us to the Dolomites last autumn and were really excited about it. While it’s always fun to swap out the bigger long-distance packs for daypacks, day packs normally come without some of the features that make long-distance packs so comfortable. But they incorporated those into the Arrio, which is what made it our first choice.

The Arrio has a flexible hipbelt that gives just enough support without going overboard. Because the pack range is between 20-30L, you won’t be carrying anything too heavy in this (max. suggested carry weight is ~10kg). Which means that a flexible hip belt that moves with you is key. I found it to be really comfortable.

It is also, as I’ve mentioned, a fantastic ventilated day pack. The VaporSpan back panel works well and felt light when I was carrying it. Likewise, the shoulder straps are ventilated, too, with perforated foam and open mesh. It feels almost bouncy!

When we were out on the trails, we stuffed these packs as full as we could with picnic supplies, layers, water, and even gear for a cheeky mountain hut stay one night. The design definitely withstood our testing.

About the Arrio

The Gregory Arrio is a step up from your average day pack. If you’re looking for something that will keep up with all your packing demands and still stay as comfortable as possible, this is it. I’ve tried a lot of day packs, and the Arrio just feels like it’s got all of the ventilation and mesh that you can put in a smaller bag like this without it feeling overboard. Any more and I worry it would feel like too much, but they’ve hit the nail on the head, so to say.

The Arrio is unisex and has three sizes, 20L, 22L, and 30L. I bought the 22L, but I tested out all of the sizes at the store and they have a very similar fit. There are also four color options that are lovely shades of grey, blue, yellow and black for a subdued profile that won’t stand out super starkly when you’re in nature.

The pack has one main pocket that closes with a quick-pull drawcord, and then is covered with a flip top that has a zippered pocket. There are also a pair of side stretch mesh pockets, and a hydration sleeve in case you want to add a reservoir. Finally, the pack also has a few different loops for attachments, so you can really deck it out with all of your hiking accessories. Gone are the days of the sagging school backpack on trail!

One thing that also came in handy was the included raincover. We ran into a few drizzly days since it was autumn when we went, and I think we were in a bit of denial about the possibility of precipitation, so we didn’t pack any raincovers of our own. Needless to say, having those available was definitely a lifesaver when the skies opened up.

Conclusion

All in all, the Arrio is a fantastic ventilated day pack. I found it to be comfortable, breathable, lightweight, and convenient. It’s a beautiful bag with everything you need for a day hike. I’ll be keeping this as my main day-hiking bag for a long time to come, since it really does everything I need, and more than I thought possible from such a small bag.