# Gregory Paragon 60 vs Durston Kakwa 55: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Gregory Paragon 60 (Gregory) and Durston Kakwa 55 (Durston Gear) among backpacking packs. Durston Kakwa 55 is the cheaper of the two at $279.

## Side by side

| Spec | Gregory Paragon 60 | Durston Kakwa 55 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299.95 | $279 |
| Brand | Gregory | Durston Gear |
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Capacity liters | 60 | 70 |
| Weight grams | — | 895 |
| Max load (kg) | 23 | 20 |
| Frame type | internal | internal |
| Torso range (cm) | 38-48 | 43-51 |
| Material denier | 100 | 200 |
| Num external pockets | 6 | — |
| Hydration compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Rain cover included | No | No |
| Access type | top-bottom | top |
| Ventilated back | No | No |

## Key differences

- Capacity liters: Gregory Paragon 60 60 vs Durston Kakwa 55 70
- Max load (kg): Gregory Paragon 60 23 vs Durston Kakwa 55 20
- Torso range (cm): Gregory Paragon 60 38-48 vs Durston Kakwa 55 43-51
- Material denier: Gregory Paragon 60 100 vs Durston Kakwa 55 200
- Access type: Gregory Paragon 60 top-bottom vs Durston Kakwa 55 top

## What reviewers say

**Gregory Paragon 60** — Two whitelisted hands-on testers, CleverHiker and GearJunkie, both rate the Gregory Paragon 60 highly and name it their top overall backpacking pack. Both praise its standout comfort, the supportive FreeFloat hip belt, the cushioned mesh back panel, and useful pockets. Both note weight/mobility as its main trade-off. GearJunkie separately flags the missing rain cover; CleverHiker flags the nearly-all-mesh back stash pocket as a durability concern. The only lab-style benchmark is GearJunkie's measured pack weight (3 lbs., 8 oz., men's S/M). (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Gregory Paragon 60: https://eu.gregorypacks.com/uk-en/-paragon-60-md-lg-rc--alpine-black/153030-A543.html (eu.gregorypacks.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Durston Kakwa 55: https://durstongear.com/products/kakwa-55?currency=USD (durstongear.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/backpacking-packs/gregory-paragon-60-vs-durston-kakwa-55/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Gregory Paragon 60 ($299.95) vs Durston Kakwa 55 ($279) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/backpacking-packs/gregory-paragon-60-vs-durston-kakwa-55/
License: CC BY 4.0.