Gregory Citro 24L H2O Unisex Day Hiking/Backpacking Hydration Backpack with Included Reservoir, Breathable Backpanel and Shoulder Harness, One Size Fits All, Spark Orange

Backpack review Osprey Manta 24 vs Gregory Citro 24 I narrowed my decision for a daypack with frame and hip-belt with pockets down to these two packs, based on high reviews for both. Manta kudos: has a better back trampoline, pack fully separate from the back. Trekking pole stash while wearing. Built-in rain cover. Adjustable shoulder strap height. Citro kudos: smaller, looks less “over the top”; shoulder straps were more comfortable; more subdivision for storage; larger stretch pocket; easier zippers on waist belt pockets. Equal: side mesh pockets accessible with pack on; both are comfortable, both sit on hips well and take pack weight off shoulders. Both good packs, but kept the Citro. Mainly for trimmer size and better pockets (I prefer multiple pockets, the Manta design was more about one large central storage area). I didn’t prefer (but wasn’t totally against) the Manta’s sideways-entry back panel pocket. The Manta shoulder straps were slightly chafing my shoulders on test loads, so it concerned me that might amplify on actual hikes. I also heard some intermittent squeaking from the Manta on test loads walked around my small house. I really liked the Citro’s pocket setup, lots of areas to subdivide gear, the main storage area had a small separate zippered pouch up top. The main storage is plenty big, but the Manta was bigger. The Manta had smaller and less of the various outer pockets. The back stretch pocket was noticeable smaller than on the Citro. If you don’t like lots of sections and pockets, you won’t want the Citro. I didn’t get a chance to try the water reservoir in the Manta, since I returned it, but even just the connection system for the hanger was easier on the Citro. The Citro mouthpiece worked great, but wasn’t anything special. It looked like the same mouthpiece on the Manta. The reservoir is very easy to access, attach/remove, and fill. I also like that the tube disconnect was up top, unlike my old Camelbak. Both seemed to use the same or similar sternum strap connector, it was minimalist and magnetic (but also had hooks to keep it attached). It can be connected and disconnected one-handed. It worked great on the Citro. The mouth piece stays magnetically attached just fine. And there is also a strap storage hook for the tube when not wearing the pack. The Citro overall felt more like a souped-up day pack, while the Manta seemed more like a toned down backpacking pack. I’m not sure if they both had the same storage volume of 24 liters, but the Manta just looked bigger. It was visibly bigger just sitting next to the Citro. Maybe the Citro was more about the multiple pockets for the volume, while the Manta was more about “one big pocket” design which made the pack need to be larger. And the better back trampoline support in the Manta may have also been a factor. Might have just made it appear larger. I don’t think you could go wrong with either pack. I preferred the multiple smaller pockets approach of the Citro, along with the trimmer profile, the easier to access and unzip waist belt pockets, and the well-engineered water reservoir system. I have to also note that upgrading to a pack with a frame and a hip belt was a worthy investment for my hikes. It’s night and day as far as hauling my gear compared to the Camelbak MULE I am upgrading from. I’ve been using the Citro on multiple extended day hikes, and have been very pleased with the choice and the purchase. I have no regrets, and find that Gregory has put a lot of thought into all the details of this pack.

This is a great light weight pack, the shoulders and support against my back are very comfortable on rugged terrain hikes. I have past surgeries on my shoulders, and other packs have always given me issues, this Gregory Pack does not! Hip pockets are awesome for carrying bandaids, small items and such. The water pack when full does take take up room in the pack, however when filling at 2ltr. It works great for a nice 3-5 hike. Only negative, the H2O bite valve has a magnet that sticks to a clip on the pack, which is very weak….

I want to give this five stars but the stretch pocket on the back is kind of useless. With a full water bladder and extra water for my dog (two 40 oz hydroflasks) that back pocket has hardly any room to expand. Like I feel like I will tear the fabric. I wanted to put my camera and telephoto lens there. I can without the hydroflasks but even then it still feels shallow. The other reason for losing a star is, the waist straps magically tighten on their own or loosen. No actual way to lock them down in a final position other than tape. This is annoying on hikes. Now the good. This is a durable bag and holds plenty of water for me for all day hikes. I even strap my Siberian Husky to the waist strap by her leash. She tugs at it for the past year or more and it’s held up extremely well. No wear or anything. I love this pack overall but just need a little more room.

Well built and easy on the back. I could have used a backpack with more volume for water during the summer and a heavy coat during the winter.

Well made, lightweight, durable. Fits great with lots of adjustment. Included hydration pouch is one of the best on the market. Used this most recently in Olympic, Rainer and North Cascades over 10 days. It did not disappoint. Highly recommend.