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NEW FOR 2011
THE AXIS TRAVEL SERIES Gregory has defined quality, comfort and function for over 30 years. We research, design and build products that meet a higher standard for those whose adventurous lifestyles demand it. We hope our products motivate you, as they do us, to get out and live the good life. When you purchase a Gregory product, you are not only buying a bag, but the quality and reputation behind the brand. Our designers intuitively solve everyday challenges through design and engineering in order to create a more durable and functional product. The design process for our new Axis Travel Line was no different. We’ve developed a superior and more intuitive line of travel bags that will enhance your travel experience, no matter the destination. Features, functionality and innovations in this series are a direct reflection of observing travelers in action and developing thoughtful solutions to their most common issues. In December of 2010, photographer, Tim Kemple, and his dad traveled down to Patagonia, Argentina for some adventure equipped with the new Axis Travel Series. Their story starts on page 8. Words and photography by Tim Kemple
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Why it’s different and better
DESIGNED FROM THE GROUND UP
Through extensive research and listening to the needs and frustrations of travelers, we developed a feature-rich series of luggage ideal for both the business traveler and the destination-bound gear junkie. The end result is a series of roller bags and duffels that regularly brought the word “wide” into our discussions... from luggage handles and duffel openings to dreams of adventures and open spaces.
THE WIDE HANDLE DESIGN MEANS... No-Fuss Handle A wide, retractable handle uses a buttonless locking system that snaps into place at both the stowed and extended positions with a simple push of your hand. No Heel-Kick Multiple handle grip positions allow you to comfortably roll the luggage to either side of your body freeing you to move with a natural stride. Roof Rack Stowage Compared to traditional narrow designs, the wide handle allows a much more stable platform for stacking duffels, briefcases or backpacks. Flat-packing EASE The elimination of the center chassis structure on the interior of the luggage allows for more usable inside space. GEAR PROTECTION Our custom built chassis is constructed of 6061 aluminum bars, glass filled nylon plastic and a molded HDPE framesheet – all providing added stability and bomber protection for your gear packed inside.
ROLLER FEATURES
DURABLE CONVENIENCE WITH EVERY STEP
With bomber materials, well thought-out grab handles, pockets and carry straps, you can travel with comfort and confidence wherever you go.
» Big, wide opening for maximum storage and access » Roof-rack stowage provides a stable platform for top-stacking your other bags » Removable, padded strap allows you to quickly convert the bag to on-back carry when the sidewalk ends » Smart pocketing for everything from toiletries to folded shirts » Super durable materials including ballistic nylon » Numerous grab handles
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DUFFEL FEATURES
GEAR HAULING MADE EASY
The Stash and Alpaca Duffels are built for sturdy gear hauling while still maintaining a quality aesthetic that you can expect from Gregory. Ergonomic harnesses make on-back carry easy Harnesses secure together for a traditional duffel-style carry handle Wide mouth openings provide easy access to all gear, even in corners Padded tops for added comfort when carrying as a pack Zippered organizational pockets Bomber materials Multiple grab handles
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features
CACHE 28 7
CACHE 22
CARRY-ON SIZE
» Wide aluminum handle easily snaps up into place and allows for a natural walking stride » Co-molded, soft-touch grip » Wide roll cage chassis on interior allows for flat packing of clothing and provides a protective barrier around your belongings » Protective, bathtub-style main body made from molded EVA foam and 1200 D ballistic » Bumpers on the exterior and bottom of luggage provide abrasion protection » Convertible carry strap quickly attaches to top and bottom loops for on-back carry when needed » Wide handle provides a stable base to rest briefcases and duffels » Keeper strap for attaching briefcase or carry-on to luggage and securing handle during check in » 4” injection molded, oversized wheels give you a lifetime of superior rolling performance » Large top stash pocket can fit a pair of shoes (28”) » Key clip in stash pocket » Front padded sleeve pocket can fit a 15” laptop or folded shirts (22”)
HISTORY
There’s an old saying that goes, ‘It’s the journey that’s important, not the getting there’. Fortunately for me, my life the past several years has been one nonstop journey and occasionally I do, in fact, get ‘there’… wherever there might be. Usually ‘there’ involves a mountain of some sort, and once a year, for a week or two, it also involves one of my best friends and climbing partners – my father. Not many people get to experience the outdoors with their family the way I have with my dad: from trips to the Utah desert, Cirque of the Unclimbables in Canada, Rocky Mountain National Park, to Yosemite, many of my best memories involve the mountains AND my dad to some degree. You know its funny, the older you get, the more you appreciate how good you had it as a kid. That’s why, if for only a couple weeks each year, I meet up with my dad and explore some of the great mountains of the world. This past year we went on our biggest adventure yet with one goal in mind – bag an alpine summit in the heart of Argentine Patagonia.
» 4 exterior compression straps can be configured for crossover compression (28”) » ID card pocket on outside of luggage leaves business card visible, but personal info protected » Padded grab handles on the top, side and bottom » Interior compression straps to secure contents » 2 interior zippered organization pockets » 840 D and 1680 D Ballistic main body material
Tarmac black
Sunset red
dimensions
Safari green
volume
CACHE 22” 9" x 14" x 22" 47L CACHE 28” 12” x 14” x 28” 77L
weight
7LBS 12OZ / 3.5KG 9LBS 8OZ / 4.3KG
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features
ALPACA 28
9
ALPACA 22
CARRY-ON SIZE
» Wide aluminum handle easily snaps up into place and allows offset carry and natural walking stride » Co-molded, soft-touch grip » Chassis constructed from 6061 aluminum bars, glass filled nylon plastic and a HDPE framesheet provides bomber protection » Protective, bathtub-style main body made from molded EVA foam and 1200 D ballistic » Bumpers on the exterior and bottom of luggage provide abrasion protection » Convertible carry strap quickly attaches to top and bottom loops for on-back carry when needed » Keeper strap for attaching briefcase or carry-on luggage and securing handle during check in » 4” injection molded, oversized wheels give you a lifetime of superior rolling performance » Top zippered stash pocket » External compression straps can be configured for crossover compression » ID card pocket on outside of luggage leaves business card visible, but personal info protected
» Grab handles on the top, side and bottom » Wide roll cage chassis on interior allows for flatpacking of clothing and provides a protective barrier around your belongings » Interior compression straps to secure contents » Large interior zippered organization pocket with key clip » Water-resistant TPU coated 1200 D Ballistic main body material
Tarmac black
ALPACA 22 ALPACA 28
Sunset red
dimensions
28 x 36 x 56cm 34 x 36 x 71cm
volume weight 53L 4.2KG
80L
4.5KG
TRAVEL
If you look on a map you’ll notice that there isn’t much between Patagonia and Antarctica besides a few hundred miles of cold violent ocean. So it’s no surprise that getting down there is a journey in itself. After meeting up with Pops in the international terminal of the Buenos Aires airport, we hailed a cab to take us across the city to the local airport. From there, another flight, another cab ride, and a 3 hour bus ride spit us out tired and hungry at the foot of the great peaks that we’d dreamed so much about. Even though he’s in is 60s, Pop’s thirst for adventure is insatiable. Sometimes it seems like he dreams bigger the older he gets.
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ALPACA DUFFEL 120 / 90 / 60 / 40 L features
» Waterproof and extra durable Tarpaulin material » Adjustable and detachable padded shoulder straps » Padded top lid with large U-shaped opening » Main carry handles with integrated padding quickly convert to shoulder harnesses » Heavy duty daisy chain on sides » Cross-over compression straps » Grab handles on both ends » Zippered mesh pocket under top lid » Internal compression straps » Heavy duty buckles
STASH DUFFEL 115 / 95 / 65 / 45 L features
» Large zippered opening to main compartment provides exceptional access to interior » Can be carried with padded backpack harness straps or with traditional duffel-style handle » Top of bag is padded for comfortable carry against back » Zippered exterior pocket with key clip » Compression straps on each end » 4 tubular webbing grab handles » 800 D and 1680 D Ballistic Nylon main body materials
Tarmac SIZE
115 95 65 45
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dimensions
29" x 17.5" x 14" 29” x 16” x 11” 25” x 13.5” x 11” 21.5” x 13.5” x 11”
Sunset volume 115L
95L 65L 45L
Safari weight
2LBS 6OZ / 1.1KG 2LBS / 0.9KG 1LBS 14OZ / 0.85KG 1LBS 8OZ / 0.7KG
Black SIZE
120 90 60 40
dimensions
30" x 16" x 15" 29” x 13” x 15” 26” x 11” x 14” 22” x 10” x 12”
White volume 120L
90L 60L 40L
weight
4LBS 13OZ / 2.2KG 4LBS 1OZ / 1.85KG 3LBS 7OZ / 1.55KG 3LBS 1OZ / 1.4KG
WEATHER
I’ve never seen weather change as fast as it does in Patagonia. The Dr. Seuss-like spikey summits sit some 10,000 ft above town and use the cold ice cap winds to suck in clouds like a black hole. You can literally watch storms form before your eyes. For two weeks we saw every form of precipitation you’ve ever heard of, and only a couple blinks of sun. We had two failed attempts on peaks in the higher mountains and our spirits were at an all time low. We’d sat out rain, snow and bad weather on previous trips, but our patience with each other and with the distractions around town grew stale. We needed two solid days of sun to have any hope of getting on top of even the smallest objectives in the range; and with only a week left before both Pops and I had to check back into reality, I was beginning to think we might not see a summit day. Coming to terms with simply enjoying the journey: the people, places, hiking, flights, food, wasn’t too difficult. So with only a couple days left Pops and I began slowly packing up our bags for the long slog back to the US and began planning a quick detour through Chile to explore some new terrain.
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CACHE 28
CHECKED LUGGAGE
CACHE 22
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
STASH
WIDE MOUTH DUFFEL 13
ALPACA 28
CHECKED WHEELED DUFFEL
ALPACA 22
CARRY-ON WHEELED DUFFEL
ALPACA
HEAVY-DUTY DUFFEL
THE CLIMB
Then as fast as the weather had been forming for the past weeks on the peaks -- it cleared. The town became alive, like a colony of ants that had work to do. Food – check! Gear – check! Topo – check! Everyone was headed into the hills, psyched to brush off the cobwebs of days spent cooped up indoors. We had the two-day window we needed and if everything worked perfectly we would be back in town the night before we needed to be on a bus headed home. The next 72 hours flew by in a whirlwind journey that I can barely remember. Getting blown over repeatedly on the glacier as the storms moved out of the peaks. One of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen. Climbing endless snow couloirs that sucked the life out of our legs. ProBars. Sun. Rock climbing. Summit. Never ending rappels. Post holing through sun drenched glacier crust. Navigating a sea of crevasses. Death march out of the hills, back into town. Way after midnight. 3 hours sleep. Bus. Cab. Airplane. Cab. Airplane. Airplane…Bed. I awoke with 10 fingers and ten toes and for a second wondered if it was just a dream -- a quick trip to the living room to see the pile of stinky poly-pro and bottles of Argentine Malbec was all that was needed to know that another adventure with Pops was reality. -TK
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AXIS TRAVEL
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