Gregory Packs new Palisade 80 Backpack this month won a bronze European OutDoor Industry Award, a distinction bestowed on the most noteworthy new products at the OutDoor 2007 summer trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

The award, announced on day one of the four-day trade show, was one of 30 given to products with “particularly innovative designs and above-average product quality.” An international jury whittled the winners from a field of 204 entries from 21 countries.

Products in different competition categories were evaluated for innovation, design quality, workmanship, choice of materials, environmental compatibility, functionality, utility, safety, trendsetting character and brand value/branding.

The Palisade 80, a new backpack that shares the name of its predecessor, is one of six new 2008 packs in its backpacking line that Gregory unveiled at the OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen. The pack line will debut in North America at the Outdoor Retailer Show Aug. 9-12 in Salt Lake City.

The Palisade 80 features a reengineered and updated version of Gregory’s award-winning Response suspension system, first unveiled in 2006. The new version, called Response Custom Fit Suspension (CFS) and tailored for packs intended to carry heavier loads, employs an innovative new ratchet system that quickly and easily adjusts the pack’s hip angle to fit its wearer. In addition, it features a thermo-molded back panel that employs newly developed co-molding technology, a new anti-barreling cross stay between the two main stays, clean tone-on-tone design and a variety of other new technology. It is also nearly a quarter pound lighter than its predecessor. As well, all PVC has been eliminated from the Palisade, along with all other packs in the Gregory backpacking line. The same features are found in the new Whitney 95 and women’s specific Deva 85 packs.

Gregory has also released reengineered, lighter-weight versions of its Baltoro 70, Triconi 60 and women’s specific Deva 60 packs for 2008. Those packs employ Response Auto Fit Suspension, a lighter version of Gregory’s Response Suspension more tailored for weekend to five-day trips.

For more information about Gregory packs, visit www.gregorypacks.com.

Mountain Gear’s 24th Anniversary Sale starts today, Monday the 23rd, and will be run through August 13. These are their best sale prices of the year with savings up to 79% on top outdoor gear, including a great selection of backpacks. For example, the Osprey Atmos 50 is on sale for $129.98 (normally $199), The North Face Jester for $38.97 (normally $48.95) and the Arcteryx Bora 50 for $179.98 (normally $245). Click the banner below to be taken to the sale.

The lightweight revolution continues with the Gregory Z55. This backpack weighs in at a svelte 3 pounds 5 ounces (medium). It will hold all the gear you need for your ultralight backpacking adventure. Gregory Packs also made sure that you wouldn’t overheat wearing the Z 55 by equipping it with their Jet Stream Suspension. The Jet Stream includes a perforated frame sheet and a mesh back panel in order to promote ventilation. The padded harness and waist-belt also feature moisture-wicking mesh, to keep you from getting all sweaty underneath your pack. Padding in the lumbar region and at the shoulder blades makes carrying your load comfortable while the aluminum stays give you lightweight vertical load support. Get into the Z55 from the top or the side, and load your quick access items, like snacks, your camera, or rain shell, in the external pockets or your waist-belt pockets. Even though the Z 55 is lightweight, it is still made with super durable materials. The 210D High tenacity ripstop and twill nylon will stand up to years of abuse. It comes in 3 sizes: Small: 3,050 cu. in. / 3 lbs. 2 oz., Medium: 3,350 cu. in. / 3 lbs. 5 oz., Large: 3,660 cu. in. / 3 lbs. 8 oz.

Gregory Mountain Products has set a Retail Price of $189 for the Z55 Backpack

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The Granite Gear Stuffball is the opposite of a big backpack. It may be little, but it packs utility and fun. This ultralight cordura ball is made with water-resistant YKK zippers to create a fun camp toy as well as a useful stuff bag. It weighs less than an ounce and has a 25 cubic inch capacity. When stuffed with bandanas (or a shirt or any other soft small garment) the ball takes shape and is ready for action, whether it be as a great rope slinger or dodge ball. And for those of you that like to drop back into the pocket, check out the Stuff Football. The Stuff Football has more than triple the capacity (85 cubic inches) and weighs 1.3 ounces.

Granite Gear has set a Retail Price of $11 for the Stuffball and $12 for the Football.

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Get discounts of up to 40% off from The North Face, Marmot, Arcteryx, Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia. The sale starts today and runs through July 26th. Some sample sale backpacks include the Arcteryx Naos 55 for $386 (normally $500), the Arcteryx Bora 62 for $279 (normally $350), and the Mountain Hardwear Harrier for $230 (normally $330). Click the banner below to be taken to the Backcountry Summer Clearance Sale Page.

Get a FREE Osprey Rain Cover with any Osprey Backpack purchase over $129 at Moosejaw.com. Simply add the backpack and the rain cover to your cart and you’ll see the rain cover automatically change to $0. Choose from 4 available sizes. From the Aura to the Crescent, keep your gear dry in a downpour with the free Osprey raincover from Moosejaw.

Osprey Packs Inc. cranked out multiple miles and much enthusiasm from its staff during Colorado’s Bike to Work Day on June 27, 2007. Of the 23 people who came to work, 18 chose to travel by bike, which collectively totaled 244 miles in commuting distance.

“We’re thrilled that nearly 100% of our staff biked to work today” said Gareth Martins, Director of Marketing for Osprey. “It is our hope that Osprey can set an example for other local businesses as to how important and fun not driving your car to work can be”. Though many chose to participate by pedaling in, Martins explained that more than half of employees bike, carpool or walk to work with some regularity throughout the year.

Traveling from several towns around Osprey’s Cortez headquarters, employees racked-up the miles and prevented an estimated 12.2 gallons of gas from being burned (20 miles per gallon average in a vehicle). Based on calculations from Sam Mix, Osprey Marketing Associate and Corporate Sustainability Coordinator, employees were responsible for preventing 340 pounds, or 28 pounds per gallon, of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.

As an incentive to pedal their way into work, Osprey offered $1500 in prizes to eager employees who participated. Prizes were offered for the event from outdoor companies including Outdoor Research, The McNett Corporation, Osprey Packs Inc. and Statik Mountain.

In addition to Bike to Work Day, the Osprey Sustainable Transportation Program provides financial incentives for non-motorized commuting to employees throughout the year. Since its inception in 2006, the program has seen 2217 individual non-motorized trips with $1108.50 paid in rewards to staff.

About Osprey Packs
From our humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to our current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Our mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects our love of adventure and our devotion to the outdoors. We succeed when we meet the demanding expectation of our most discerning customers and they are proud to use our packs. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience. Visit OspreyPacks.com for more information.

Gregory Packs was the top backpack manufacturer named by Backpacker Magazine subscribers in four out of five categories of a recent survey titled “What we know about Backpacker Subscribers’ Backpacks.” The survey, which was mailed to Backpacker subscribers in 2006, asked them to rank brands of backpacks. Gregory was the top brand named in four categories that asked subscribers to rank brands based on the following criteria: ‘most comfort,’ ‘best performance,’ ‘most advanced technology’ and ‘leading brands of backpacks.’

Backpacker subscribers ranked between 11 and 14 different brands in each category of the survey, which also concluded that more than 95 percent of its readers own at least one backpack, and that 17 percent plan on purchasing a new pack in the next 12 months.

The survey, conducted for Backpacker by Erdos & Morgan, invited 1,000 paid U.S. Backpacker subscribers, selected on a random basis, to participate. It was mailed to participants and 454 completed surveys were mailed back to Erdos & Morgan.

For more information about Gregory packs, visit www.gregorypacks.com.

The Arcteryx Briza line of backpacks are the little sisters of the famous Arcteryx Bora series of packs. The Briza’s are made with the same design elements and quality materials as the Bora’s, however, they are fashioned specifically to fit a women’s body.

Arcteryx backpacks are known for quality, and the Briza 62 is a multi-day pack of the highest quality for the discerning female backpacker. It will carry your load in comfort with its women’s specific suspension system that uses dual aluminum stays and Thermoformed shoulder and hip-belt straps. The large front pocket, sleeping bag compartment, full-length side zipper and internal laminated pocket keep everything organized and accessible. WaterTight zips and coated 420D fabric add toughness and repel the elements. Like a lot of other big backpacks, the top lid comes off and doubles as a fanny pack for day hikes away from base camp.

The Briza 62 comes in 2 colors, red berry or lime and 3 sizes: Short, Regular and Tall. With interchangeable dual density shoulder straps and interchangeable thermoformed hipbelt, you can dial the Briza 62 in specifically to your body type. The specs of each size are as follow:

Short: Weight: 6 lbs, Volume: 3540 cu in, extends to: 4150 cu in
Regular: Weight: 6 lbs 3 oz, Volume: 3780 cu in, extends to: 4390 cu in
Tall: Weight: 6 lbs 6 oz, Volume: 4030 cu in, extends to: 4640 cu in

Arc’Teryx has set a Retail Price of $350 for the Briza 62 Backpack

Buy This Pack Online Right Now @ MooseJaw.com - Use exclusive coupon code 22111 for 11% off full priced or 6% off on-sale backpacks and gear at Moosejaw!

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I know, I know, Maps.com doesn’t sell backpacks. However they do have the largest selection of maps on the entire web. You need maps to get out there for your next backpacking adventure, and you may as well get a deal. Simply click on one of the links below and use the coupon code at checkout. Coupons expire on July 31, 2007:

7% OFF All Road Atlases with promotion code 7ROAD
5% Off All Orders with promotion code MAP5DEAL