Have you ever been on a local day hike, and it takes five minutes to find your chapstick because it’s swimming around an open cavernous backpack? Or you carry a backpack on the trail, but it’s so empty that it feels utterly lopsided with a Nalgene in one of the side pockets? I’ve been in these situations so many times that I finally called it. I need a smaller backpack for day hikes. Luckily I found the Gregory Maya 10, with my favorite features from my other packs — a hip belt with pockets, whistle on the chest strap, just enough space to store extra layers, and even more interior and exterior pockets for smaller items. I tried it out for most of 2022 and cannot wait to share more.
In this post, I’ll discuss my experience with the Gregory Maya 10 – why I got it, where I used it, my favorite features, and the possible downsides. If you’re looking for a smaller hiking backpack, add the Maya 10 to the list of possibilities. It rates high in my book.
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Why Did I Get the Maya 10?
In 2021, I noticed a gap in my hiking and travel backpacks. For quick, local day hikes, I would reach for this random packable backpack that I got from Amazon instead of one of my more technical hiking backpacks. The packable backpack has served me well while traveling and backcountry backpacking, but with local hikes, I had access to all my packs. Why was that? Mainly the size. For these local hikes, I realized I only needed to carry 5-ish things – water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, mini-wallet, tripod, phone, and a place to shove my jacket. I didn’t need 20L or 28L of space, where my five things would collect and jumble around the cavernous main pocket. Instead, I wanted something quick, lightweight, and close to the body.
Upon researching smaller-sized backpacks, I came across the Gregory Maya 10, which had a hip belt and pockets. With the hip belt, I knew the pack would stay close to the body but with easy access to snacks or my phone. And that’s where we are today.
Where Did I Test out the Maya 10?
I’ve essentially used this backpack throughout the year! While I expected to write this post during the summer, the longer I had the backpack, the more I kept using it and getting great photos. Here is where I’ve taken the pack:
- California hikes, like the Gaviota Wind Caves, Gaviota Peak, an entire day on Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park, Rifle Peak in Lake Tahoe, and exploring Yosemite National Park.
- Oregon hikes, like Moon and Spirit Falls (blog post coming soon!)
- Probably more short day hikes that I’m not thinking of….?
Major takeaway: The Gregory Maya 10 quickly became my go-to day pack for local hikes. I would keep it loaded with sunscreen, chapstick, and a few other handy items, so it was ready for action at a moment’s notice. However, when traveling with limited space, I would skip bringing this pack as it would take up too much space. So when I traveled to Idaho or planned to go day hiking from my backpacking campground, I didn’t bring this pack. I hope to bring it along when traveling further, but until I figure out how, it will likely be my local day hike pack.
At a Glance:
- Brand: Gregory Packs
- Direct Website: Gregory Maya 10
- Other Websites that Carry the Maya 10: Moosejaw.com, also REI.com carries the Maya 16
- Price at the time of writing: $99.95
- Weight: 1.45 lbs
- Color: Riviera Blue
Favorite Features:
- Hip belt! Fits close to the body, so it’s not bouncing around on the downhills or when you decide to jog on the trail.
- Adjustable torso and backpack straps to ensure it is fitted to your body.
- Pockets galore so your smaller items don’t get lost in the abyss, and you can store a good amount of gear.
- Unzips almost entirely to reach items at the bottom
- Extra bells and whistles — there is a whistle on the chest strap, a cushioned pocket for your phone, and a sunglasses bungee on one of the backpack straps.
Drawbacks:
- Side pockets do not comfortably fit a regular-sized Nalgene. However, there is a hydration pack setup water should be handy either way.
- Does not fold/bend/compact further, so I skipped this pack if I traveled by plane, backpacking, or had limited space.
My Favorite Features:
Hip Belt Comfort:
Not many 10L to 16L backpacks have a hip belt – makers probably figure that it’s not necessary on a smaller pack. However, it is one of my favorite features of the Maya 10 because it hugs close to my body and creates easily-accessible pockets. While I’m not ready to go straight into trail running vests, I love that the hip belt keeps the pack close to the body and moves with me instead of separately from me. This might be my insecurities talking, but a trail running vest feels way too formal or serious for a casual day hike… maybe I need to give them a try before I say anything else.
And with two easily-accessible pockets, I’m a happy camper. I typically put my chapstick, a snack, and phone in my pockets. Unfortunately, my iPhone 12 Pro does not fit fully into the pocket (my older iPhone 8 did), especially when the hip belt is on and curving around my body. Instead, I put the phone in at an angle and partially zip the pocket, which makes it *mostly* secure. The phone still sticks out, but as someone constantly taking photos of the trails, this was like a handy shelf. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to others. I loved having the hip belt pockets!!
Compact:
When researching packs, I saw that the Gregory Maya has multiple sizes – 10L, 16L, 22L, 30L, and 40L. I debated getting the 16L as it is more readily available at places like REI but ultimately went with the smaller size to honestly try out a smaller pack. And you know what? It totally fits everything I need for day hiking. I even took the pack on a full-day adventure to Anacapa Island, where I needed snacks for an entire day and a place to store my extra jackets on an unseasonably warm day. 10L holds a surprising amount while still being compact.
A couple of great things about having a smaller pack include: it fits in more places and won’t get massive, you need to think critically about the things you need, and it won’t get too heavy. I like how it makes me consider bringing items specific for that hike I’m about to go on.
Clever Pockets and Adjustable:
The clever pocket design is one reason I can still fit a lot into the pack despite the compact size. There are 8 pockets, including 2 hip belt pockets, 2 side mesh pockets, 1 front mesh pocket, 1 small cushioned top pocket, 1 internal mesh pocket for keys/wallet, and the main compartment separated by the hydration bladder pocket. I would stash small items in the smaller pockets and know where everything was located. As for the main compartment, Gregory added a feature where the zippers go far along the sides, so you can unzip the backpack almost entirely.
The vertical length of the backpack is adjustable, in addition to the top and bottom straps. I’ve primarily seen this on backpacking backpacks, but the torso length can be adjusted using a gnarly velcro backing topper to sit more comfortably with the hip belts at the right spot. There is a limit to how short it can go, but I also read a great review from a 5’2” woman. If you’re short and try this backpack, let me know! The back and straps are also a comfy foam! All of these adjustments made it so I could get the pack to fit snugly to my body. Once I am buckled in, it is very snug and moves with me. Not necessarily a trail runner; I have jogged for short periods in this pack and feel totally secure.
List of Features:
Honestly, the Maya 10 is packed with features. Here’s everything I could think of, with some reiterated from my favorite parts above:
- Adjustable torso length!! So you can adjust the pack to fit your body
- Many pockets! Including hip pockets!
- The main compartment unzips almost entirely, so you get to the items at the bottom quickly
- Foam backing with breathable mesh panel
- Foam on backpack straps.
- Whistle built into the chest strap
- Sunglasses holder on the shoulder strap
- Set up for hydration bladder
- The top pocket is padded with soft lining
- Reinforced bottom of the pack
- There is a plus-sized version available on the Gregory Packs Website
Gregory Maya 10 Drawbacks: Side Pockets and Non-Compactable
Small Side Pockets:
Not to be confused with the hip belt, there is a mesh pocket on either side of the main pack, which is pretty standard on all backpacks these days. Typically, I like to store my Nalgene water bottle in one of these side pockets for easier access, and it won’t crush all of my snacks inside the pack. But due to the narrow width of the Maya 10, the mesh pockets are more narrow and cannot hold a 1L-sized Nalgene very easily. I even had to use a little muscle when putting in the bike bottle you see in the photos. I guess these mesh pockets will stretch out eventually, and I could probably fit a Nalgene, but in the meantime, I’ve been storing the Nalgene inside the pack.
Instead, the Maya 10 is set up to hold a hydration bladder, including a bladder pocket and slit at the top of the pack for the hose to go through. Using a hydration bladder seems like a great call because I felt locked and loaded when I buckled the hip belt. I still need to test this feature, but I believe it would work beautifully.
Not Further Compactable
Okay, I know I said the pack was compact; however, it does not get any smaller. Which is expected for a technical backpack! I’m just comparing it to my flimsy foldable bag from Amazon. I could force the backpack to fold, compromising the foam or other features. This is absolutely fine when storing and using it from home. However, when traveling or backpacking, I would skip over this pack (even when I knew I would be day-hiking) for something that could fit inside my suitcase. Luckily, it is pretty flat! I’m really splitting hairs here.
Useage Review: Who is the Gregory Maya 10 Best For?
The Gregory Maya 10 exceeded my expectations for a 10 Liter backpack with its clever design. The adjustable torso and various pockets make it exceptionally comfortable, and can hold a lot of gear. It moves with you on the trail with a few small items accessible in the hip belt pockets. In the reviews, I also saw people use it while bike riding or trail running.
Overall, the pack is best for local day hikes, light trail running, and biking when you don’t need a ton of gear. For me, that’s anywhere from 0.5 miles to 10 miles or more, depending on the weather. It will hold what you need in a nicely organized way, and you will feel comfortable while wearing it. I also love that it’s typically under $100 and has a plus-sized version available, making the pack more accessible to more people. Go Gregory!
Who is Gregory Packs?
I’m sad that before the Maya 10, I had minimal experience with the brand Gregory. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about them sooner because they aim to make the world’s most comfortable, reliable packs. When browsing the website, I noticed they had a plus-sized version of most backpacks (LOVE THAT!!), and with the adjustable torso on the Maya 10 pack, I can see the company striving to be ultra-comfortable for more people. As for reliability, I used the Maya 10 all year, and it barely looks worn. It has a super solid construction, and while researching this section of my blog post, I discovered that Gregory Packs has a lifetime guarantee pack repair – score!!! Guess I’ll be rockin’ the Maya 10 for a while.
As for sustainability, the company aims for carbon neutrality, actively seeks ways to reduce packaging, and monitors the supply chain. While I am no expert, I love that this is a focus for the company and hope they continue to focus on this in the future. Overall, I am comfortable supporting this brand and would purchase from them again. What’s your impression of Gregory Packs? Let me know in the comments!!
Full Transparency: Gifted Gregory, My Opinions
For total transparency, I wanted to let you know that I received the Gregory Maya 10 at no cost. I sought out smaller-sized backpacks after using the Amazon packable backpack for a year or two. I discovered the Gregory Maya 10 and reached out to see if I could test it. They are aware of my writing this post but have yet to learn what my specific opinions about the backpack will be. Going into the post, I assumed it would be a good backpack, and now it is my go-to pack for shorter day hikes. I love the hip belt for extra security, snacks, and a place to rest my phone. You’ll likely see this backpack show up in the future as I plan to continue using it! In short (or should I say backpack), all opinions are my own.
Overall Thoughts: Gregory Maya 10 Hiking Backpack
The Gregory Maya 10 is the perfect compact backpack for local day hikes, with plentiful pockets to keep you organized and a hip belt to keep it snug to your body. It’s an excellent option for hitting the local trails – quick and light. Speaking of quick and light, I’ve been storing some of the gear inside my pack – lip balm, sunscreen, mini-bathroom kit, tissue, headlamp, etc. to keep the hiking prep even shorter. These little nick-nacks are SO handy but easy to forget. Besides the tight-side mesh pocket, I think the Gregory Maya 10 is a great little pack and exactly what I was looking for.
What I also appreciated about the Maya 10 was learning more about the Gregory Packs brand. They want their packs to be worn, not just carried. I see this in the foam backing and straps, adjustable torso, and plus sizes available. With a lifetime repair guarantee and an eye on sustainability, I appreciate the brand’s values and would be stoked to try out more packs from them in the future.
What is your go-to backpack for day hikes? Do you prefer something a little bigger? Or is there a lot of extra space in your pack each time? Do you even bring a backpack?? Let me know in the comments, so I can check what you use.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
