Granite Gear Crown2 60L Backpack
CERTIFIED tier
Granite Gear has been designing packs in Two Harbors, Minnesota since 1986, and the Crown2 60 is the pack that proved ultralight does not mean fragile.
Origin
Made in Vietnam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
Price
~$200 (Mid)
Community
Reddit r/BuyItForLife Approved
At 2 pounds 5 ounces for a 60-liter pack, the Crown2 weighs less than most 35-liter daypacks while carrying a full thru-hiker's load. The 100D Robic nylon body fabric has an abrasion resistance rating that exceeds fabrics twice its weight, and the Cordura bottom panel handles being set on rock, gravel, and wet ground without showing wear.
The Re-Fit hip belt system uses interchangeable hip belt wings that accommodate body changes over seasons of training and hiking. The linchpin compression and lid-removal system converts the pack from a 60-liter expedition hauler to a streamlined summit pack in seconds.
Granite Gear backs the Crown2 with a lifetime warranty, and the brand has a strong reputation for honoring warranty claims without pushback. At roughly $200, the cost-per-year over a decade of serious backpacking use is $20.
The Crown2 has completed more Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikes than packs costing twice as much, and it does it while weighing half as much.