Gregory Zulu 30L Day Hiking Backpack

6th September 2026

The Zulu 30L from Gregory is a well-featured daysack ~ the side pouches are well able to take a good size of drinking flask [© Mike Gormley]

The Zulu 30L Day Hiking Backpack from Gregory is a real multi-use rucksack well-suited to most shorter outings, writes Mike Gormley.

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For a 30-litre rucksack this is a very complete ‘grown up’ backpack and so is well able to be used for longer more serious trips as well its primary use as a daysack.. The Zulu actually comes in three sizes but the one I have been using for a while now is the smaller of the of 30 / 35 / 40 litre range.

When travelling the Zulu 30L is a perfect companion as a sensible sized daysack as well as a small backpack for outings when you get there… in this case Sweden [© Jean Gormley]

The Zulu 30L looks, works and feels like a much larger multi-day rucksack. It carries very well, a point made by an former Royal Marine friend who wanted to try it when we were racking up the miles on the South West Cost Path one day. As my selection of photos show, the Zulu has accompanied me on a real variety of trips away. Sadly though, not to Zululand where I have been a good few times in the past and where this sack would have been most welcome.

I team the Zulu 30L with my Gregory Alpaca for long train journeys when robust, easy to handle luggage is essential [© Mike Gormley]

This is a rucksack you can load up, pull it onto your back and feel set for the day… whatever that might bring. There is plenty of adjustment and the waist belt is good for supportive load carrying plus it has a useful sized zipped pouch on each side. The belt is front-fastening but adjusts on either side, a feature I like and find handy because it can be adjusted around the likes of trouser fastening and belts. It is also well padded but not stiff and the inner material is ventilated as well as blending seamlessly into the adjustable supporting, back which offers very good ventilation for sweaty backs on those hot busy days.

The Zulu 30L not in hot Kwa Zulu Natal but in snowy surroundings less typical of its name though in either environment it would be ideal
[© Mike Gormley]

The Zulu 30L has a range of good and very useable features. It has two side drinks bottle pockets, is internal hydration bladder compatible, and has helmet / top layer stowage on the back. There is a small top zipped stowage pocket as well as one internal one and a rain cover is included. There are volume adjuster straps, which are great to keep your pack tidy and can be used to secure items in the pockets as well as to compress the pack for travel. There are also the necessary grab straps top and bottom for general handling. The main compartment is zip fastened and the dual sided zips open well down the body of the Zulu to make for easier access and loading.

The carriage system on the Zulu 30L makes for a stable carry on rougher more tricky going [© Jean Gormley]

My Zulu 30L is in Halo Blue, but more tactical Desert Tan and Volcano Black are produced and it is also available in two torso sizes. All in all the Zulu 30L is a very good companion for both travel and days out on the hills and tracks.