Granite Gear Crown 2 60L Review: Light, Affordable, and Load Limited

Introduction

The Granite Gear Crown 2 60L is the successor to the Crown VC 60L, and it has become a genuinely popular backpack for two straightforward reasons: it is very light, and it is not especially expensive. Retail sits around $200, and it is fairly common to find it discounted to roughly $140 to $160.

At 2.2 to 2.4 pounds depending on torso length, the Crown 2 lands in properly light territory, and it undercuts several well-known ultralight packs by a wide margin. For backpackers who have been priced out of the ultralight category, that combination is the main attraction.

The appeal is easy to understand, but there is a real trade-off attached to it, and that trade-off is about how much weight the pack can carry comfortably. That single question shapes almost everything else in this review, so it is worth reading the load discussion carefully before deciding whether the Crown 2 fits the way you actually hike.

Who This Pack Is For

The Crown 2 60L is sold in both a men’s and a women’s version, and the sizing structure is identical across the two. Torso length is not adjustable, but it is offered in three sizes: short for 15 to 18 inches, regular for 18 to 21 inches, and long for 21 to 24 inches. The waist belt is fully adjustable and extends from 26 inches up to 42 inches, which is a meaningful range for thru-hikers whose measurements change over weeks on trail.

Weights track the sizing closely. The short version is listed at 2.2 pounds, the regular at 2.3 pounds, and the long at 2.4 pounds. The main body holds 60 liters and measures 23.5 by 16 by 8 inches, while the removable lid adds another 5 liters.

Color availability is straightforward. The men’s version comes in black and red along with a highland option, and the women’s version comes in black and red or blue and gray. Previous-season colorways such as yellow and black, orange, and pine green have appeared at other retailers.

This pack suits backpackers who keep total loads low, thru-hikers who want an adjustable waist belt and a simple layout, and anyone who prefers packing in kit bags rather than working through a maze of pockets. It is a less natural fit for hikers who routinely carry heavy loads or who want a pack with extensive organization built in.

Main Strengths

Lightweight Build and Multiple Torso Lengths

The materials are a 100 denier and 210 denier nylon build with a molded polypropylene frame and YKK zippers throughout. Granite Gear rates the pack for loads up to 35 pounds, a figure worth revisiting later, because real-world comfort and the published rating do not line up.

Weight is the headline. Between 2.2 and 2.4 pounds, the Crown 2 competes directly with packs that cost considerably more. Just as important, the three available torso lengths mean most hikers can find a size that fits rather than settling for an approximation.

Construction quality backs up the low weight. Seam work is clean, there are no loose threads, and the overall build feels considered rather than cheap. Durability lands closer to average than exceptional, which is reasonable given the light nylon and the price point. Extended use produced some minor fraying and a small hole, even with careful handling, so this is a pack to set down thoughtfully rather than toss onto rock.

The lid is one of the better features here. It is fully removable using buckles at the front and back, and it offers 5 liters of space plus a generously sized zippered pocket on top. Loops across the top of the lid accept shock cord, which makes it easy to lash a layer in place and cinch it down. The lid cannot be converted into a waist pack or a small daypack, and there is no interior pocket, so it is purely a lid.

The roll-top main closure is equally practical. It expands when a trip demands more volume and rolls down tight when it does not, with a compression strap and buckle holding it closed. Behind the roll top there is access for a hydration bladder, with tube ports on both the left and right sides.

Ventilation, Storage, and Load Control

Ventilation is better than expected for a pack in this class. The back panel uses raised sections and contoured indentations with a mesh surface and a lumbar pad, and the result is adequate airflow with no hot spots, even on sustained climbs in warm weather. Sweat still happens, as it does with any pack, but the back does not overheat in the way some designs allow. The mesh covering the back panel is a wear point, so the pack should not be dropped onto rough ground.

Storage is generous where it counts and deliberately sparse elsewhere. The large stretchy front mesh pocket swallows rain gear, water-crossing shoes, a water filter, and a pack cover without strain. Straps at the bottom carry trekking poles. The side pockets are unusually large and will hold multiple one-liter bottles or trekking poles, and they cinch down tight when not in use.

Compression is well handled with two straps on each side, two across the front, and one over the top, which lets a partially loaded pack be locked down and also doubles as external attachment points. The waist belt pockets, one zippered pocket per side, are a good size for keys, a snack, a map, or a medium phone. The shoulder straps include additional webbing for attaching small items. The waist belt itself extends and retracts, which matters for anyone whose waist measurement changes over a long hike.

Water resistance is reasonable but not waterproof. A brief shower is fine, while sustained heavy rain calls for a pack cover or a liner.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Comfort Limit and Load Rating

Comfort is the decisive issue with the Crown 2 60L, and it is where expectations most often go wrong. The published 35-pound load rating is far more generous than the harness can realistically support. In practice, the comfortable range sits around 20 to 25 pounds, and staying at or below 25 pounds is the sensible target. Above that, the pack becomes distinctly uncomfortable, and even 30 pounds is too much.

The reason becomes clear once the load climbs. The shoulder straps and the waist belt are thin and firm, and above roughly 25 pounds you feel both of them. There is also a structural detail that works against the harness: the body of the pack extends about two inches below the lumbar support and the waist belt. Instead of transferring weight cleanly onto the hips, that overhang lets the load pull down on the spine, and there is no adjustment that fixes it. Thicker, softer padding in the harness and a shorter body panel would both help.

That load limit also raises a question about capacity. If the pack is only comfortable to about 25 pounds, 60 liters is more volume than most hikers can use productively. A capacity closer to 50 liters, or 55 at the most, would match the harness better and avoid carrying empty space for no benefit.

None of this makes the Crown 2 a bad pack. It makes it a pack with a specific operating window, and hikers who stay inside that window get a light, capable, inexpensive companion. Hikers who regularly push past it should look at a different design.

Sternum Buckle and Durability Notes

The sternum strap buckle is a smaller but persistent annoyance. It does not always clip in cleanly on the first attempt, and it occasionally takes several tries to seat properly, on both the men’s and women’s versions. It is a minor issue, but it shows up every time the pack goes on.

Durability is worth weighing as well. The nylon used here is lighter than the materials found on premium ultralight packs, and the mesh back panel is exposed to abrasion. Treating the pack gently extends its service life considerably, and hikers who want a pack that will survive multiple thru-hikes without careful handling should expect to pay more for stronger fabric.

Buying Advice

For hikers whose total pack weight lands between 20 and 25 pounds, the Crown 2 60L is an excellent value. The combination of low weight, three torso lengths, a removable lid, a roll-top closure, large side pockets, an adjustable waist belt, and a price that often falls between $140 and $160 is hard to match in the ultralight category.

The decision comes down to honest load planning. Add up your gear, food, and water, and if the total regularly climbs above 25 pounds, this is not the right pack. Granite Gear offers the Blaze, which carries substantially more weight. Stronger materials are also available from Zpacks and Hyperlite Mountain Gear, though those packs cost considerably more.

Price alone should not decide the purchase. Value, features, comfort, and intended use all belong in the comparison. The Crown 2 wins on weight and cost while giving ground on load capacity, and that trade is worth accepting only if your typical loadout fits the window it is built for.

Conclusion

The Granite Gear Crown 2 60L is a light, well-built, sensibly priced backpack with a clear comfort ceiling. Up to about 25 pounds it performs well, with adequate ventilation, excellent storage pockets, strong compression, and a harness that adjusts to a wide range of body sizes. Beyond that weight it becomes uncomfortable, and the body panel that extends below the lumbar support makes the problem worse rather than better.

If your loads stay light, this is one of the better value propositions in ultralight backpacking. If your trips regularly involve heavier carries, plan for a pack with a stronger harness and a load rating you can actually use.