GRAYL Goes Backpacking: Water Filter Brand Launches ‘Tactically Inspired’ Pack Line

GRAYL’s new line of packs looks like military-spec equipment. The Carry Project is the brand’s first foray into the pack-making space. It’s earned a reputation among hunters, backpackers, survival enthusiasts, and travelers for its packable, durable water purification devices like the Geopress and Ultrapress. Now, its Carry Project packs have joined the product lineup.

The Carry Project includes backpacks, hip packs, bottle carriers, and totes, all made from recycled fabric. They have waterproof zippers, hook-and-loop panels for carabiners or other attachments, MOLLE attachments for patches or GRAYL G-Mod pouches and pods, and more pockets and organizational features than you can shake your water purifier at.

“We built The Carry Project for our core customers — some of the most interesting, widely traveled people in the world,” GRAYL Co-Founder Travis Merrigan said in a press release. “With their adventurous lifestyle in mind, we cut no corners. We sourced the highest quality materials and put our passion into creating utilitarian packs designed for daily use and adventure — not just stashed in a gear closet for one big trip a year.”

All Carry Project products come in olive, tan, black, and blue. The brand plans to release even more accessories and gear for the Carry Project this year.

GRAYL: Carry Project Packs

GearJunkie first saw GRAYL’s Carry Project line at the summer Outdoor Market Alliance (OMA) show in 2024. The products were all still under embargo at the time, but the designs impressed us. It was clear that GRAYL had done its homework and put a lot of thought into designing this line of packs before launching them.

The Carry Project comes out of the gate with an extensive lineup. It’s got two types of backpacks, the Mission EXP and Transport in sizes ranging from 20 L to 35 L. The lineup also includes the Mission EXP and Transport Hip Packs and Packing Pouches, the Mission EXP Water Bottle Sling, Mission EXP Totes in multiple sizes, and a host of attachment G-Mod Pouches and Pods.

You can see everything under the GRAYL Carry Project here.

All of the Carry Project packs, backpacks, hip packs, totes, and bottle slings accommodate GRAYL’s GeoPress purifier bottles and any 32-40-ounce water bottles.

The backpacks also all accommodate hydration bladders. The brand even has a patent-pending “Bottlelock” non-slip tie-down system that helps lower the center of gravity. Those bottle straps also double as a convenient storage area for jackets.

From Purifiers to Packs

GRAYL has grown a following among backpackers, adventure travelers, overlanders, emergency preppers, anglers, hunters, and explorers for its simple, durable, reliable water purification design. GearJunkie has covered the brand’s purifiers several times in the past and reviewed both the Geopress Ti and Ultrapress Ti.

In both cases, our reviewers found the products to be extremely useful and performed well in the field. They both leverage a press filter design. The user scoops water into the outer cup and then presses the GRAYL cartridge down into it, forcing the water through the purifier. According to GRAYL, its purifiers remove almost all parasites, 99.999999% of bacteria, and microplastics.

Now, with the introduction of its Carry Project line, GRAYL fans can get a GRAYL branded pack, bag, and tote specifically designed to carry their purification devices. They have a military-esque aesthetic that the brand says is “tactically inspired.”

Shop the Carry Project on the GRAYL website. You can also compare the packs with GearJunkie’s Best Daypacks, Best Mountain Bike Hip Packs, and Best Tactical Backpacks.

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