Walkers of diverse body shapes and sizes have generally had to make do with ill-fitting rucksacks. Gregory's Plus Size range promises to change all that, and may be the first such collection in the outdoor industry. With models for both genders, Plus Size packs extend from the tiny Nano 16 day pack to the Stout Plus Size 70 trekking pack. Steph Wetherell checks out the Amber Plus Size 44, a mid-sized women's model that would do for a heavily-laden day or a lightweight overnight.

For many people, the idea of a plus size fit rucksack may seem a little surprising. But for those of us with larger bodies (including the 25% of women who are a size 18 or above), the arrival of these bags will be met with a sigh of relief. I'm an experienced hiker with half a dozen long distance trails and countless nights of wild camping under my belt, but as a UK size 20, I have had to get used to dealing with rucksack hip belts cutting into my belly, and ill-designed shoulder straps bruising my arms. This new pack is a step change in terms of fit and comfort.

It fits a wide range of plus size bodies really well, and sits securely and comfortably in place

Gregory Packs have designed these rucksacks just for plus size bodies, so if you're smaller than a size 18, they simply won't tighten up enough around your hips, and you'd be better off with a 'standard' model.

The Amber plus size female fit comes in a 44 litre (the one I've been using) and 65 litre size, the Stout plus size male fit in a 45 litre and 70 litre. Gregory have completed the plus size range with a few 20 litre day packs and a further 60-65 litre set. The only thing missing for me is a 30-35 litre daypack for stuff-hungry winter days on the hills.

The most obvious thing that's different about the pack to a standard sized rucksack is the hip belt. I'm used to the padded section of rucksacks sitting on the back side of my hips, but this one comes all the way around, meaning I don't have the webbing strap digging into my stomach and the bag sits securely and comfortably in place. The guidance says the pack will fit a 6XL or 60 inch hip, but in reality the pack will fit larger people than this (I'm almost on the tightest setting with my 51 inch hip). The additional bonus to this is that the large zippered pockets on the hip belt are actually reachable for me, as opposed to sitting on my back or the edge of my hips.

The sternum strap has likewise been extended to account for a larger chest or bust, and the padding on the shoulder straps comes down significantly further than any other pack I've ever worn, meaning the buckles don't dig into my arms or chest. The back system is easily adjusted for length, with around 4 inches of range. At 5 foot 10 and with a long torso, I have found it plenty long enough for me, and I've also seen the same pack fitted to a woman of 5 foot 3.

Beyond the plus-size fit, it's a really well-thought-through design and has everything I'd want of a mid-size pack - an easily adjustable harness, integrated raincover, a zippered access to the bottom compartment, space for a hydration sleeve, and plenty of good size pockets (on each side plus a large stretchy one on the front). It feels like a quality pack too - the pole attachment bungee is well designed and the zippers feel sturdy and easy to use. It's priced at £165, which is exactly what I'd expect to pay for a pack of this calibre.

At 1.33kg this may not be the lightest pack on the market, but it's also not overly heavy for something this well-padded and supportive. It feels tough, with a mix of 210D and 420D nylon and a sturdy frame, and it still looks good as new after several trips.

The shape and design makes it versatile - it can be cinched down as a large daypack for when you're carrying a lot of kit or layers (I tested it running some courses over summer), but is also perfect for a quick overnight trip, which is how I like to put a pack like this through its paces.

I've previously used a 48 litre pack for a similar trip, and the 44 litre Amber fitted in all the kit I needed with no problems - sleeping bag, mat, cooking set up, extra layers, food and water all fitted easily inside, along with my tent (which due to the shape of my old bag used to have to go on the outside).

I've taken this pack to some plus size events and it fits a wide range of plus size bodies really well. The only people who seemed to struggle are those with narrow shoulders but wide hips.

My one (very very minor) gripe is that as someone who gets hot and sweaty when hiking, I prefer a more ventilated back system than the one on offer with the Amber. In warmer conditions I have suffered with a sweaty lower back, especially around the thick hip belt. But that pales to insignificance when compared to the massively improved comfort offered by the plus size adaptations. Nice one Gregory!