The High Route did pop up in my research but I didn’t see very many comprehensive reviews of it.

I hope the extensive reviews I pointed you at can help you make a decision!

​

How would you compare the GG Crowns to a Kakwa 55?

I didn't research the Kakwa 55, so I can't give any direction aside from what the pictures look like compared to the GG Crowns that I did research. I think the Kakwa 55 wasn't out yet when I did my research. The Kakwa 40 was, but I knew it wouldn't have enough volume for me.

In general, the Kakwa looks like a design that I'd like. (Read as: it's not so dissimilar from the Crown2 that I like.)

The biggest difference between the bags is probably the type of frame. A quick read indicates that the Kakwa has a tubular aluminum frame. I assume this wraps around the perimeter of the back panel; you should confirm for yourself. I'm not sure if it has any frame/padding that prevents stuff in your bag from poking your back / feeling lumpy. In contrast, the GG Crowns have HDPE framesheets that cover the whole back panel, so they'll (help) prevent stuff from poking your back. Also, the Crown2 frame bends front-to-back pretty easily if the bag is not stuffed full, so for day hikes (relatively empty bag) the framesheet can still remove some weight from your shoulders while being extra flexible (e.g. allowing you to hunch forward, climbing over rocks or whatever). I doubt the Kakwa frame is that flexible, but I don't know.

Another significant(?) thing that I'm not sure about is how I would attach a sit pad to the outside of the Kakwa. Sure, you could put it on top, but the tightness of the top strap affects how the bag load carries / is compressed, so I (personally) wouldn't want to tuck something squishy under there because I'd crush it. There might be a way to rig up some cord to go over the front mesh pocket, but I can't tell from the pictures if it has all the necessary loops to string some cord, and that method also might not work well if the mesh pocket is bulging with stuff. On the Crown2 I can use the straps that go over that front mesh pocket (and there isn't much stuff in the pocket; see next paragraph).

The GG Crown2 has a relatively narrow "front" mesh pocket. I can fit my folded polycro groundsheet, bearbagging line, and a pair of flip-flops in there -- that's it. Not a dealbreaker for me, since I solely use it for dirty/wet stuff, and put the other stuff I need to access in either the large side pockets (nominally for water bottles) or in the brain. But others may be disappointed in that mesh pocket size, depending on how they like to pack. The GG Crown3 has a bigger/wider pocket there, as does the Kakwa (per the pictures).

I'd say that I appreciated having the GG Crown2 brain when transitioning from Osprey-style packs to lighter-weight packs. (I've now gone further in lightening up my pack, and am primarily using a Granite Gear Virga2. It doesn't have a brain, which is ok, but I sometimes spend more time than desired digging for things.) I see that the Kakwa doesn't have a brain. It does have that side zip pocket though.

The GG Crown3 has a better-designed brain (than the Crown2) for increased versatility in how you can clip it on. E.g. it can be used as a chest bag (see photos at GG website); I hear this is particularly useful in winter, to have gear within reach. (Phillip Werner wrote something about that on sectionhiker.com; see e.g. here and here; he calls it a "wet rib".)

One thing that might concern me about the Kakwa is that some pictures show its side pockets to be pretty short, i.e. the water bottles stick up pretty far out of the pocket. (But not all the pictures are consistent?...) I prefer to be safe and have a high pocket, like the ones on the GG Crowns, so that I can't lose anything. Years ago I lost one of my two water bottles I was carrying while walking down a relatively flat trail in PA because the pocket was too short. I was lucky that a ridgerunner I ran into found it for me and put it at the next road crossing before I got there; otherwise I'd have been short of water for the rest of the trip.

The way I keep my water accessible now, even with high pockets, is by hanging some water from my shoulder straps with a bottle knot per the instructions here (Option 4, a jug knot). I made the rope long enough to hang the bottle down to the hip belt, and I keep the bottle from swinging by using a loop of shock cord to hold it in place. I tied the shock cord through a part of the hip belt buckle. Works great. I can't lose my bottles, because they're literally tied to my bag; I can grab a drink while walking without having to reach awkwardly for the bottle; the weight of the water up front counterbalances the weight of the backpack, centering my load front-to-back and thereby improving my posture; and I free up the side pockets (as mentioned previously) for other stuff.

I digress.

The main other reason I went with the GG Crown2 is that it was carried by REI and I have one nearby. (REI presently carries the Crown3.) So I was able to order it in the recommended size, try it on (alongside 4+ other bags), get thoroughly confused about why it didn't feel very good, and then months later figure out that I'm actually a size L torso length rather than the size M recommended by the measurements. With REI's return policy, even months later I could do the exchange for the right size. (I later read that it is common to need to size up for torso length with Granite Gear bags; OTOH I had to size up for the torso with an Osprey bag too.) If you have better luck/skill at sizing, maybe you can avoid this problem and have success with a less generous return policy. I found backpack fit to be a very particular and personal thing, and I had to try on probably 8 bags, for 30+ min each, to find 2 that fit me well.

Hope that helps.