Osprey Exos Backpack Review

[Addie Bedford]

Companion forum thread to:

Osprey Exos Backpack Review

[Timothy Cristy]

Will, how does the total storage space of each compare to your Comet? I have a SMD Starlite that works great for winter, but is much too large for my summer loadout. I am trying to decide which size Exos to try, so knowing whether they have more or less space than your Comet would help answer that question.

Tim

[Joe Clement]

So this thing carries the same weight a Mariposa Plus, Comet or Pinnacle does, but weighs and costs quite a bit more. So are all the pockets, and the trampoline really worth the difference?

[Ashley Brown]

> So are all the pockets, and the trampoline really worth the difference?

The other major difference is that the exos has an internal frame for supporting the load. The others you mention are frameless packs.

[Ashley Brown]

Will, thanks for the review.

Quick question on the fabrics. How are the 70d x 100d shadow-check and 160d x 210d window rip-stop fabrics distributed (is one of them orange and the other grey?). Would you say that this pack is of comparable durability to one made by ULA (with dyneema gridstop)?

[Huzefa @ Blue Bolt Gear]

>The other major difference is that the exos has an internal frame for supporting the load. The others you mention are frameless packs.

One can argue that Mariposa plus and Comet are internal frame packs. I think using sitpad with Mariposa would give some ventilation too.

[Harlan Bruce]

I have carried 30-32 lbs comfortably in my Pinnacle pack a couple of times with no trouble at all. The lack of frame does not seem to be a problem to me.

I would not temp fate by trying any more.

As I improve my gear selection for milder weather, my weight is dropping off, and I should be down to about 25 lbs for next summer's trips. I refuse to sleep on a foam pad. :-)

[Roleigh Martin]

Would a Bearikade Weekender Cannister lay horizontally in the largest Exos pack? (It barely does in the Granite Gear Vapor Trail). How would the Bearikade Expedition Cannister fit vertically in the pack?

Thanks!

[Mark Verber]

The weekender fits nicely into the Exos 58 vertically… something that it didn't do with the Atmos 50. I didn't try it horizontally because I never use it that way… but I think it might fit.

[Roleigh Martin]

Mark, do you have the largest Exos pack to give it a try? What I hate about vertical placement of the Bearikade is the hassle of how to make use of the space around the cannister, while laying it horizontally, no space is wasted as it consumes the whole circumference of the pack at that point in the pack.

Thanks!

[Mark Verber]

A friend of mine has one. He lives in a difference city. I got to play with it a bit but don't have regular access to it or any real experience yet. I can give him a ring and see if he can try it… though I don't remember if he owns a bearicade or not. I know he has a bearvault he could try.

For me, the canister vertically has worked well because I have some long and reasonable thin items that go up the sides next to the canister, and I like being able to access the contents of the canister without taking it out of the pack.

–mark

[Jim Colten]

I have carried 30-32 lbs comfortably in my Pinnacle pack a couple of times with no trouble at all.

That's encouraging (am waiting for a used Pinnacle to arrive).

I should be down to about 25 lbs for next summer's trips. I refuse to sleep on a foam pad. :-)

Maybe that new thermarest due out in spring will help that situation. But you'd better start saving now, not inexpensive.

[Roleigh Martin]

Mark, I'm curious — we all pretty much pack much the same stuff. What is your long and thin stuff that goes alongside the cannister?

[Jean C Rogers]

Too bad the fit isn't adjustable. My torso size – 17.5" would put me in the "small" size, but my hips are no where near "31." Osprey should realize that women are made differently and we have larger hip sizes for a reason. Also, after having numerous children, not all of our waist sizes return to our college size. Women are really getting into lightweight backpacking, so Osprey – don't forget about US.

[Mark Verber]

>What is your long and thin stuff that goes alongside the cannister

On one side it is shelter (typically gg the one) and on the other a ba clearview. Both are folded to be the same length as the bearicade and go into the corners nearest to my back. Then the bearicade goes in.

–Mark

[Roleigh Martin]

Mark, what is a "BA Clearview"? Thanks!

I figured it out — it is this, right?
http://www.bigagnes.com/str_pads.php?bid=8

[Roleigh Martin]

I'm not used to seeing backpacks go by anything other than torso length. What does "hip larger than 33 in (84 cm)" mean? That is not waist, correct? How does one measure that and what if the hip says "long" but torso length says "medium", then what does one get?

Thanks.

[Will Rietveld]

Hi all. Looks like there's lots of good discussion on the New Osprey Exos backpacks. I would like to add a few comments:

Timothy, the Exos 46 is approximate equivalent in volume to the SMD Comet. As you know the actual usable volume of a pack can vary, despite the stated volume. I find the Exos 46 and Comet to have enough volume for a typical lightweight backpacking trip, and can be stuffed to carry the extra food for an extended trip. I managed to get food and gear for an 8-day trip into the Exos 46.

Joe, comparing the Exos with the GG Mariposa, SMD Comet, and GoLite Pinnacle is comparing apples and oranges. I put packs with removable stays into a separate category. With stays in they have an internal frame, but they don't have the comfort and real load carrying capacity as a pack with a built-in internal frame, like the Exos. For a little extra weight you get more comfort. It goes up from there, eg with a Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian you get still more comfort with a little more weight, etc.

Ashley, I would judge the fabrics in the Exos packs adequately durable for lightweight backpacking, with heavier fabrics and reinforcements in wear and stress areas as needed. But they are not as tough as Dyneema Gridstop.

Roleigh, I don't have a Bearikade, so I can't give you a definitive answer. The reason for the hip sizing is the bottom of the pack's frame is contoured to cradle your hip, so they list the maximum hip size each pack will fit.

Best, Will

[Bruce Grant]

Will, your comments on the pack are much appreciated at this point. I have both an Atmos 50 for bigger loads and a Talon 30 for lighter ones. While I find the Talon to be excellent, I was never happy with the fit of the Atmos nor how much main bag space is lost with the angled frame. I was looking for a potential replacement, and it sounds like waiting for the release of the Exos was well worth it. It is also good to see that the Exos does not suffer the same problem as both other pack models, with the side pockets being truly accessible with no compression strap running across them.

As an aside to this excellent review – as one of the runners in the Hardrock 100 this year, thanks so much for volunteering!! It sounds like you were at the Pole Creek station? You should have had the Exos pack plopped close to the goodie table; if it caught my eye I probably would gladly have given up a few minutes of race time to ask a few questions about it ;-)

cheers,
Bruce
Delta, BC

[Fred eric]

I cant wait to see this pack released
i curently own a stratos 32 and an atmos 50.
they are the only packs i can use with the state of my back ( was lucky to survive a speeding car vs bicycle accident )
i cannot for exemple use a talon 44 with a moderate load (6-8kg ).

while the atmos is very confortable, its a pain to get the hottest of my 2 sleeping bag in it
and the maximum i am able to stuff on top of the bag is one week of food.

I am planning a 10 days hike in Greenland next summer, so maybe one of those 2 bags is the solution instead of buying another sleeping bag.
And i would save 300G at leaston the backpack weight.

By looking at the one before last photos, i am impressed by the volume of the 46l one, it looks like it would hold more stuff than my 50l atmos.
I will definitly need to have a look at the 2 bags before choosing.

[Nicol Mackenzie]

Osprey has produced a video to promote the Exos 46 pack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QILKDzXPbj4&feature=related

I've been very happy with my Talon 44 and really like the shoulder straps and am excited to see them in the Exos series. This strap design has convinced me that a wide and stable shoulder strap can be lighter and more comfortable than the traditional thicker straps.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Looks like it's similar to my REI Cruise UL but with more pockets.(I added 2 REI aftermarket side pockets to mine.)

Osprey always has good quality. The 58 SHOULD be capable of regularly carrying 40 lbs. at that size.

Eric

[. .]

I've enjoyed the Atmos 65 especially for mountaineering and was impressed at it's comfort with loads even hovering around 50 lbs while carrying photo/video equipment and climbing gear up to 17,000 feet last autumn. In fact, as counterintuitive as it seems, I found that the Atmos' suspension system and fit (subjective and key here) to be favorable to even some heavier packs, such as the Aether series, specifically designed for loads of that (un)nature.

The suspension system on the Exos 58 appears to be almost identical to the Atmos' – can anyone relay experience with both of these packs as a comparison of the comfort? In the Atmos, 40lbs did not seem like a stretch at all. 30-35 seemed like the sweet spot, as far as weight/comfort benefit.

I'll endeavor to do some 'sandbagging' at REI when opportunity befalls. If this performs within range of the Atmos, I can't imagine another pack that would have the same level of carry comfort/capacity for it's weight/volume range.

[Joe Clement]

I got my Exos 58 on Friday, but had to leave town and haven't gotten to play with it. Seems huge, makes me wonder if I hadn't screwed up.

[Ethan A.]

Hi Joe,

Have you had a chance to play with the 58? What do you think – too large? 58 or 46? From the excellent review it seems like the 46 would work exceptionally well for 3 season trips up to a week + day hikes.

Will's take: "Thus, for summer backpacking, the Exos 58 seems to have too much volume for its weight carrying capacity. On the other hand, the Exos 58 would be an excellent choice for winter backpacking, where more volume is needed for bulkier insulated clothing and gear."

For many years I've been using mid-size (2800-3200 cu in.) packs that work for both day hiking + week long 3 season trips + short winter trips – I like the versatility and nice to keep things simple and cheaper by only having to spend on one bag.

I'm willing to sacrifice a little extra weight for a pack with good suspension and features, like my Golite Infinity. The suspension could easily carry 40 lbs, even though I don't get to that. Light enough for DIAD hikes and strong enough and roomy enough for up to a week.

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