Osprey EXOS or ULA OHM?

I think the skinny waist helps the Exos to fit better, although I've never owned a 34. I have several packs from ULA, and they're all great.

Last year I ordered an Exos from REI. I ended up sending it back and getting an Ohm.

For me, the Exos didn't work. My hips were too wide and the shaped aluminum frame started bugging me right away. Also, I didn't like how the suspension on it felt like it was trampolining on my back. Plenty of others love this pack, but it didn't work for me.

I returned the Exos and got an Ohm and a Catalyst. The suspension on the Catalyst was clearly better but I liked the pockets and packing on the Ohm better, I also preferred the lighter weight. It is not the most comfortable pack in the world, but as long as I keep the load under 25 lbs it is a great pack.

Have you tried on an Exos yet? I am pretty skinny as well and I have found that none of the standard sewn on hip belts on the Osprey packs cinch down small enough to really get the weigh on my hips.
I work at a gear shop the is an Osprey dealer, so have had to fortune of owning a Kestrel 48, an Exos 46, and a Stratos 34 and none of the hip belts fit me. Being tall and skinny, (5’11’’, 120lbs.) I have an odd pack fit. 21 inch torso and 27” inch waist. I found that I need a pack that has interchangeable hip belt sizes. I would recommend a Granite Gear Vapor Trail, because it is in the weight and size range you are looking at, and you can get a small hip belt if you need too.
Just my 2 cents.

Morgan

I have tried on an exos, but without weight so im not sure how well the hipbelts would fit.

About the granite gear, I like the looks of the pack, but it always bothers me when the compression straps go on the outside of the water bottle holders, think it leads to too much fumbling around.

I had a GG VT when I started on the AT last year and quickly switched to a ULA. I'd strongly recommend the ULA over the GG. I haven't backpacked with a Exos, but have messed around with them some and I still personally prefer the ULA. Made in USA, all the features needed and none of the gimmicks that are far too common to see on packs these days.

Ya gimmicks are the one thing that turns me away from the exos. I think the vented backpannel would be great, but that could also be a point of failure, along some of the other 'unneeded features' of the pack.

Also, could anyone chime in on the water resistance of the packs? I thought the Dyneema Gridstop was nearly waterproof, but not sure?

"I had a GG VT when I started on the AT last year and quickly switched to a ULA. I'd strongly recommend the ULA over the GG. I haven't backpacked with a Exos, but have messed around with them some and I still personally prefer the ULA. Made in USA, all the features needed and none of the gimmicks that are far too common to see on packs these days."

Why? I have both and actually consider the ULA more gimmicky than the VT.

I'd probably choose the Ohm just based on weight. Consider the Gossamer Gear Gorilla too. I have it and like it. I considered an Ohm, but never tried it.

The vapor trail remains unchanged for almost 10 years. It has no hipbelt pockets, the side pockets aren't rated for water bottles, a hipbelt that isn't adjustable for torso sizes, and it's weight to size ratio is just OK. That being said, the GG VT finished the AT with my friend, so it's durability was great.

Just my thought as I enjoyed my ULA much more.

I have checked out the gorilla two, but i like the features of the ohm better. They look like very similar packs tho.

Looks like the ohm will probably fit me best.

I tried out (at home) the Exos 46, Gorilla, and Ohm last year and settled on the gorilla. I dismissed teh Exos fairly early as just not fitting quite right and being the heaviest(3.5oz saved w/o the lid) though I was really, really intrigued by the mesh back panel.

I like the way the Ohm carried weight better than the Gorilla, but in the end, it was hip belt fit that made me choose the Gorilla. The hip belt on the Ohm just dug into my belly no matter how I positioned it. If the webbing was a bit wider, or the wings extended a bit farther, I might've chose the Ohm. Maybe that won't be as much a probably for a skinny guy(I'm 5'10", 170lbs)

The Gorilla is great for me. The shoulder straps are a bit wide, which actually might cause a skinny guy some problems. The hip belt is luxurious, and I liked the idea that the frame was removeable so I could experiment with frameless before taking the frameless plunge. With the frame and hipelt removed, you can have a ~ 1lb pack for those 7lb base weight loads on 2-3 day trips. The wide shoulder straps and so comfy(if they fit you) that a hip belt is probably not necessary for sub 15lb base + consumables weight(though I haven't tried that yet)

I like ULA as well!

Just to add to your commentary:

-"It has no hipbelt pockets" – optional on the VT.

-"the side pockets aren't rated for water bottles" – The newer versions have side compression straps that run through the pocket as an option.

"a hipbelt that isn't adjustable for torso sizes" – The hipbelt can be swapped for small, medium, large, or XL sizes.

The one thing I don't like about the VT is the massive extension collar!

Like James I have tried the Exos, Ohm, and Gorilla, and maybe unlike James used the Granite Gear Vapor Trail for something like 7 years. I also settled on the Gorilla. I found that nearly the Exos nor the Ohm's hip belt were comfortable. The Ohm cut into me and the Exos hit my back wrong. My favorite hip belt is still the Vapor Trail, but as other have noted, the VT is a bit feature poor. I found the Gorilla to be a great compromise for my needs.

–Mark