Osprey Aether pro 70 vs Ula catalyst

If you use water bottles, I’d check carefully to see if those oddball hipbelt pockets on the Osprey will really hold bottles–I’m skeptical.  The Catalyst has wonderful bottle pockets–easiest for both grabbing and returning full-size bottles I’ve ever seen, plus it has straps for mounting smaller bottles on the shoulder straps.  If you use a bladder, the Catalyst’s bottle pockets will be dead weight.  If you hate trampoline backs like me, the Osprey is out…and vice-versa.  If you like a mesh front pouch for holding wet things and things for which ready access is required, the Osprey is a nonstarter.  If you want a smooth pack with little to snag on brush, the Catalyst may not be for you.  The Osprey is heavier but carries a bit more (though I’d never recommend anyone plan for a 40+ lb pack for normal backpacking).

I think you are comparing apples and oranges. The main body bag of the medium Catalyst is 2400 cu inches. ULA and other pack makers in the UL industry calculate size by adding up all of the capacity of all the pockets.

The main body bag of the Osprey Aether medium is 4270 cu inches.

Both are excellent packs for their indended use. Like your current Aether, the Osprey’s frame is designed to carry a load. ULA says the max load is 40 lbs and would include all consumables including food, fuel and water.

I’d add the Seek Outside Divide 4500 to your list of packs.  It is lighter than either of the ones you mention and is considered by many to be the most comfortable pack out there.  It will carry 45lbs with ease.

Thanks for the suggestion, I’ve never heard of the company, hows the quality? Is it good for hot weather hiking conditions?

Seek Outside is a great company located Colorado.  They started out catering to hunters needing to carry out heavy loads (think elk quarters) but some backpackers and packrafters started using them due to their light weight and extreme load hauling ability (I think they rate the frame to 100lbs).  They also use a waterproof pack fabric (X-Pac) that has become very popular in recent years.  When I was looking for a pack to use on an 11 day backpacking/packrafting trip in Brooks Range in 2015 I tried several lightweight load haulers and by far the most comfortable carry for me was the Seek Outside Unaweep 4800.  Since then they have come up with a more backpacking specific pack bag on the same frame the Divide 4500.  I used the same pack on a 14 day Alaskan backpacking trip a couple years later and it was fantastic again.

The Seek Outside frame and suspension are the same and you can just buy different size pack bags if you want.  For example the Unaweep 6300 packbag will fit on the Divide 4500’s frame as will the Gila 3500, so you could have one frame/suspension and multiple pack bags for different trips.

The Seek Outside packs are technically an external frame so they are decent for hot weather.  Nothing is going to keep you from sweating though.

If you do decide to go that route, you may call them – I heard a rumor that they might be willing to make a hipbelt with sewn in hipbelt pockets rather than their normal modular pockets if you talk to them nicely. I haven’t used the Divide/Unaweep belt with sewn in pockets, but I tested a prototype smaller pack of theirs (the “Flight”) this past summer that had amazing sewn in pockets – they are the best I have ever used. (the Flight has an entirely different hipbelt but if the pockets are the same – they’d be a winner).

I’ve never used the Aether Pro 70 or ULA Catalyst, but have had a Aether 60 (The original 2003 model – which is oddly similar to the new Aether Pro design) and ULA Ohm in the past – and still have a ULA Conduit (now CDT).

Sounds awesome! Took a look at the website, do you prefer the frame and suspension on the the divide or the unaweep better? I do a lot of winter treks where I carry more bulky/puffy layers and find extra space valuable and convenient.

I have used both packs – an older Catalyst, however.

I don’t really care for current ULA packs.  I find the suspension marginal for even medium weight loads (i.e. 30 lbs).  The Aether Pro was okay but unnecessarily heavy.  It can carry a heavier load than the Catalyst more comfortable, however.

As Brad indicated, Seek Outside packs are incredible at the price point.  In fact, I might suggest they are unmatched at combining excellent load capability within a lightweight package.  Quality of construction is superb as well.

The Osprey is going to carry 45 lbs much better than the Catalyst. I’ve used both, and there’s no comparison. The Catalyst doesn’t carry weight more than 30 lbs well, and 35 is pretty much the max load. I’ll chime in for the Seek Outside Divide. I was using the Catalyst for winter camping which was marginal. I changed to the Seek Outside. It’s wonderful.

Thanks for the input and help everyone! I think I am going to look into either the unaweep or the divide now. Haha glad this community is around!