Osprey Atmos/Exos/Talon vs Granite Gear Blaze

You may not want something else to consider, but here goes.

I have a Talon 44 and my wife has an Eja 48 (women’s equivalent of the Exos). The Eja seems to have a surprising amount 0f extra capacity than the Talon considering the closeness of the ratings. If you decide to go with an Exos, you might find the 48 a suitable size.

Amado, I know your problem.  I usually have several fishing rods along on backpacking trips:  a Tenkara rod, ultralight spinning rod, and recently a fly rod.  I have no problems carrying everything in a Granite Gear Crown2.  The rods, minus reels, get tucked into one of the side pockets.  The spinning rod has no case, but the Tenkara rod and fly rod fit nicely into a telescoping plastic case that I found on Tenkarabum’s website.  The reels get packed into padded cases and tucked into the pack.

This is not the carry method for rods you are looking for, but it has worked well for me.  And I find the pack to be very comfortable for loads 30 lbs and under.  YMMV.  Good luck.

I used an Osprey Aether 85 for 3-4 years, at 5 LBs it seemed so much lighter than my old Dana Designs Terraplane. But after a while, the knowledge that I could probably cut another 2 LBs off of my load led me to a Granite Gear Blaze 60. It weighs about 3LBs, and it seems to holed nearly as much as my Osprey Did. I think Osprey exaggerates their pack volumes. Anyhow, I have done two trips so far with the Blaze 60. So far so good. The belt is less padded than the Osprey, but somehow more comfortable. The side pockets are quite large. I used put two 1 Qt. Nalgene bottles in one side, and tent in the other. Also, the belt pockets in the Blaze 60  are far more useable than the Ospreys. Win win win

My Osprey EXOS 58 (size Large at 61 L.) is fine for 3 season use. I added light side pockets and a front “Wet Rib” from “belly”pouch that has a bottle holder on the end.

With that added space I have enough room for everything and the food for a 7 day backpack.

I needed the Large size B/C I have L4 & L5 disc problems and need all the weight on my pelvic girdle and virtually none on my shoulders & spine. I cut off the “pole holder” loops and the extra top flap. I love the comfort. I can slip my 1/2 width Thermarest sit pad in behind the back mesh so it’s handy for a rest stop.

I have an older atmos and have tried on the newer atmos and exos.  The new atmos is the most comfortable pack I ever tried.  It has this unique wrap around weight distributing belt.  They call it “Anti Gravity”.  But you will need Anti Gravity at well over 4 pounds!  The exos is very comfortable but not in the same league as the atmos.  A 32 pound load is pretty heavy I think.  At that weight…maybe the Atmos is justified?  I’m positive the Exos can handle that weight…but perhaps not as well.

Some people find the weight distribution of trampoline backs to be a problem as it pulls you backwards supposedly.  I’ve never noticed it myself.  Also, these packs will “bounce” if you hike fast.  Or maybe its just my dorky walk.

Nowadays I dropped tons of weight and use the ZPACKS haul that has a (barely) serviceable Trampoline back.  But when I need a bear canister I end up taking the Atmos still.  I am in the process of getting a smaller bear canister that fits the zpacks better.

Thanks for all the replies!  Still hope to find someone that has gone out with an Osprey Exos & Atmos, AND the Blaze for a three way comparison!

But it’s sounding like the only real way, since I can’t check them out in stores, is to cough up, buy all three, try them out extensively, (carefully!) and return the other two.  With the Ospreys, no problem, get them from REI, but for some reason REI is no longer carrying the Blaze, which I would have to get elsewhere, and possibly have return issues.

I’m actually headed out on another backpacking trip this week, totally nursing my old Talon, which is totally duct taped together, with holes, and bottom straps that don’t work anymore due to years of use – they are tearing off.

Thanks again for any, and all future replies on the differences between these packs.

Try the Exos,  but buy another Talon, or an Ohm 2.0 which carries like a better Talon.