Osprey Aether 70 Pack

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

After reading countless positive reviews on this board, I decided to try this pack out. This is my first multi-day pack, and I wanted something that would last me for several years to come. I think I found it! So far, I've used this primarily on a trip to Yosemite earlier this year. I lived out of this pack for 5 days, and while it was packed very tight, I had room for everything I needed. My main concern was having ample room for my large Garcia bear vault, required for all backpackers in Yosemite. Naturally, the vault took up a fair amount of space in the pack, but I was impressed that I was still able to fit everything else in there. When packed right, I had a solid, balanced pack that was a joy to wear considering the weight (about 45lbs.) For flying to CA, I got the REI travel duffel, which I highly recommend for this pack. It folds into itself for unbelievably easy storage when you arrive.

You can tell right away that this thing is very solidly built. After a week of on-trail use, it still looked like new. One thing I appreciate is the functionality of the external straps. They are plenty long enough to strap an empty daypack and boots onto, and the pack was designed well enough that I didn't feel like I would tip over with the added weight strapped on. I LOVED the comfort and airflow that the back padding provided. Sure, you'll still end up with a wet shirt on hot days, but this design at least help to keep that at a minimum.

The only thing I would change is the addition of more external pockets. Several times on the trail I had second thoughts about stopping to get a snack out simply because it was a hassle to take the pack off to get to anything. I also noticed that when the pack is very full, the top zipper is nearly useless, but that's probably my own fault. Refilling the bladder basically requires you to empty over half of the pack - not a huge issue if you store your gear in a couple stuff sacks.

Sure there are better packs out there, but if you find this one on sale like I did, it's certainly a great decision! Now let's see how it holds up for a winter excursion...

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

I punished this pack for a week on Mt Roraima, Venezuela, and it held up much better than I expected. After several river crossings, constant rain, and squeezing through rock passageways, the material still looked as good as new. A rain cover would have come in handy though, and perhaps an external compartment for the hydration reservoir, since it was quite a pain to replace an empty reservoir with the pack fully-loaded (though this is probably common with most packs).

I've also checked this pack as luggage at airports with no damage incurred, and if it can stand up to heavy-handed abuse from Guyanese airline luggage handlers, it can do anything.

The Aether is the single most-comfortable pack I've ever used (and this was with the standard, off-the-shelf hip-belt molding - I couldn't imagine it being any more comfortable if I had actually had it custom-molded!).

The removable butt-pack/top compartment was well-intended and probably convenient in the event of emergencies, but way too much of a hassle to remove and use as a day pack very often.

The Aether is the best pack in its class, hands-down.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

I am 5'8" and 155lbs. The medium is a great fit and offers extensive adjust ability. I use this for 5 to 12 day trips in the back country. In the Sierras I can easily adjust for comfort when ascending and descending. I have logged over 600 miles on this pack so far and am just amazed at how well it distributes the weight. It also fits the required Bear canister better than my Atmos 65 did. The load lifters work very well. 45lbs feels more like 20. This is the pack I will take to Glacier and Yosemite.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

Shopped around for just the right pack to take to Philmont this June. I'm a 42 year old man that is going to have to keep up with nine boys on the trail.

Even thought I've done some hiking on the AT in Georgia I know 12 days on the trail will be rough.

For the past ten years I've carried a MS Frostfire 5300 on extended hikes. Very outdated and heavy but one tough pack!

After reading all 59 reviews on this pack I decided to get one for myself and try it on our shakedown hikes. First one was a fourteen miler with a lot of hills.

I have to say most of what has been said about this pack is dead on true.

It pack good and I was able to secure the load easy enough.

The adjustable sleeping bag compartment made it easy to stow my rain suit, Osprey rain cover, Pillow, and sleeping bag for easy access.

The removable lid is very handy in bringing your smaller items into the tent or fire side. Wish it had a internal zipper pocket to help organize some smaller items, like car keys and headlamp, and hygene items.

The hip belt and shoulder straps are great! Very easy to adjust and sintch the load down to your body. Absolutely NO weight on my shoulders!

Eventhough this pack has a nice internal hydration sleve I don't use it for that. I use the outside pocket located on the back of the pack. You can slip a Camalbak hook inside the fabric for the female clip. This way you have easy access to your water when you get to camp or filter refills. The tube is a little shorter in the front, but is an easy compromise for ease of access.

We had a boy twist his ankle on the fourteen miler and I had to carry my pack on my chest, and his on my back for about 1/4 mile as we bushwhacked to a road for egress of the injured boy. I was able to strap the lid to the back of the pack and secure the sterum strap and hip belt to my back and waist. I moved easy enough. Coming back to the rest of the troop I had just my pack as we bush whacked back. That was easy with the load secured to my back. Did better then my Mt. Smith would have done.

My cons are the same as the ones I read, external pockets,access other then top, and hip belt stowage pouches.

Overall I think the reviews here really help me find a pack that is going to work great for Philmont.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

Have you ever had a piece of gear that you want to enshrine in a glass case when it's not in use? Well this one is it! Comfortable and light, this pack makes me all that more eager to hit the trails. I never realized how uncomfortable my old pack was until I spent a day with this on my back. Cant wait to take this on a 7 week packbacking trip across Europe.

I'm 6'6" and this pack fits me great. The custom molded hip belt is very comfortable, and it has just the right amount of straps to keep everything nice and tight throughout the pack.

My one gripe is that the day bag that fits onto the front of the pack it tiny and not very comfortable. I decided to take my own day bag and adapt it to the Osprey system. Easy to do, and now I have a pack combo that I dont really ever want to take off.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

This pack is PERFECT for shorter overnight trips. The custom fit hip belt (that they mold to your body in the store) makes this pack feel as if it isn't there... Even after I attatched a camera case to one side and a gun holdster to the other, it was still comfy!! The straps all around are very versatile, allowing you to connect gear/equipment in several different positions to fit your needs... Both water pockets on either side are PERFECT for a nalgene... Also, the 'stretchy' pocket on the back is perfect for the pack rain fly, rain parka, first aid kit and trail mix... IT GETS BETTER! The removable top compartment works well for day hikes (after connecting to removable hip belt) and is AMAZINGLY EASY to disconnect and re-connect... THIS PACK IS EXTREMELY RUGGED!!! I took it on several weekender trips deep into the canyons of West Texas (sand stone, mesquite, pinon, etc.) and even after several slips on the steeps, it is like brand new!! I HAVE HAD MANY packs in the past (Kelty, The North Face, R.E.I., etc.) and NONE have come close to the comfort, versatility and durability of this pack!!! GO GET IT!

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

Went through 3 Osprey packs in a 12 month period. Seams came loose on all three and the carry handle broke on the third. The hip belt buckle broke on one.I found myself constantly trying to make the hip belt stay in position as I hikes. I did have it molded.I take very good care of my equipment and it was not abused.[...]

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

The pack is good, but there are some oversights.

First, using a hydration bladder is a hassle, though most bags are like this. It needs to be unpacked than repacked to go from an empty to full container.

Second, I have found Osprey's IsoForm hip belt to be no more effective than a simple padded belt at distributing weight or being comfortable. Its a neat concept, but it winds up seeming gimmicky.

Third, as others have mentioned, there is a lack of external pockets, especially ones that are easy to get to with the pack on.

That said, the pack is light for its capacity and load bearing abilities. It is comfortable enough to wear for long periods, and durable enough to give peace of mind when walking through brush or near rocks.

I used this for travel in the Rockies during the summer. I never worried about it, and it did its job. The hydration bladder thing is hard to avoid with packs like this, from what I've found.

Service and delivery comments:

The people at the store spent plenty of time helping me pick this one out, and I appreciate that. They are definitely worth talking to.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

I've used the Aether 70 on several backpacking trips in Grand Canyon since November 2006. The longest was a 7-day trek in October-November 2007, during which I covered approximately 60 miles. The pack weighed in at 46 pounds on day one; a good load but still comfortable. This pack is very comfortable with loads of less than 40 pounds. I really like the internal water bladder sleeve and stretchy front pocket. The sleeping bag compartment holds my bag, inflatable mattress and pillow and camp shoes. The main compartment is roomy enough for my kitchen, clothes, food and knick-knacks. I've used the removable top pocket as a waist pack. It's functional in that role but would be better with a water bottle pocket or two. The Airscape Suspension system is just plain comfy. If the waist belt had mesh pockets for snacks, this pack would be almost perfect.

Comments about Osprey Aether 70 Pack:

This pack is perfect for me. Very comfortable and distributes the load well. The air ventilation along the back is great on warm days. I haven't had the waist belt molded to my waist but I really don't think I need to, it's really comfortable the way it is. The only thing that I can think of that would improve this pack is maybe one or two small, easy to reach zipper pockets on the back of the pack, but the mesh pocket on this pack works well for most stuff as is!