Osprey Argon 85 Pack

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

Initial observation:
Multiple Access to main compartment. (Top, Side, Through collapasable wall in sleeping back compartment)
Easily removable top pack for use as a day pack. 30 sec. tops
Easy use of hydration pack in combo with bottomw stratps as simple day hydration.
Moldable foam belt for true custom fit.

After first hike (8 mile uphill w/ 40 lb):
Because of the uneven terain and proximity to edge of valley ledge balance was a big thought. Make sure to properly balance your pack contents as this helps with fitting the straps corretly. After getting the pack up and adjusting to a comfort fit with the load straps I never moved the buckles again. Though a short hike I had most of the gear as my nephews were along. It seemed that the more I put to the pack the better it felt. Most of the time it felt as though it was not there. Do make sure to strap everything down as you do not want to throw off any balance. I was able to pack lunch in an easy to hit spot so not to disturbe the pack and also because of strech pocket had quick access to needed rain gear. Hiked more of the way in heavy rain without a rain cover on the pack and no gear was wet.

Second Hike (4 Mile Fishing Trip):
Though so short I really wanted to get this pack out and just go so I got stuck with most the gear. I think the pack total was about 15 - 20 lbs. The compression ability of the pack made it easy to shrink the bag and leave enough room for the fishing gear. I never felt like I was carrying a huge duffle tied to my back. Most annoying thing was I forgot to chill a hydration bag so a grabed a couple water bottles. It is difficult to get to the side pockets while walking.

Third Hike (30 day Multi Day trip):
I am loading the pack after I write this and will update on the longer length hike. Target pack weight will be 50 lbs or so.


Final Thoughts:
Do get fitted if possible and do not be afraid of mixing and matching belts and sholder harness with pack size. Not everyone is a med. through and through.
Get the belt molded, it really only takes 20 min or so and is well worth the extra comfort.

I currently have used 3 diff North Face packs, 1 Colmen and 1 Gregory packs (all similar size) with mixed success on features and realiablility. Though none have even come close to the comfort as this pack. If the purpose of the design is to have a pack for any day, load, or weather without feeling a thing Osprey did just that.

Oh and one cannot forget the handy dandy emergency whistle.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

This is a massive and comfortable pack. I loaded this sucker up with 47+ pounds of mine and my wife's gear and we hit Mount Si for some training. It was stable and balanced and held the weight great. Had my packing been more organized there would have been room for much much more. The sleeping bag compartment fit my uber bulky synthetic -15 degree bag with no problem. Must agree with another review I read that the water bottle pocket does not allow easy access on the move. Plenty of poackets for me and places everywhere to strap and tie down gear.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

If you don't pack heavy (i.e., don't need 5k cu in) then I wouldn't recommend this pack (try one of the other more suitable smaller Ospreys instead -- I like the Kestrel but to each his own). However, if you need some serious gear space b/c you lead trips or, as in my case, find yourself carrying the gear no one else can/wants to carry, this is your pack.

I've done several multi-day hiking/camping/fishing trips and this pack has performed admirable in every case. I've had this loaded with as little as 15kg and as much as 31kg and it's been comfortable and extremely well balanced in every case. In backcountry winter and some late fall and early spring trips, this pack has taken some abuse (doused in a river, rolled over an incline fully loaded) and you couldn't tell by looking at it. It's still just as good looking and comfortable as when I got it.

I also love the removable fanny pack (the roomiest and most comfortable I've ever seen) and the hydration pouch with the built-in hydration routing port. Two great features that are well worth the entry price.

Quick note: I marked this pack as "Lightweight" in the Pros above but it should be noted that rating is relative. For the size and durability and harness padding, this pack is lightweight, but it is NOT a daytrip weight pack by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, I highly recommend a rain cover (Osprey recommends water proofing but I'd spring for the cover) as, like most packs, this is decidedly NOT water proof.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

Just did 8 days in Nepal (15kg load) with this pack and a few observations. First off, I can't rave enough about this pack.
1. Your pelvis (front and top side) will hurt the first few days (know 3 people who have this pack and we all had this issue). The amazing thing is that your body and pack become well acquainted and the more you use this, the better it feels.
2. If you fly with this, take off the hip belt before you check it. Or better yet put it in a large duffel. I nearly lost mine b/c the lumbar pad that secures the hipbelt came undone en route. This is a design flaw that Osprey has no answers for (I asked).
3. You can use the awesome hip belt with the top fanny pack. Use the hip straps that attach to it to secure the pack around the hip belt.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

This is a fantastic pack, but do not purchase it if you plan on doing short trips. It is meant for loooong trips or shorter trips with too much gear.

I purchased this pack last summer to replace a old, retired Lowe Alpine pack and a semi-retired Bergen. In the past eight months I have used it more than most people will use a pack in a ten year period.

I broke it in with about one dozen 10 to 15 mile day hikes on the AT, starting with 35 lbs. and working my way to to 75 lbs., just to become familiar with the pack and work out any quirks. Then, a one week camping/fly-fishing trip in the Catskills, followed by a one week camping/archery hunt for deer in Pennsylvania.

I also used it for a week-long, back-country elk hunt (no guides or pack horses), a nine-day winter hiking stint in New Hampshire and even took it to Germany where it was used for several short, two-day excursions.

All-in-all, it is a fine pack whose best attribute is its load carrying ability. In all accuality, the pack seems to ride better with more weight. I am a minimalist at heart, but when you combine solo hiking/camping with fishing and/or hunting you will be carrying more weight than the average hiker. To date, I have logged over 500 miles hiking with this pack while usually carrying 60 or more pounds with it and it has exceded all expectations and still looks new. There is barely a scuff mark on the pack and I have not been easy with it.

A word of advice though... I was told by the REI salesman that I did not have to have them mold the BioForm belt to my body through the use of the special oven. He told me that all I needed to do was "wear the pack while hiking and your body heat will help to mold the belt to your body". I think I made a mistake when taking his advice. It took about six or seven ten-mile hikes for the "body heat" method to show real results. If your local REI store has the oven on-site tell the salesman to get off of their duff and do it. If I had been more adamant about this I am sure that I would have saved myself a little soreness. Also, have it fitted with the pack containing your anticipated carrying weight.

The pack's second best attribute is all of its external attachment points. They are all over the pack. I found it very easy to attach fly rod travel cases, bows and what-not to it with minimal interference when hiking.

The top flap/day bag is very large and handy. The bag itself is roomy and easy to load from either the top or the rear. The exterior compression straps do a nice job of holding smaller loads close to your back.

The two side pockets could provide a little more room. It is a little tricky getting a water bottle in (especially in) and out of the side pocket while on the move, but after a while you learn how to do it.

The pack is definitely not waterproof, so investing in a little waterproofing or a rain cover or both would be wise move.

When traveling via the airlines to a trailhead, make sure that you take the waist belt off of the pack before handing it over to the airline.

The only way in which the pack disappoints me is that I have yet to figure out how to attach any type of small carrying case to the waist belt. But it is not too disappointing......

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

I've been using this pack for about 6 months now in a rugged high desert setting doing wilderness therapy -- 8 days on backpacking, 6 days off. Since it's work you start to take your nice gear for granted and abusing it more than you normally would on a trip with some friends, but the Argon doesn't care.

It has a lot of cool features: "Side Orders" that can mate perfectly onto the main pack via laser cut slots, an *awesome* easy pull hip belt tightening system -- and you can take the hip belt off and run it through the brain of the pack for an extended day pack which already has it's own simple strap, but using the full hip belt makes it more comfortable. Also love the fact that you can take the sleeping bag straps off the outside of the pack & attach them to the removable bladder sleeve to use it as a day camelback.

Really like the pocket system although the external zipper access to the main pocket can be a hassle to get to if you've got it packed pretty full. Zippers are excellent except for the left side pocket where you would normally keep a water bottle, the stretch material (which I otherwise love) doesn't seem to pull well and the zipper catches sometimes because of it. Oh, and the right side water bottle pocket of that same stretchy material takes a bit of getting used to, but you grow to love it pretty quickly - can fit 40oz Klean Kanteens and normal Nalgene's too.

Side note -- if you order this pack you may want to get a different rain cover: it's nice and ultralight but the packable design is rather poor.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

I got this pack after my old pack busted on me in the middle of a 27 mile hike.
I take alot of people out into the back country and usually end up putting alot in the pack and this thing will eat anything you shove into it. I wouldnt reccomend it if you arent going to put alot into it but for people like me that pack alot and lead trips it is great.
The fit of the bag is amazing. The heat molded hip belt and ability to mix and match belts/bags/straps makes the pack fit like a glove. You can hike for miles and not even feel it.
The bag is super tricked out. Between the pockets, the detachble top, the side entry, and the convertable water bladder holder ther arent any other packs out there on the market that offer what Osprey does.
Bottom line, if you need the space, or maybe even if you dont, this is the best pack on the market.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

In the last few years there hasn't been a lot of innovative designs in backpacks. Osprey is the exception. The argon has a suspension and frame that balances the load between back, hips, and shoulders. With a seven day load I was quite pleased that the usual pressure points on my hips weren't acting up. Once adjusted, its like an extension of yourself. The dual density foam with softer spots by the arm pit and neck helps with pressure points. IMO the hipbelt is more substantial than the Aether, and a better choice for big loads. The only thing I wish for is a larger external pocket to organize bits and pieces. At 6 lbs in weight its fairly heavy, but this is a pack made for longer trips-and you won't be disappointed by the deluxe features.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

I have the previous model. I have used it for about a year. Yesterday I hiked 2000 feet of elevation up and down in about an hour with 25 pounds in the pack. I felt no stress on my back or shoulders or hips. Amazing.

Comments about Osprey Argon 85 Pack:

First and foremost, this is a very solid purchase!

Besides my own insatiable quest to explore the Colorado backcountry, I got a job this summer working as a backpacking counselor, so I had an excuse to upgrade my 12-year old Lowe Alpine. After a lot of research, I settled on this pack, and am very glad I did.

Positives:
+Suspension! This is crucial for any pack, and the Argon was impressed me with the way it carries weight. As a counselor, I have to carry a lot of extra group gear, and this pack handles the load very well. This is a testament to the suspension technology developed by Osprey.

+Comfort! The should straps and hip belt are COMFY. Of course, this means a little extra to the weight of the pack before it's loaded, but I am willing to sacrifice that for the supreme comfort of these high-contact points. A lot of people have commented that their hips are sore after using this pack... well that's going to happen with any pack! If your body isn't used to carrying 20-50lbs. of weight, and you go out on a backpack, you're going to be sore! I am rarely sore after using this pack all summer on backpacking trips. A critical piece of advice... MAKE SURE THE REI SALESPEOPLE MOLD THE HIP BELT! In some other reviews I read that they are somewhat reluctant to do so because it takes about 20 minutes... but it's worth it. Do it! It will cut down on painful hips!

Negatives:
-Pretty superficial, but I would like a water bottle holder on both sides of the pack. On one side is a water holder and on the other is a waterproof zipper pocket. It's convenient for keys/wallet/cell phone, but I'd like another pouch instead. Perhaps this was overlooked because people are switching to the water bladder systems, but I am still old school and carry Nalgenes.

-The top "brain" pouch is detachable for daytime peaking adventures is convenient, but small. In the smaller top pocket I store my pack cover, which takes up most of that pocket, and in the larger bottom pocket goes my rain gear, which also takes up most of the space. That leaves pretty limited room for water bottle and food. However, if it was larger it would add to the overall weight of the pack and would probably be seen as a negative... I guess you win some, you lose some.