Osprey Exos 58 Pack

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I really like the design and light weight of this pack. I am looking for something to head back to the AT for some 200-300 mile sections. I have an ultralight pack now, but I am trying to get something with a little more comfort and couple more pockets to help with organization and easy access to some items.

This pack would be great, but the suspension did not work with my build. I'm a former wrestler, and though I do still have a neck, the "U" shape of the shoulder straps would not allow them to adjust wide enough, so it created pressure points on the side upper shoulders at the top of the trapezius muscles. I also wish Osprey would use a slightly different hip belt design. Wider adjustment straps and a larger buckle would make it more comfortable. They also use a two-strap system for the adjustment, which makes the straps really long, so that they hang down almost to my knees. Yes, I could tie them up so they were out of the way. But if you're a long distance hiker, tying and untying something like this many times a day can be an annoying pain.

The air suspension was actually pretty good. My other packs sit right against my back. With the Exos, I kept feeling like I wanted to pull the load lifters tighter, to get the pack closer to me, but I didn't feel like it was leaning backwards.

My only gripe with the design of the pack body is the side mesh pockets which have a cut out so you can put a water bottle in at an angle and reach it while you're walking. That seemed like it would be cool, but it's a pretty big opening. I reuse regular 1 liter plastic water bottles (like Dasani etc.) which are pretty skinny compared to a Nalgene. If you bend over during a rock scramble (think of some places in the Whites or Mahoosuc Notch here), the water bottles drop right out of the pockets. I I was going to keep this pack, I would use zip ties on the frame to pull that side opening closed.

For someone who only does straight-up hiking on easy to moderate trails, this wouldn't be a problem. I'm looking at stuff from the viewpoint of long distances on pretty rugged terrain, and I know that most people aren't doing that kind of stuff. My search for another pack continues....

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

The pack is amazing. There are so many adjustment points anyone can get the perfect fit. The straps and padding are excellent. The 5 compartments make organizing a snap. I have take this pack through some pretty extreme situations over the past two years without a problem. So far it has been durable on scrambles and on climbs and slides in the Adirondacks on the 46ers.

I have 2 minor complaints. The side water bottle pockets have top access or front access on both. Although I like having this option, I wish it were only on one pocket instead of both. I've had too many smaller items fall out each time I forget about the front access. The other complaint is nothing serious, but really annoying. When packing the pack with a hydration pack, Osprey made the hole so small and tight for the nozzle, that it's impossible to feed it through without getting a few drops of water in the bag. I wish this vent were more flexible.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I used this pack to thru-hike the John Muir Trail last year. It worked with my weight which ranged from 15-35 pounds depending on food and water.
I miss the plethora of pockets in the old days on external frame packs. This pack has plenty. The top floating pocket is huge and it has an inner net pocket on the underside that's handy for storing flat and important things like money, credit card etc. It has 2 giant pockets on the outside sides running almost the height of the pack. These are handy for organizing but they encroach into the pack proper's space. The one big outside pocket is a great place to put wet or dirty stuff. A pair of crampons fit nicely.

Customer service is phenomenal. I had a tiny connector break. No questions asked -- I got an RA and shipped it in for free repairs last week.

You can stow your hiking poles into the gadget they have for that purpose -- WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. Very nice feature.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I needed something that could get me by for a day, night, week, and extend it if be (I am a minimalist)...This pack is a must - perfect fit on the back, super light and durable, ventilates beautifully, perfectly balanced when loaded, has tons of areas to add clip ons, hang things - with no interference, multiple purpose compartments and pockets, fits all my needs inside without issue...I have owned MANY bags, none like this!!! It is the BEST...

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

For myself the Exos is just the right combination of comfort, convenience and weight saving. My typical setup includes a bear canister, hubba hubba tent, down bag, water filter and bladder, pocket rocket or alcohol stove, titanium pot and thermarest neo-air trekker in Long along with a few lbs of miscellaneous safety and comfort gear. This puts me in the "lightweight" category which would make most backpacks overkill in the load carrying department. The Exos is remarkably light for how engineered it is. The aluminum tube frame stretches the breathable mesh back panel tight against your back providing a surprisingly rigid transfer to your hips. The pack has all the important features lacking in the granite gear vapor trail like top lid and hip belt pockets, and stays practically the same weight. The padding is not thick and cushy, however it does provide adequate support. This is not to say it is the most comfortable pack I have used, but it certainly wasn't uncomfortable. Other reviewers have reported carrying 40+ lbs, but personally I would be hesitant to go too much higher than 30-35 lbs. expect some shoulder tenderness throughout the day. Unlike many other packs I have tried, my lower and mid back never get sore from the exos. I am a big fan of the suspension style utilized. I believe the load feels more balanced and stable compared with single, centered aluminum stays. I don't believe their is another pack on the market with comparable breath ability. I should also comment on the quality of the construction with great attention to detail throughout. If you don't abuse the pack, it should last a lifetime. Osprey also offers a lifetime fix or replace guarantee so you shouldn't have to worry about your investment. I only wish REI would carry this pack in more stores, so people could get the chance to try it. With the advances in technology allowing outdoor enthusiasts to push the limit on weight savings, this pack is the perfect partner to your lightweight setup.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

Maybe I'm bias because I traded up from the 60L, 6lbs Osprey Xenon, but this pack is amazing! I hiked half the AT with it and it is the most comfortable pack I've had. The Exos is about as lightweight as you can go before you are buying a Six Moon. The mesh suspension on the back makes it feel at least about 10 pounds lighter, and I really didn't find the pack to be all that delicate.

The only downside is that it is still too large for all my gear, so I'm trading it in for the 34, but for everyone that packs a little heavier (or bulkier), this is the pack for you!

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I love the hip belt on this pack. It has a convenient adjustment system that is easy to cinch down as the load settles into multiple layers and winter fill jackets.
The mesh back panel tore a little when I carried 60 lbs in death valley. But it still works fine.
Remember to Loosen the shoulder straps and then set the hip belt above your hips and cinch it down.
Stop reading reviews and go hiking.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I purchased this pack to replace an Osprey Atmos 65 mostly to reduce weight. I've used it on several trips this summer including a JMT thru hike. I don't do any significant xcountry hiking, I stay mostly on established trails.

I try to keep my total packout weight to <30 lbs and this pack works well for that size load. It carried my Bearvault 500 and all the gear for the JMT and was extremely comfortable.

It is on the minimalist side and the materials are lightweight, so I wouldn't expect it to last 10 years. But its hung in there through quite a few miles this summer and should easily make another 300-400 mi season next year.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

From the first Hike I've gone on with this bag I've liked it. I can get all of my gear packed in it and still have plenty of room for extra stuff. Having all my gear for a 2-3 day backpacking trip My bag will weigh about 20 pounds and I know I can still shed another 2-3 pounds if I want to swap some gear out.

After this past hike I went on it has proven it to me that this is the bag I'm sticking with. I went on a day hike that ended up being more strenuous than expected. During the hike there was a downpour for about 20-30 minutes with nothing covering my bag. A few items in the bag were a little damp, but nothing got soaked. I was very suprised and happy about this. I was not expecting the bag to be as water resistant as it is. The next major thing was the 3 miles going almost straight up a mountain. I was not expecting this much of an incline for such a long distance. The next day when I woke up and my back and shoulders were completely fine I knew I chose the right bag.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I've hiked four segments (3-7) of the Colorado Trail on this pack now and I feel I've got enough experience with it to write a review. I'm coming from an Osprey Aether 70 pack. Mainly because my backpacking goals have shifted to distance/ultralight hiking vs casual weekends.

I will be up front and say I started with loads around 35 pounds and just finished a trek at 25 pounds. That's loaded weight (water, food, fuel, gear). In my opinion this pack does NOT handle loads above 30 pounds well and is really best suited for loads under 25 pounds if you want it to be comfortable and perform well.

That said I feel there are a three key elements to a good pack: comfort, durability, and function.

Comfort comprises suspension and padding. This pack is minimal on both. The straps are comprised of open cell foam padding to reduce weight. They are comfortable at lighter loads but can wear on you at heavier loads.

The suspension is a fixed point belt, affixed to a wire outer frame, and fixed shoulder straps at the to of the frame. Once nice thing is the frame is curved to allow for a raised breathing area on your back. The fixed suspension causes this pack to ride a little differently than you might expect as your weight tends to follow your body a lot closer than a floating suspension. At light loads this isn't a big deal but if you overload this pack it will be a problem as the weight will continually throw you off balance.

One other thing about the suspension. To reduce weight Osprey moved to significantly smaller webbing. The smaller webbing doesn't maintain tension as well as the wider webbing you find on most other straps I found that the belt in particular tends to loosen over time and you need to constantly make adjustments. Again a lighter load helps but even at 25 pounds I'm still adjusting.

In the durability department this pack is designed to be light which also means lightweight and less durable materials. While this pack is delicate I think Osprey did a nice job balancing materials and strength. You need to be extra aware not to throw this pack down or scrape it on trees/rocks/etc. On the plus side there are relatively few zippers and other things that can fail so if you're careful and respectful this pack should last a long time.

Lastly function. To reduce weight Osprey dropped a lot of zippers and pockets to shave weight. However they maintained a top flap with a mesh pocket and top loading zipper. They also kept two external long pockets and a stuff pocket. I'm debating cutting the top flap and pockets off completely to shave more weight.

I find I can fit my bivy and sleeping pad in one of the long external pockets and my rain gear, first aid kit, and toilet gear in the other pocket. Leaving the main compartment for sleeping bag, food, and a stuff sack with "10 essentials" stuff. With 3 days of food I had plenty of room for another 5 days of food without over stuffing. If I crammed I bet I could make a 10 day trip on this pack.

There are also two mesh belt pockets that are a nice touch. I stuff my camera in one and sun screen etc in the other. They are too small to fit most snack bars (unless you munge them). Which is too bad.

And one final note on luxury items. I don't always bring trekking poles but when I do I love the Osprey "shoulder strap holster" setup that allows you to sling your poles off your shoulder strap for easy access. I like to use my trekking poles on serious uphill/downhill but generally prefer to keep my hands free to bust out the camera.

One negative on function - the water bladder ports are too small! I really have to work to get my bite valve through the hole! It works but is annoyingly slow to work through.

Overall this is a fantastic lightweight backpacker pack off the shelf.

Final thoughts.

Osprey put enough webbing material on this for a 500 pound guy and king size gear. I'm about to take a knife to all the extra webbing I'm not using. I bet I lose a quarter pound in excess webbing alone.

If I choose to lose the top flap I bet I could lose another half pound (requiring some waterproofing of the closure). Bringing this into a really sweet ultralight pack range.

I give a guarded recommendation for this pack to a friend. The friend would have to be lightweight minded. This pack isn't meant for heavy loads!