Osprey Exos 58 Pack

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I've used this pack on some 3 - 5 mile dayhikes, and on a one-night, 10 mile trip. I ended up giving it to a friend who wanted to try it; I hope he has better luck than I did.

The packbag itself is very nicely done, with 4 outside pockets plus a lid; the "inside-outside" compression strap allows you to run them inside the side pocket, or across the top of the side pocket as you prefer. I always found it very handy to use the long front pocket(s) for storing my tent and tent poles; it was perfect for a Big Agnes Fly Creek, Copper Spur, or Seedhouse solo tent. I didn't have to open my main pack to set up camp in the rain.

So why didn't I like it? Because, as I soon figured out, this isn't an internal frame pack. It's a high-tech makeover of an external frame pack, but it's still an external frame pack, with all the limitations of that design. As a result, you still get a slight bounce in the load as you walk, and it tends to move opposite the way you turn (unlike an internal frame, that moves with you.) The suspension didn't impress me. The shoulder straps were fine, and it does have load lifters. However, the hip belt does not wrap all the way around you; instead, there is a section of hipbelt sewn to each side of the frame. The mesh back panel (the "trampoline") is supposed to provide the rest of the wrap.

That doesn't work any better now than it did when I put webbing straps on each side of my old American Camper external-frame pack in 1980. Despite the load lifters, I could never get the Exos "hipbelt" to support a 20 - 25 pound load adequately. No matter how tightly I pulled the belt, after a mile or so, the load settled onto my shoulders and stayed there; my shoulders always were sore after I carried the pack. I thought it might be that the hipbelt was just a little too lightly constructed. So, I tried an Atmos 50 on a 3 mile hike; it has the same general design, but thicker, stiffer shoulder straps and hipbelt material. It didn't make any difference, the load still ended up on my shoulders. (Also consistent with my e-frame days: those "split" belts never carried a load as well as the full-wrap belts I eventually discovered on a succession of Camp Trails packs.)

Let me be clear: I'm not trashing the quality of the Exos pack (or the Atmos, for that matter.) It is a high-quality, well-made, creatively re-designed external frame pack, and it does have a lot going for it. However, you have to clearly understand that you're getting an external frame pack; you can't expect it to perform like an internal-frame pack.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

It holds a bv500 bear cannister horizontally. Is extremely comfortable. If it has a weakness, it requires discipline not to overload it. It's made for under 35 lb loads even though you can fit much heavier loads into it which would overstress the shoulderstrap, hipbelt, frame connections. Used properly it's the greatest backpack ever for ultralight, ultracomfort.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

i have been looking at 2 of ospreys redesigned packs the osprey atmos 65 or 50 or the osprey exos 58. they are relatively the same backpack but the exos is way lighter then the atmos 50 with 8 extra liters.

just got back from a 3 day backpacking trip in lost creek wilderness up the wigwam trail and boy did it perform. i carried 30+ lbs of gear and it felt like a feather. with the airspeed suspension it made the hike so enjoyable. one con is it didnt vent as well as i had hoped but way better then most packs.

i really got a taste of how nice this was when a first year scout toting about the same poundage in gear was having a hard time making it up this massive climb so i decided to switch him packs. he just had a gregory and compared to my osprey the thing was a piece. i was soaking wet with sweat and my shoulders were killing me.

all i can say is once you go osprey you never go back.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

Ok I want to start by saying I love osprey. I have had several packs and they rock! This one was something I was so excited for that I went out and purchased the second I could. It arrived and I left same day to start a 3 day trip. The pack was so light that I was amazed that it was even there. It carried weight very nicely ( at first ) and seemed to be everything I wanted and more... Then things started to go down hill. One thing that everyone seems to miss with with pack is that it is not designed for years and years of rough use as a performer. It is like a pro athlete, great for a little while, then brittle with age. I noticed that after my trip there were many abrasions that on my other ospreys just washed off. Also all the little weight saving things are great but they make everything kind of annoying to adjust on the fly. I do a lot of off trail stuff and like to go where my nose takes me. This bag started to have scratches and scuffs and then in just 10 total days of use had a tare! Now I know that when you go out in the woods or on a trip that things happen, and that you cant just be rough on everything, but this was kind of crazy. The one thing that bag does horribly is perform consistently. Sure its the lightest, newest, pretty bag... but the new atmos 50 caries almost as much, more comfortably and has been built with traditional osprey attitude making it much much much more durable. I find that since returning it I dont miss all the great little features it has because in the new bag I have the most important one and that is reliability. You can have the lightest coolest bag every but if its only like that for a couple of days the rest of your trip you are going to hate it. If your looking for a bag that you can not worry about and spend your time enjoying your self not looking after your bag then go for the atmost 50 ... i mean its only a few ounces heavier....

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

Be careful with this pack. You can overload it. It has more carry space than it's capacity can bear. I did two short hikes carrying about 25#, and the pack performed very well. Very light and comfortable. Just finished 40 miles in the Smokies in the cold and snow, and packed for a winter hike. I carried 35+ pounds, but less than 40. With that weight I could not seem to keep the waistbelt snug and carry the load on my hips. It kept slipping and I would have to tighten the belt frequently. I attribute it to the small buckle. Once I "ate down" my pack weight the issue diminished. But for this issue I would give it five stars. It's a terrific pack and the fourth Osprey I own.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I'm mostly a weekend backpacker. I bought this for my typical 3-day 20-40 mile trips, and the occasional week long trip (I like to pack light). I like just about everything about this pack. In particular the built in bungee cord thingies are awesome for lashing your cup, or some camp shoes, and the shoulder straps are comfy and cool.

I'm returning this one though. There is one design flaw (IMO). The good sized belt pockets (which were a selling point for me) are partially blocked by the frame when I put this pack on (so that only half the pocket is useable). Maybe this wouldn't happen if I didn't have a thick midsection (36in waist), but I would think this would be easy to design around.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

bought this to replace my older Atmos 65. if you like the atmos, you'll really like the exos....basically the same in design but lighter. the side access side pockets, trekking pole stows, and the less-pronounced back curvature are some great upgrades osprey put into this pack. size is deceiving on this pack, as with summer gear i can easily get a week and half's worth of gear and food in.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

This is a fantastic, fully featured light-weight pack. I've been using the Atmos 65 which is a nice pack, but this Exos has a couple of advantages that I prefer. I like that it packs easier because it doesn't have the shaped cut-out in the middle of the pack and it has more accessible mess side pockets. Not to mention that is weights a lot less. On my first trip with the pack I carried 25 pounds for 4 days and it was always comfortable.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

Just got back from my first trip with the pack. There were 3 of us carrying the same pack with weights from 24 to 30 pounds. Each of us were equally impressed and the low weight of the pack and the comfort it provided. It loads easier than some of the other light packs from Osprey and has all of the conveniences you'd expect. I've waited a long time for pack weights to drop, and I extremely happy with this pack. It really does carry nice and stays put on your back. If I had one criticism it would be that there isn't external access to the interior of the pack...but that's not a big deal. I don't think think they make anything lighter and it is a capable 5 day pack with the right sleeping bag and light gear.

Comments about Osprey Exos 58 Pack:

I had an Atmos 65, but as I reduced the amount of gear I was taking out on backpacking trips, I similarly wanted to reduce the size and weight of the pack I was carrying. I switched to this Exos and put it through the test—a 2 day, 18 mile, 7000' net-elevation-gain hike in the Columbia River Gorge.

My conclusion is, while it's much lighter than the Atmos and for my uses nearly as durable, it doesn't seem to ride the same on my back. Where the bottom "flanges" (for lack of better word) on the Atmos seem to cup my hips and transfer the load, the Exos seems to slide more readily straight down past my hips. The result is the load sat heavier on my shoulders and pushed on my butt, making me an unhappy camper when all was said and done.

It's going back and I'll be switching to an Atmos 50—it's worth the extra weight for the suspension that is proven to work well with my body.