Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

This pack is so comfortable. I have last year's style, so there are some different straps/pockets, but is essentially the same. With so many different pockets and straps, it is easy to keep everything organized in this pack. Once you get all of the straps dialed in, this will be one of the most comfortable packs you own. It is large enough for an extended trip (5-7 days), but can compress for a short 1-2 day trip. The ventilation is also great, one of the few packs that don't make my back all sweaty by the end of the day, and the hydration bladder fits right into the mesh ventilation area. My cons for the pack is that it takes a few trial packing sessions to figure how best to organize everything in the large compartment, to maneuver your gear around the curved internal frame. Also, my next pack will have an access at the bottom, or a separate sleeping bag pocket at the bottom, and maybe a removable day pack. Bottom line...great pack, very comfortable, and I would highly recommend.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

I have taken my new pack out on quite a few trial runs...6-12 mile days around TX this summer with a peak weight of 34 lbs. The pack seems to ride well overall. However, the shoulder straps ride hard against my clavicle and after a days walk it is pretty sore. I may just need to readjust straps and reposition my load...more trial runs. I am giving the pack the benefit of the doubt that I am the cause of the discomfort and not the pack itself. Large mesh pockets on the waistband are very convenient...snacks, bandana, bug spray, sunscreen, socks out to dry fit easily. Waistband has plenty of padding...no soreness to speak of at all. Back of the pack arches quite a bit from the user's back so there is plenty of ventilation without making the pack feel akward. There is an option to place a water bladder in this rear ventilation area. I have a 3 liter bladder and it is impossible to get it full, whether I fill it while it is already in place or not, in the rear compartment. Having the bladder inside the bag also keeps the water at a cooler temperature on hot summer days. Having the option for either is nice...maybe having the bladder in the ventilation area in cold weather would be a good idea. A multitude of compression straps cinch down to make the pack as sleek as it can be in relation to the amount of gear carried. Overall, I am pleased with this pack. A few more practice walks...maybe a professional's opinion on loading my gear to keep the collarbone pain to a minimum...and this pack should be great for walking.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

Just got back from a three-week backpacking trip in wet, muddy weather; I've also used this pack for multiple day trips. For the weight of the pack and the features it offers, I thought the pack was pretty comfortable. It took some getting used to but I eventually grew to love it! At first my hips and shoulders were a little sore from the contact points, but after about five days I figured out how to load it better. After 135 miles on the Appalachian trail, many people's packs were absolutely reeking but my pack wasn't so bad. The mesh on the the back allows for some much-needed ventilation. Because of the ventilation, the bag is shaped somewhat oddly (more like a crescent), which required a different packing system. I used multiple stuff sacks and a Ursack food bag, which fit in my pack horizontally. I stored my tent poles vertically in a side pocket but in good weather they'd also be fine strapped horizontally across the bottom of the pack (but this way interfered with the pack's rain cover). It always felt stable on my back and never pulled me back or to the side, even during scrambles up and over boulders. I liked the small side pockets for organization; they're well designed to shed water and outdoor detritus. The pack is very durable and held up well, and washed and dried quickly. By the end of the hike I had a lot of AT shelter mouse pee and poo in my bag, and on the way home I forgot that I had a banana in the outer pocket, which got smashed in transit. So the pack was pretty gross. I washed it well and the next day someone asked me if my pack was brand new!! That's saying a lot because I truly put the bag through hell. The fabric is amazing--it doesn't absorb anything and stuff wipes right off. Plus Osprey has a rock solid guarantee on their products.

A few minor complaints: I couldn't reach my water bottles in the side pockets so had to switch to a system with a drinking hose. Also the hip belt is attached so far back that you cannot wrap the hip belt backwards around the bag, which makes it safer on airline conveyor belts. And all the zipper pulls have a large plastic loop for easy pulling, but they can get caught up in the airline machinery too. To prevent this I tucked the loops INTO the pockets and then slid the zippers closed with my fingernails. None of my pockets were pulled open in transit. Long story short: takes some getting used to but it's great in the long run.
My full pack, with four days of food and two liters of water, weighed 35lbs.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

Oh how I wanted this pack to work for me. It came down to this pack and the Gregory Jade. I was pretty sure I was going to go with the Gregory after trying it on but then I actually got my hands on the Osprey Aura and seen their new suspension/air circulation system. WOW. SO awesome. Where other packs (like the Jade) have done an impressive job of padding pressure points so that you barely feel anything... the Osprey has tried to eliminate the existance of pressure points at all with it's tight, screened/mesh separation between you and the bag.

UNfortunately.... a silly design flaw.

1. The hip belt starts unusually far back on this pack- where I would expect some back padding to still be vs. the start of the hip belt. As a result- the weight/bulk of the pack actually rests on the hip belt where they have also strangely put the hip pouches pretty far back. As in far back enough on the hip belt that they're a touch awkward to get to.

Because of this- you actually only get use of 1/2 to 2/3 of the pouch (see two red dots in pic). Unless, of course, you put something in it anyway (which most would when the pack is on the ground and you don't see the problem), throw the bag on- and realize the weight/bulk of the pack is now pressing on the item in the pouch. Car keys?! Ouch! Camera?!

2. It's also where, again, back padding should still be. Not only do you have a squished pouch/item in pouch being pressed into you... the corner of the frame (see arrow in pic) will push into your hips/toosh if you *actually* have hips/toosh. No padding at the corner of the frame near hips/toosh? I thought this thing was designed for women?!

Pretty bummed- I had wanted to ignore it, got fitted, tried a larger pack, larger hipbelt with small pack... sigh. In the end a pressure spot you can feel in the store is not a spot you're going to be able to ignore on a hike.

Super bummed Osprey, I really wanted this pack to be my pack- beautiful colors, a few more compartments, and a wicked (ingenious) back suspension system. How could you get such a simple thing wrong :(

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

I bought this pack at REI for an extended trip to Central America. The trip is this November (2010) and so thus far, the pack has only been used for weekend camp trips and short hikes.

For Central America I was looking for a light weight, breathable pack that wasn't as bulky as my old Gregory pack, (which I LOVED). This Osprey seemed perfect. I'm not a picky person, but there are some things that I HAVE to have in a pack; easy loading/unloading and no chafing on my arms/neck. The pack never caused any chafing.

Now...I will be returning this pack to REI here in the near future and will not be taking it to Central America. There is no access into the pack unless you take out your sleeping sack from the bottom or dig your way from the top. The pack is light, but I feel like I'm losing quality in exchange. Also, the more I looked into this pack, the more I saw that in hot, humid locations, the padding in the belt/back seems to fall apart. I found this pack more frustrating than enjoyable.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

Disclaimer: I am reviewing the 2008 model.

I have used this pack for a year, on 6 separate backpacking trips and many day hikes. This pack is very comfortable once it is adjusted properly. It took 2 hikes before the straps were all adjusted- at first the chest strap kept on irritating my collarbone. Yowch. But after adjustment it is extremely comfortable, and carries weight very well. I never have bruises or soreness from this pack, and I am not a well padded person by any means.

I think that this pack is designed to carry loads under 30-35 pounds. I typically carry around 20-25 pounds total weight. The padding on this year's model is more substantial, with a 5 oz weight penalty over the 2008 model, so they may be able to handle heavier loads. This pack is on the lighter side of mainstream internal frame packs with full features. Even though it has the capacity for heavier loads, I'm not sure the straps and padding are designed for this. You should definitely consider a different pack if you are going to be carrying substantial weight. I have used this pack for 3 day backpacking trips, but I have enough capacity for weeklong trips.

Some of my complaints on previous models has been addressed- there are convenient loops for stowing and accessing trekking poles conveniently, easier access to a side pocket after straps are cinched down.

Ventailation is great- even when I put my 2L hydration bladder into the mesh back panel, I still stay cool. And I can see how much water I have left in my pack easily through the mesh and just by eyeballing it or poking the mesh a few times with my palm. In addition, The mesh hipbelt pockets are awesome- I use them constantly for snacks and my camera.

CONS: The strange curve of the back definitely forces you to learn to pack a little different in order to fit everything in and stay balanced. I stuff my sleep bag into the bottom first without the stuff sack- otherwise, it wouldn't fit inside, and there would be a lot of dead space in the corners. It took a few tries to pack correctly. There still isn't a bottom zip for the small 50 liter pack, so you have to disgorge your entire pack if you want what is on the bottom. This isn't a big deal for me, but may be an issue for others. The curved shape of this pack also means that large bear canisters like the the Bear Vault and Garcia will not fit inside, and will have to strapped sub optimally outside, or at the top of the pack. However, smaller bear canisters such as the Bare Boxer Contender will fit vertically in the pack (and horizontally as well- a bit awkwardly though).

I am rough on my equipment, and this pack has held up well. I would not hesitate to buy this pack again if my current one wears out.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

I really enjoy this pack. Not only is it a good size at 50L making it easy to take with for something more extended but also not to big for a long weekend. My only complaint is that the small pockets on the hip belt (when full) rub against the frame of the pack and have worn some.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

I bought this pack to replace the REI Traverse as I really wanted a pack that could function for both a day hike and an overnight or two-nighter. This pack fits both. It's extremely comfortable to wear and has lots of great pockets to help organize your gear. I love that it has great airflow at your back to keep perspiration down. It also holds a hydration pack really nicely and has lots of great loops to weave the tube through. I also like the bungee in the chest strap and the pockets on the hip belt. It worked really well in the snow too. My only complaint is that because it is such a lightweight pack, in order to really fit everything you need for an overnight (tent, pad, bag, food, etc.) you really need to invest in ultra light, ultra compact gear because your average size tent and synthetic sleeping bag and pad put this pack over its limit. The compression straps don't compress as well as I'd like either. But overall, I liked this pack best out of all the ones I tried.

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

We have an Aura 65 and 50. Both have the frames sticking out of the seems at the bottom after only 18 days of use. The 65 probably only has 10 days of trail on it. I thought it should have lasted longer than that for [$].

Comments about Osprey Aura 50 Pack - Women's:

This pack worked well for me on my backpacking trips in Yosemite...particularly from Yosemite Valley to the North Dome area. It kept my back well ventilated and balanced the weight well over my body. It has several compartments that help you organize...the main compartment can be hard to load. It has straps for all your needs (tent, trekking poles, crampons...) I loved the small pockets on the waist-perfect for snacks, camera, lipbalm. It easily carries 25-30 pounds, which is what the Yosemite wilderness center recommends for my height (5'6").