Osprey Stratos 36 Pack

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

This is a great pack. It breathes well, has great functionality in terms of features and pockets, and it seems to carry 25-30 pounds with comfort. Took the pack out for a 10 miler after purchasing and carried about 25 pounds to test it out. It was hot the day I went and the back panel breathed extremely well. Only precaution I would give prospective buyers is to really make sure it fits well since it comes in several sizes. I bought the large and half way through the hike I could feel the lower end of the frame rubbing on my tail bone. I am 6' tall and weigh 190 lbs, so the medium may be a better fit for someone of my size. Double check at the store with some weight in the pack before you buy it. Other than that, it's a really great pick up and I plan to use for day hikes as well as overnighters.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

I used this pack yesterday for its first real test. A twenty mile, 9,000 ft. elevation change hike that started in the rain. Living in southern California I figured I would probably never need the included rainfly but it sure can in handy. It fit well and did not flap or flutter in the wind like I have experienced with others. I am 6ft. tall, 170 pounds and bought the medium size. The fit was excellent and it could not have been more comfortable. Lots of easy adjustments. I was originally considering the Stratos 24 but went with the 36 for better outside access and more compartments. I am glad I did. You can always cinch things down if you dont want the full capacity. I really like having the pockets on the belt (for trailmix and power bars) and the small one on the shoulder strap (I kept a chapstick in it). I used my Camelback 1.5 liter bladder for carrying water and it fit just fine in the built in internal pouch. The bite tube was a bit short but I can always replace it with a longer one if needed. My only complaint is the pack has no tie downs. I have not needed one yet but I envision wanting them at some point so I probably will sew some on. Other than that one item this is an excellent day or extended day hike pack.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

I bought an Osprey Aether 60 before I bought this and loved it to death. Decided that I wanted something a little smaller for when I go on Day Hikes, Light Over-nighters, ect. It was hard to choose with all of the new 2010 Osprey Packs. Decided on this bag and have no regrets! Immediately after buying this bag I went on an overnighter. Temperatures were at a low of about 30 degrees so I had to pack a few extra jackets. I was able to fit the jackets and all other essentials in my pack no problem. I plan to do a lot of Hammock camping this summer and this will be my bag of choice!

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

I used this bag to carry everything I needed on a 9-day, 133 mile hike through Spain where I stayed in Hostels (Albergues). Since I didn't need a tent and cooking supplies, the size was perfect. Others that had a larger pack filled it with more gear - I could fill this one completely and it would never be too heavy!
The fit was wonderful, and my movement never felt restricted. A lot of times when stopping to rest, I didn't even bother taking the pack off. At the end of the trip, some people were talking about how their boots became their best friend - I gave that title to my pack!

I did wish there were more places on the outside to hang things - but since this is meant to be a daypack I assume most people don't need to hang their laundry to dry on the outside. I didn't get the raincover on correctly at one point, and water got in and pooled at the bottom of the cover. Once I tightened the drawstring, this didn't happen again.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

As another reviewer commented, I too purchased an Osprey (Aether 70) backpack, which I love to pieces, and was considering the purchase of a $90 REI Lookout 40 daypack. I had the Lookoutin my hands - thought I was going home with it, until I started looking closely at the details. The one thing that really turned my $90 purchase into a [$] purchase was the "stow & go" feature for trekking poles. I use poles when I need them, and love being able to slip them into their holds while on the go....the Lookout daypack didn't have that functionality, so it was worth the extra $50 for the Stratos 36.Osprey's Stratos 36 has a terriffic suspension system - as do all Osprey's. These really are top of the line packs, and you only need to buy them once in a lifetime (unless you just freakin' live outdoors all the time where you might have buy another later).When I see other Osprey's on the trails, I can tell someone did their homework.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

After weeks of research I drove to the [...] store and bought the Stratos 36 Medium. I'm going on an international trip and absolutely needed a pack that would fit in the carry-on sizing box (22"x9"x14"). The medium fits, the large does not. Test hikes prove it is comfortable up to 30lb loads, even with my back problems. Airspeed frame cool and supportive. Lots of pockets, straps; can load it up with tons of junk. Although the fabric is a bit delicate, it is advertised as "fast and light". If you plan to use it to carry climbing gear to the crag, I advise a stuffsack to protect the pack.Only problem is the ridiculously small waist buckle! Unbelievable fail on the part of Osprey. That buckle, no bigger than the shoulder buckles, digs painfully into my gut. However, via a quick mod, I was able to add a full-size Liberty replacement buckle; the stock buckle went in the bottom of the main inside pocket as a spare.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

As a Scoutmaster - and a father - I usually have to carry a bit extra gear than usual and needed something slightly larger for longer day hikes. This pack works great - much better than the CamelBak day packs I'd used in the past.

Priced competitively with others (CamelBak day packs, etc.), it has the following significant advantages:
- The mesh back panel. It adds cooling comfort - and a place to stow the water reservoir if you don't want it in the main compartment.
- Comfort - the hip belt, perfect rigid/flex of the frame make this the most comfortable pack I've carried in this class.
- Integrated rain cover. Easy and quick to deploy - it works great.
- Hip belt pockets - for easy retrieval of smaller items.
- Trekking pole stow system - it works as it should, allowing poles to be easily stowed/retrieved on the fly.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

I recently moved to Europe for a job and I bought this pack for weekend adventures that I would take. I didn't want to load up my bulky aether 70 and shlep it to the Dalmatian coast for a few days. I have been using this pack for everything. My weekend getaways, taking my laptop and some books to the cafe, shopping at the market, you name it. If you have a light load (or no load) you can cinch this pack down with the straps and comfortably pedal your bike down the cobblestones. With a full load (~10 kilos), I can fasten the hip belt and chest strap, explore a city for hours and even ride back up those cobblestones.

I am planning on a ~6 week adventure through Europe in Feb/March and think that I will be packing my stratos 36 (and maybe a small shoulder bag) as opposed to my aether 70. I think I will be happy with its light weight, great compartments, non-bulkiness and integrated rain cover (which can also be removed) as I am hopping on and off trains and trekking through cities.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

I decided on the Osprey 36 after trying out comparable packs from just about every other company that REI sells. This pack had the best overall fit - did not limit my range of motion at all like most other packs did. The actual capacity does seem a bit larger than most 36L backpacks however, the well placed compression straps allow you to properly secure your gear when the extra space in not needed. This allows the pack to be used comfortably for a short summer day hike as well as a multi-day trip (assuming you have minimalist sleeping gear) and everything in between. Awesome build quality and company warranty. I hope to be using this pack for many years.

Comments about Osprey Stratos 36 Pack:

The Osprey Stratos is a superb pack meeting the needs of the weekend warrior and beyond. I have owned the Atmos 65 for a few years & wanted something a little smaller to help minimize weight. After several months of research & comparison to minimize the impact of lumbar surgery + backpacking, I purchased this pack on a Saturday & hit the Colorado Trail the next morning with a 28 lbs load. As the first time on the trails in over 3 years, the Stratos was everything I needed. In fact, the skiesopened up and began to pur. Most other hikers & bikers were seeking shelter while the included rain cover kept everything dry. Unlike the Atmos 65 that requires the optional rain cover, the Stratos comes with a built-in rain cover that easyily tucks away & removeable via snap link.

With front & top access, a double zippered front pocket, this pack is super easy to organize. The waist belt is comparable to that of my older Atmos 65 but long enough to reach around a 38 inch waist with some extra left over. The hip belt pouches are easy to access on the trail to dig out those Gummy Bears as Segment 2 begins its climb up from the river.

As is natural with most packs, it takes a few miles to get the shoulder straps adjusted, the chest strap at the right level, and the load lifters cinched. The Stratos mounted my back as a saddle on an old horse. It just feels too good to stop moving.

The following weekend I hiked more than 45 miles of the Colorado Trail with a 25 lbs load and only one or two sore spots under the arms. I was able to load 3 days of food, clothing, my REI Half Dome, 30 degree sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping mat, 35mm SLR, tripod, & other essentials using the internal space, pocket, & two outside pockets. After 2 days on the trail, I began to rub a little raw under the arms from the shoulder straps, but an old Army Grunt, this is expected from lack of exercise and in no way is the pack at fault.

My only complaint is the lack of external tie-downs for strapping on the sleeping mat & sleeping bag instead of stuffing them inside the main compartment. If I could combine the Stratos with the load attachment capabilities (sleeping pad & ties downs) of the Atmos or Exos with the zippered front pocket & top/front access- I would rate it at a 10+.

All in all, the Osprey Stratos is an awesome pack for the day packers & weekend warriors.