How to Choose a Backpack

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Winner of Backpacker magazine's 2015 Editors' Choice Award and featuring a revolutionary Anti-Gravity™ suspension, the redesigned Atmos 50 pack delivers seamless body-contouring comfort.
Shop similar productsBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
Material(s) | Nylon |
Frame Material | Aluminum |
Number of Stays | 1 peripheral hoop |
Suspended Mesh Back Panel | Yes |
Pack Access | Top/bottom |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 8 + main compartment |
Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
Raincover Included | Yes |
Gender | Unisex |
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I was looking for a mid to large size pack for day, overnight and long weekends and I think I found a winner with this on! I loaded it up with more gear than I needed (27 lbs.) to get a feel of just what this pack was capable of and I will say I was not disappointed at all. After 25+ miles on the PCT no hot spots or soreness was felt which for me was amazing and I believe more weight could be carried with the same results. I love all the upgrades from the previous model and with the included rainfly and waterproof stuff sack it’s a great bargain. I’m looking forward to many more miles on the trail!
Good Bag but… After a recent cold weather outing, here are my thoughts. Everything about this bag is awesome; style, colors, functionality and comfort. I’m not going to lie, everyone that has commented on the bag are close to true. It is that great of a bag however I had a few issues with it. Maybe its user error or perhaps I’m looking for more. I’m 5’5, athletic built, got fitted at REI and bought the 50 AG small which came out to 47 liter(bummer because I was in he market for an exact 50 liter bag). That forced me to rethink my entire arsenal. The 50 medium was not fitting correctly around shoulders, too much room, ratio was off. Pros: What everyone says Cons: 1) The waist belt was like a lobster claw. It was hard getting it to open after throwing the bag on the shoulders. I had to have a friend occasionally help pry it open. Maybe over time it will stay open. 2) The waist belt pockets are way in the back making it hard to grab things. Personally, I’m use to pockets exactly on the side of the hips or slightly edging to the front. 3) I wish it was 48 or exact 50 because now I have to re-buy several new items to fit in the bag which ended costing me a lot more. I believe having just that 1 more liter would’ve made a big difference. 4) I wish the bag came with bottom tent/pad straps. I notice the larger size came with it. Since I wasn’t planning on ice climbing, I used the ice pick loops along with buckle straps I had laying around to secure any type of chair/pad(picture shown). 5) Rain cover could have been thinner or lighter. It is pretty bulky in my opinion. I ended throwing it in the sleeping bag compartment. Next time its going to be toss out to save weight. Overall, great bag and yes I would recommend this to a friend. If you’re contemplating on getting this bag, you better rethink minimal.
Short answer: Suspension crafted by benevolent other-worldy powers. Unparalleled comfort at 10 lbs or at 30 lbs. Goldilocks size for midweight (30lb) overnights to 3-4 days, but also versatile enough due to compression system and overall pack shape to handle beautifully as a daypack. My new favorite piece of equipment! WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY. This pack is an absolute dream. My girlfriend has the Aura AG 50 and we came to the same conclusion: wearing this pack is like having a cloud strapped to your back. The trampoline style suspension molds to your body and the adjustable torso length makes this a truly custom-fitted pack. The suspension is what makes this pack the Cadillac of bacpacks; there is nothing out there that even comes close to the fit and comfort of the Atmos. Be warned; once you get this pack, you'll be spoiled and there will never be an acceptance of anything less. It's truly revolutionary. We have never worn packs so comfortable in our entire lives. We recently did a 9 mile hike with 2000' elevation gain in the first two miles to give these a test run. Loaded mine up with 24 lbs and her's with 16 lbs and the ride was honestly smoother than hiking with my old REI Lookout 40 with a third of that weight for a day hike. While we moved slower, I completely forgot I was even wearing a pack. It was GLORIOUS. As another reviewer mentioned, this pack is great for overnighting (our reason for purchase), multiday trips, and even day hikes. The top notch suspsension, slim/contoured profile and well designed compression system allow this pack to shrink way down and mold to your back. If there is such a thing as a one-backpack quiver, this guy would be your ticket. Don't look at anything else. Trust me. Go in to your local REI and try this on, have a REI employee adjust the suspension for you and you'll be saying, "That C-45, man was he was right. This thing is a dream. Please, REI, take my money before these tears of joy overwhelm me."
After saving every last penny and clicking through pictures and reviews till I wore my fingers to the bone and my sanity to its threads imagining the wonders of this pack, I finally pulled the trigger and decided to purchase the Osprey Atmos 50 AG in Graphite Grey. I went to the local REI store and found they had it available; this was extremely gratifying–I could cure the addiction to all things Atmos AG and quench the burning hole in my pocket–all in one fell swoop. The staff there (Buford, GA location) were an absolute pleasure to work with and were kind enough to put up with my antics as I jogged laps around the store with a small load to test the suspension. Speaking of suspension...oh man. None of the reviews I had read (and I read most all of them) could have prepared me for how utterly groundbreaking the suspension system was. Not having upgraded my pack in years, I was expecting moderate padding and a few hot spots where the frame dug into the hipbelt. Not so with this pack. One advantage of the AG system is that tightening the hipbelt does nothing to dispel comfort–it actually increases it; the tighter the belt, the more the mesh pulls away from the frame and the more lift you achieve. The shoulder straps are similarly just as comfortable. Where I expected collarbone chafing, I was met with an airy mesh that supported even better than the old style of straps. It's amazing how well the back adjusts too, eventually leading to a perfect comfortable fit over your entire back. I'm 6'1", but only a medium torso, and yet the suspension adjusted in seconds to hug my frame flawlessly. The velcro On-The-Fly hipbelt adjustment system was also rock solid and didn't slip no matter how tight I pulled the waist straps. "But what good is suspension if you can't hold anything? It's only 50 liters." Well I can tell you that you are mistake in that regard. The bottom sleeping bag compartment fits even my large REI Mojave bag, with a little room to spare where I can stash an inflatable pillow. The main compartment is deceptively huge; I loaded up every piece of gear (even the stuff I would never take on a trip) and I still had room for a few days worth of food. Combined with the top lid, you have ample storage space, whether taking this pack on a one night outing or a weeklong excursion. The outer mesh panel is superb, and it's very clear that it was made from a high quality material, with the added bonus of being able to cinch down once buckled. The side mesh pockets are a breeze to reach and will easily hold any water bottle you put in it, that is if you decide not to opt for the hydration sleeve in the main compartment. My only complaint regarding storage is that the hipbelt pockets are a little tight. I have large hands so it's a little difficult to reach for stuff in the very bottoms of the pockets. But the things I normally keep in there are items that could easily go into the included 3L sack (another great add-on by REI). If there is anything you can't fit into the main compartment, the top lid has a section of elastic right before the tie-down buckles to stretch over and secure items like a sleeping pad or tent poles. Once everything is in place, the side compression straps will cinch everything down tight and prevent it from moving, with the added bonus of bringing the load closer to your back. In the short time I've had this pack, it has performed like a dream. I even recently loaded two 25lb dumbbells in the pack just to see how it could handle it, and it still felt like I could go for a run–that's how good the AG suspension is. It is worth every penny and the high-quality materials seem like they will last a long time. Despite not seeming like a large pack, I find that I don't even use the lid and have since then taken it off. The AG suspension is extremely comfortable and perfectly customizes to your shape, all within seconds. The price was well within my budget and the included rain cover and stuff sack were just icing on the cake. This pack was an investment that so far has paid off big time in terms of comfort and adaptability, and if you are sitting on the fence about purchasing this pack–let me be the push you need. Buy it now. You'll wonder why you didn't buy it sooner.
I was able to fit my sleeping bag, long Thermarest pad, Quarter Dome 2 tent, small pillow and some other small things in the bag. The bag has plenty of room for all of these things and a little more. I have a bad lower back and this did not bother it at all until the last bit of my 14 mile hike. Not sure if it was the bag or the fact that I was dehydrated though.
I waited as patiently as possible till I could get my hands on this pack and see if the hype was all real or just talk. The hype was all real. I had lower back surgery 9 years ago and my back has never been the same since. The problem I have had with every pack is most of the weight falls on your lower back. My Kestrel 58 while a good pack left me sore and was the least padded of my packs. Not a fun thing when going on a backpack and getting to camp with a sore lower back and shoulders from trying to adjust the pack every way possible to minimize the discomfort. Bought my new Atmos 50 AG and took it for a nice 10 mile backpack. I loaded it to about 25 lbs with some winter gear and stuff I usually don't bring just to bring weight and see how my back would feel. If my back felt bad well not a big deal since the hike out would be too long. On the hike I honestly couldn't tell you I had the pack on. It truly is form-fitting. As if the Force was hugging you lightly. I have no other way to describe it. I had no sore lower back, no sore shoulders, or any hot spots. The shoulder straps just hold your pack close to your body and put no weight on them (or at least that is how it felt to me) while ventilating. A bonus was not having that sweaty cold feeling when you put your backpack on after taking it off. The pack breaths really well and I could feel the light cool breeze on my back and into the cavity on the hip belts covered by the mesh. Was able to put the pack back on without that icky feeling. Now after reading some of the reviews there are some things that need to get addressed: -The Atmos does have a sliding back “panel”. It is not like the traditional ones that the Kestrel or Aether has with a sliding panel held by Velcro. The Atmos has a sliding track where you can adjust the position of the shoulder straps to match your torso. -The Rain cover, well that is a bonus. Yes it could have been made better. All the rain covers I have had, have an elastic Velcro attachment at the middle that goes across the back of the backpack to hold it in place in case the wind tries to blow it off. This one doesn't but the truth is I didn't buy the pack for the rain cover and no matter where you buy it, the price is the same minus a rain cover. Honestly I only had one issue with the pack; I wish I could access my Osprey Hydration Bladder from the outside as in the Aether, but that is an afterthought with how this pack fits and feels. This is truly a new standard and the fit is like something from a galaxy far far away. My back is happy, my shoulders are happy, and the form fitting suspension make it feel as if you were carrying a light pack for a daytrip.
Bought this for a 4 day trip on the AT. This pack met and exceeded my expectations of comfort and weight balance. would be nice to have a few more pockets though.
I've owned several packs throughout the years and I think Osprey has created one of the best yet in the new Atmos AG series. I obtained a Arcteryx Altra 65 last year, and even with all the raves about comfort, it never felt as good as the new Atmos AG.In fact I'm in the process of selling it due to the fact I don't see myself using it again. As the other reviewers have stated the suspension on the Atmos AG is beyond amazing. It hugs the body and still allows air to circulate freely. I have never had a pack carry a nice load and feel so good. Very stable. I got the 50 because I tend to go pretty minimalist with my kit. I use a Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock, top and underquilts with a Superfly. Jetboil Minimo cookset and Ursack for food (3-5 days of food). All fit comfortably in the pack interior with room to spare for extra clothing, camp shoes, etc. Lid pockets easily hold latrine kit, first aid kit, repair kit, helium rain shell and pack cover. I tend to not use a bladder, but the side pockets easily hold two separate liter water bottles. Belt pockets are a little tight when the belt is cinched, but they have ample room for compass, knife, lip balm, small snacks etc. I'm sold on this pack. It's about as close to perfection as I have found for my kit and trail needs. It will be a classic for sure. Today I dropped by REI and there wasn't an Atmos on the rack. When I asked the sales rep were they sold out, he just laughed and said he had never seen such a demand for a new pack but they had a whole bunch on the way. That speaks volumes to me. Just buy it. You won't regret it. You'll fall in love too.
Pre-season review (will update once I've got some miles on it): Easy and fast to adjust. Very well laid-out straps, compartments, pockets, and hydration bladder. Hip belt on size Large wraps the padding around the point of my hip, which I'm very happy about. Compound belt secures very comfortably and tight with minimal effort. This pack is plenty big to handle my 3P tent, sleeping bag, inflatable pad, hydration bladder, and is then about half full. I'm happy with the 53 Liter offered by this pack in size large, as am hoping to keep pack weight between 30 and 40 pounds. The suspension on this unit is CRAZY comfortable in the limited amount of time I've had it on and loaded (not in the mountains yet). Padding is great, and the feeling against your lower back is so much superior to any pack I've yet tried (I have three I use). It is too early for me to post any of the ugly, because I haven't had it in any ugly situations yet...sorry. I truly feel like the stars aligned and I purchased PRECISELY the best possible pack for me. I've never had one fit this well and keep all of the weight so nicely distributed on my hips without mashing into my vertebrae anywhere. It is very sturdy and rigid in the frame, especially considering it is slightly north of 4 pounds. I don't think it is easy to understand the feel of this pack without trying it on. The mesh against your back is so supple, but it doesn't feel weak or like it will let you down as the hip belt grabs you like a vice...but not in a painful way. Only time will tell.....
My current gold standard pack for a weekender is a 20 year old Osprey Finesse, so I had high hopes for this one. It was extremely comfortable, but unfortunately there were some issues that ultimately made me return it in frustration - 1. I mostly pack out in cold weather, and the sleeping bag compartment doesn't seem to be big enough for most winter bags. I even tried smashing a bag down to the bottom of the pack from the top opening, but the concave back prevents anything large (like a winter bag in a stuff sack) from being packed (see #3 below). 2. Speaking of the sleeping bag compartment, they've made the compartment opening smaller than the compartment, which makes no sense - sleeping bags in stuff sacks can't be crushed down to fit it into a smaller hole. 3. Something I experienced and have read in other reviews - you have to pack the Atmos like kind of a puzzle. Since the back of the pack is extremely concave on both axes, your gear must be made up of small pieces that fit together in here properly. That makes it feel like a 50L pack that is really only 30L in practice. 4. For the final conundrum, the slot for the water hose doesn't fit insulated water hoses that are used on cold weather trips - but to be honest, this is a problem with a lot of packs. Bonus - it *is* very comfortable to wear, so you might want to give it a go if you can figure out how to pack it to take advantage of all fifty liters.