Osprey  Aether AG 70 Pack - Men's

I was previously using a Gregory Baltoro 75 liter that just wasn't fitting me quite right. I told one of the workers at REI about the issues I was having and they suggested this pack. Great recommendation! It is super comfortable and leaves no added pressure on my lower back like the Baltoro did. I like the features a little bit better on this pack as well. The only thing I wish is that it was a littttle bit bigger. I hike in California where bear canisters are required, and fitting one into this 70L pack was tough along with the rest of my gear. I felt like it was busting at the seems but it still was extremely comfortable. Love it!

This is my first backpack. I did a lot of research and tried on several at REI and it was the best for my needs. I’ve used it once so far on a 28 mile three night trek carrying 48lbs and it was excellent. It was comfortable, had pleanty of room, exterior pockets and straps for everything I brought and needed. It was my first piece of backpacking equipment and I had to buy everything needed to be able to do this. I did not want to replace anything or wish I had bought “the other one” so I bought as good of stuff as I could with a lot of online research and time in REI. I was happy with the Aether backpack when I got back to my car after carrying it for four days. My body took a beating as it was considered a rough trail but I can’t imagine that there is a backpack that would have been better. Day time temperatures were in the low 80’s with low humidity and I never had sweat running down my back or even thought about it being hot on my back. Bring a bungee cord for carrying the shoes your not wearing. I’m planning on doing the same trail again next month, October 2018, and look forward to using my backpack again. Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas in April 2018 was my first backpacking adventure. I would reccomend the Osprey Aether 70 pack! Much thanks to the staff at REI Dallas!!

I've done 4 overnight backpacks varying from 10 to 24 miles up to 12,500 ft and the pack was quite comfortable. At the end of the day I'd have to tighten up the hip belt to ease the weight off my shoulders but there were no pressure points. I feel a multi-day to week load would be doable with no pain. Total pack weight was 30-35 lbs. The side water bottle pockets are nice to access a bottle without removing the pack. I have not used the water bladder pocket yet. I had the hip belt fit using the Osprey oven so I started off with a good fit. I think the fit of the pack got better with each hike.

I hiked Mt. Shasta with my Aether 70 AG and used "Daypack" for summiting. During scrambling up/down, the Daypack shifted a lot on my back, even shifted toward my head if I bent down too much and can cause out of balance. The Daypack shifts around because it has very light weight material which is understandable since it is a top lid. I have 2 suggestions to improve the Daypack, 1. add a waist belt (**must have) 2. add a compression strap (nice to have) Both can be done easily. Looking at the Daypack picture (attached), it already has 2 fixed female buckles at the bottom (to attach Daypack back to main pack front) it also has 2 removable male buckles on the middle strap (to attach Daypack back to main pack back) . 1. Add waist belt **provide 2 male buckles (3/4") to attach to the existing female buckles at the bottom of daypack **provide 2 straps (3/4"), 18" to 24" long, depends on waist size **provide 1 male and 1 female buckle (as waist buckle) 2. For compression strap **provide a female buckle. User can replace one of the male buckle on the middle strap with the female buckle, and the 2 middle straps becomes compression strap.

I used the Aether 70 to carry my gear on a 400 mile trek from Selma, Alabama to Memphis, Tennessee following the National Civil Rights Trail and other historic sites where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. either pastored or led marches. During my hike the Aether 70 provided all the space I need for my belongings and more. After completing the first 50 miles I unloaded some of my gear reducing the pack weight from 43 to about 35 pounds. Overall I was very happy with the pack and especially the easy access to all its compartments. I do wish I had taken more time prior to starting the hike to get all the adjustments I needed for the weight I was carrying worked out.

I bought this in large for our trip into the Enchanted Valley. Had 45lbs in it for the 14 mile hike in. It did well. The straps on the shoulders could be a little bit wider and the chest strap keep sliding up. Other than that it carried the weight very well. I loved the top pouch. It turns into a 20 L backpack with a place for a water bladder. I got to use it on our day hikes while we were at our camp site. Everyone else in my group had to take their large pack they used to hike up to our camp site while I had my light weight day pack on.

I had thought that this pack was too small when I first purchased it, but I was trying to carry too much. Major rookie mistake. Took a multi day hike with 4,000 elevation change loaded at 45 lbs. Amazingly, my back never hurt once! It held all weight comfortably on my hips. My legs unfortunately did not fare as well. This pack has multiple pockets and works incredibly with the 3L water bladder by Osprey. The zippers never stuck once, even though I totally overloaded it. I’m a believer in Osprey! Tip: get fitted at an REI store! A pack that is fitted for your body size makes the world of a difference!!!

I am 6'1" 190lbs. I carried 40-43lbs for 4 days around Tuolome Meadows over Clouds Rest, Climbed Half Dome and went down into Yosemite Valley. The pack was well balanced and comfortable. Going over Clouds rest there are a few tough sections, I felt in control with the pack. The built in removable day pack was convenient for going up Half Dome. Downhill on the granite, I loosened the shoulders a bit and allowed the suspension to take more of the load, and felt it worked well. The Mist trail is a tough decent with a pack, I felt fine.

This is one of the most comfortable internal frame packs for hot and rainy weather. I have carried this pack for approximately a hundred 5-10 mile hikes, ten 45-60 mile hikes and one 975 mile hike. Mine is an older one and it squeaked a lot for the first thousand miles I put on it. I have been told the new ones do not do that. The front facing water bottle holders are almost useless and the pockets in the belt need to be bigger. Overall though I am most sad about the fact I have worn mine out and have to replace it. It has become like an old friend by this point. It is like a crazy uncle that has a few quirks but you love it anyway. My pack is named Frank. After fifty years of backpacking everything from wooden external frames to state of the art internals. Frank is the most comfortable pack of all of them. I like this pack enough that despite its few flaws, I am replacing it with this same pack. 2000+ miles is more than I have ever gotten from any pack. Despite the fact I carry too much photography equipment, the straps have held up well and so has the mesh back. None of the buckles have broken and all of the seams have held up well. The bottom of the pack is very abraded from rest breaks. The cat claw bushes have snagged the back mesh in a couple of places, but I could probably carry Frank another 1000 miles. He is tired and worn though. I spent all day playing with the packs at the REI in Austin and decided, I am getting Frank 2.

I hiked 100 miles at Philmont with this pack last summer and it held up like a champ, it was comfortable, and the side pockets were super convenient for stuffing tools, trinkets, and snacks. Like anything it takes getting used to, but ultimately this is a great pack all around. Highly recommend it for anyone doing Philmont, especially if you have a big frame like me.