How to Choose a Backpack

Built to comfortably haul heavy loads for the week or a weekend, the women's Osprey Ariel 65 pack features a highly customizable fit for a variety of body shapes and sizes.
$34
10% Reward
on this and every eligible full-price item*
+
$30
Bonus Card
valid for 60 days after joining*
=
$64
Value
Keep shopping
Imported.
View the Osprey Ariel Product LineView all Osprey Backpacking PacksBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Gear Capacity (L) | XS/S: 62 liters EF XS/S: 62 liters M/L: 65 liters EF M/L: 65 liters |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | XS/S: 3,783 cubic inches EF XS/S: 3,783 cubic inches M/L: 3,967 cubic inches EF M/L: 3,967 cubic inches |
Weight | XS/S: 4 lbs. 13.6 oz. EF XS/S: 4 lbs. 13.6 oz. M/L: 4 lbs. 14.3 oz. EF M/L: 4 lbs. 14.3 oz. |
Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
Fits Torso Length (in.) | XS/S: 13.5-17 inches EF XS/S: 13.5-17 inches M/L: 16-19.5 inches EF M/L: 16-19.5 inches |
Fits Waist/Hips | XS/S: 26-45 inches EF XS/S: 40-70 inches M/L: 28-50 inches EF M/L: 40-70 inches |
Material(s) | 420HD nylon packcloth; 210-denier nylon Diamond (bluesign® approved) |
Frame Material | 3.5 mm LightWire peripheral frame |
Number of Stays | 1 peripheral hoop |
Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
Pack Access | Top/panel |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 7 + main compartment |
Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
Raincover Included | Yes |
Hipbelt Pockets | Yes |
Dimensions | XS/S: 29.5 x 15.75 x 11 inches EF XS/S: 29.5 x 15.75 x 11 inches M/L: 31.5 x 15.75 x 11 inches EF M/L: 31.5 x 15.75 x 11 inches |
Gender | Women's |
Sustainability | Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria |
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Loving the fit, easy to pack, fits everything I need for a 2 day, 1 night packing trip to Mt Langley Easy to adjust “on the fly” and has lots of compartments so you can easily find stuff.
I’ve been using this pack for about 1.5 years now. I love the detachable daypack which has been beneficial when needing to drop the larger pack for in-town use. More than enough room to pack out for a multi-week hike. When fully packed for a 7 day trek, including food, I was able to get by at around 30lbs total. For the weight and price, it’s a really great deal. Especially for a woman with Jessica rabbit hips! Oh, and I ordered a large and I’m 5’7, 190lbs. If that helps anyone with sizing.
This is my first sizeable pack and I'm absolutely loving it. I purchased the XS/S after the measurement and suggestion of an in-store employee and have really enjoyed the way it fits. It sits super comfortably on my waist and the shoulder straps are really well-cushioned. I love the front zipper panel, which allows me to pull things out of my pack without unloading the whole top half of my contents. The 2 small zipper compartments on the waist strap are convenient, allowing me to stash my phone in one (though it's a bit of a tight fit) and some protein bars in the other. Loved how easily adjustable it was, which is important to me as someone who needed to make a lot of adjustments to feel out how the pack should sit on my back. I'm really happy with the quality of this pack and definitely feel that it was worth the price.
I just took this pack out for the first time--three days and two nights in the Alpine Wilderness in Washington State. It was amazing! Comfortable and perfectly adjustable. I love that it has pockets on the hip belt for snacks; the front access, myriad of pockets, and pocket for your water bladder were also really useful. I was able to carry ~40 lbs with ease and comfort. I definitely recommend!
I've had this pack for four years now. It's been on a great many adventures, including a thru hike of the JMT and Desolation Wilderness. I've purchased and tried several more bags since this one trying to lighten my load. The packs I've tried include: Hyperlight, Z-packs, Osprey Lumina. Carrying a load in any of those bags felt heavier than it did my Ariel. It's no surprise the Ariel IS NOT a lightweight bag. However, the way it carries the load and how comfortable it sits on your body makes the weight feel like so much less. On average my gear (water, clothes, food and bear can included) weighs between 25-30 lbs. I can't find a bag that's broken my love and commitment to my Ariel Osprey. My Ariel will be making another thru hike of the JMT this year and she's in just as good of shape as when I got her (minus some dirt). Other points on my bag I love besides the comfort- fits BV500 nicely, super durable, I'm not at all concerned about it tearing while I'm on trail (and that's saying a lot because I'm not gentle on my gear) the stretchy front pocket REALLY stretches to fit extra gear, the brain has three zippers and made a great way for me to organize and separate smaller items, not to mention it's detachable (for that trek up Whitney when you don't want to take your whole bag up, or side trips where you don't need all your gear in tow). What don't I like? The hipbelt pouches are super hard to zip back up while you're wearing your pack, also the front zipper to access the inside of your bag from the front wassss more or less useless to me. It only unzips 3/4 of the way around and doesn't go high enough up the bag to access anything at the top of your load. So if you're not stressing over bragging about base weight and you want a bag that's not going to break your body and FEELS lighter than all the lightest bags... THIS IS THE ONE!
This was my first backpacking backpack, and if I knew more, I probably would've bought a lighter pack. This thing is HEAVY, you're adding 2-3 pounds of weight just from your pack compared to lighter, smaller backpacks. That being said, it's not necessarily uncomfortable. If you pack it light and manage your weight distribution, it does a good job. The straps are comfortable on me, it's somewhat adjustable while you wear it and fairly breathable. Unfortunately, the side pockets leave a lot to be desired. Shoulder pain, however, is a very realistic possibility if you're not using some of the lighter options available for your shelter, sleep system etc
I'd used a prior version of the Ariel 65 on a 4 day trip and loved it so much I waited for my member's coupon to order my own from the website. Imagine my surprise to find that the new "fit on the fly" design feature rendered the pack unusable for me. The place where the adjustable shoulder straps slide out hit me right at a point on my clavicle that I could not wear the pack without feeling like it was digging in to my shoulder. I made all sorts of adjustments, thinking the fit might be the problem but for once it's not user error! I returned it and bought the Osprey Aura LT instead, which has smooth shoulder straps. It's been a great replacement. I know some people love this pack--and I did, too, before the new "fit on the fly" design was introduced. I have no complaints about the features, which are many. Definitely try before you buy on this one! All bodies are different, so maybe the strap adjustment point won't bother you. Happy trails!
I would give this zero stars if I could. I’ve used this backpack for two backpacking trips and it is an absolute let down. My first trip was short and with a lot of weight, so I assumed my discomfort with it was just due to the excessive weight I was carrying. My second trip was longer and with a more reasonable weight (36lb) and I can now say that I’m positive that it’s terrible. I was measured and fitted for this pack at my local REI store, and while it was ok with weights in store, actually backpacking with it was terrible. The straps are designed in a way that they angle directly into your shoulders and dig in extremely hard. My friend was wearing this same pack on our recent trip and she also experienced serious pain in the same place and for the exact same reason. We tried adjusting and readjusting things but there appears to be no way to prevent the shoulder straps from digging in really, really hard. Over many miles it becomes unbearable. We tried on another friend’s pack and were shocked at how much better it distributed the weight and how soft and comfortable the straps felt. The only thing that got me through my last trip was imagining myself writing this review as I endured the pain that this thing inflicted upon me. If you feel even the slightest pinch in your shoulders when you try it on, don’t buy it, because the worst is yet to come. Just don’t do this to yourself.
I was fitted i. store with this as my first multiple-day long hike pack. I am 5’10” tall and 195 pounds and was miserable on hike with shoulder straps digging into my shoulders. I even hiked for periods with one arm over my shoulder holding center handle to keep weight off shoulders and after 5 miles was changing settings in attempt to get relief enough to continue hike. Thankfully, bad weather ended hike at 10 miles. I even put a pair of socks under each shoulder strap for comfort…wider straps needed! I am going back to store with my gear in pack to see if they can fix or if I have wrong size pack. Otherwise, quality of materials and design is good.
Awful fit! I replaced an Osprey I had from the late 90s and thought this would work. I had a 5-day hiking trip planned but only lasted 2. The straps were so uncomfortable they dug into my shoulders, came away from the body and of the pack and it rocked back and forth. The weight didn’t distribute to my hips even though I loaded it correctly. Horrible! 1st time using it and I hated it. I’m going to try and return it.