Osprey  Ariel 65 Pack - Women's

I just want to say that I love this Pack! This is the third pack I have owned and the last kind I will buy! It is super adjustable and you can interchange parts. It is as custom fit to your body as you can get (if you take the time to go to REI and have someone measure, fit, and make the adjustments). I easily carry 50lbs of weight in this bag and my back or hips never hurt. It is awesome!!!! I can also detach the top part of the back and convert it to a fanny back for easy hikes. I highly recommend this pack to anyone who wants to take up backpacking. This is money well spent and will make your backpacking experience more enjoyable.

I've used this pack for two years and absolutely love it. I've used it on short wet weekend hikes as well as weeklong adventures. It's lightweight and efficiently designed. It’s a simple top load design so there are no extra pockets to get in your way. Although this does mean that you have to get a little fancy with how you pack your gear to ensure that what you need first is on top. This pack is very comfortable. Nothing fit my hips quite as well as this pack. It molds to and moves with my body better than any others I have tried, making it perfect for those extra scrambles. I love it and from now on will stick with Osprey packs!

Used this pack for a beginner backpacking trip 2 years ago in the Sierras. Never had a single problem with it. Extremely comfortable and adjustable to my body. My only suggestion for future designs would perhaps be some sort of side or front access panel to get to the inside of the pack without digging through from the top. Other than that, this pack is excellent, Osprey stands behind its products, and I expect it to service me for years to come.

Overall, this is a great pack, especially because of its lightweight and comfort. I got this pack because it was recommended by a friend who had an older model. The only thing that I don't like is that they removed the extra hip belt from the top pocket so you have to remove the hip belt from the main pack which is very hard to do. I imagine there is a weight savings, but there is a 4x4 inch piece of velcro attaching the belt to the pack and it needs 2 hands to keep the velcro pieces from sticking to each other and a 3rd person to remove the belt. Not good for solo trips but otherwise it works.

I got this pack for 2-3 night trips. It comfortably carries sleeping bag, clothes stuff sack, 3L water, and food. Use the outside straps for sleeping pad. My boyfriend liked it so much he went out and bought the men's version. As a note, the torso can be adjusted ~4in per size. My only complaint is that there are are no little pockets for stashing smaller pieces of gear other than the lid. It would have been really nice if osprey had put zippered pouches on the hipbelt and some sort of easy-access compartment inside the main compartment (and accessible from the outside?).

This is by far the most comfortable bag I have ever worn. The isoform hip-belt is like a dream; my hips don't ever get sore from the pressure. The pack is designed extraordinarily well. There are so many ways to strap in and cinch up your gear, you're guaranteed that your load won't wobble. Water resistance is great, although I haven't tested it in any heavy rain without a cover. While it's not a huge pack, I've taken it on several two-week mid-winter trips, and I was able to fit everything I needed (with the help of some compression sacks).

Just came off a three week backpacking trip of the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail. This pack exceeded all my expectations. The custom hipbelt is so comfortable, you don't even know it's on. Carrying six days of food and over 3 liters of water, the pack carried like a dream. My hiking buddies couldn't believe how much it could hold. At first I wished for one more external pocket, but as days went by, it became obvious that the small frequently needed items fit in the brain bucket and I didn't need another pocket. I carried between 35-40 lbs during the whole trip and the pack came through with flying colors. Very comfortable on the back. I have the small size of this pack. I would definitely recommend it to other women in the 5'5" range.

As an avid outdoor enthusiast I would highly recommend this pack. There are no unnecessary zippers, pockets, strings, ties ect. I like the simplicity and the comfort of this lightweight pack. I would make sure that you check the hip belt as they tend to run big. I bought a medium pack but need a small hip belt. The hip belt now fits very well and is very comfortable. The top compartment is just the right size that you don't overfill it and the water pouch fits well.

I love this pack. While shopping for our first long-distance hike, my husband and I were originally looking at cheaper models, but were enticed by a great sale and purchased the Ariel 65 and, for him, the Aether 70. Before buying these we spent a very uncomfortable weekend in northern Minnesota with rented REI Mars and Venus packs, and could tell even when trying these on that they would greatly improve our hiking experience. In three months on the trail in New Zealand we have constantly commented to each other about how comfortably they hold the weight, how durable they are, and how easily they fit all of our equipment, even when loaded with more than a week's supply of food. We've since convinced my dad to buy the Aether 70 and have received positive feedback from him as well. Great deal for the money, even when there's not a sale on.

Based on doctor advice, I went in search of a backpack that would not hurt my back after an auto accident. My previous backpack would pull and hang on my shoulders causing problems. I met with [...], and he fitted me with this great backpack that has helped to alleviate the pain I was experiencing in my neck and shoulder areas. It settles on my hips nicely and distributes weight well. No more pulling and carrying all of the weight on my shoulders!