Osprey  Exos 58 Pack

I've had this pack for 1 1/2 years now and absolutely love it. It has performed well on day, overnight, and multi-day hikes. In August 2011 my wife and I hiked the Haute Route (Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland) and this pack cleared any doubts I may have had about its ability to perform on a 2 week hike. During the two weeks we were on the trail I was carrying on avg about 30 lbs (give or take a few lbs depending on the day). There were a few days I was carrying close to 50 lbs. I'm not going blow smoke; this pack is not meant to carry heavy loads for long periods. There were several days my shoulders would ache a little from the more narrow shoulder padding but for me that's a good trade-off for having an ultra-light pack. Construction wise, we were going through rugged terrain on a daily basis and the pack held up to everything thrown at it. When carrying about 20lbs this pack is amazing and you will barely even notice that it's on your back. The bottom line is that this pack has taken me through about every type of terrain you can imagine and held up very well. You can nitpick any pack and come up with faults. If you're that type of person you will probably never find the "perfect" pack. This is not the perfect pack for every situation but I believe it to be one of the most versatile packs I've owned. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more I can put it through. :)

I bought this pack for an 8-day solo hike. In the past I've rented or bummed off others, so I decided to finally buy my own gear. First off, I had some concerns this pack would be too small for 8 days solo. Although I had this sucker packed to the gills, it definitely came through, with a few empty zipper pockets to spare and only the tent poles strapped to the outside. My pack weight was about 35 pounds total, with 10 pounds of food and 5 pounds of water, so "your mileage may vary". Osprey's website implies this can carry an even heavier load and I don't doubt it, but I did notice the seam at the very top pocket just starting to come undone before the hike. I can't say if this is because I overpacked it, or if it came that way, but you may want to be careful packing if you have a bulky load. The seam is only loose for a few cm, very minor, and doesn't appear to be unraveling so I don't consider it an issue. On comfort this is by far the most comfortable pack I've used. The padding fits snugly over the hip bones and encourages carrying the weight where it should be. The shoulder straps are very adjustable and conversely allow easing the weight where it shouldn't be. This is the first pack I've used where my arms were free to move most of the time, not thumbed behind the shoulder straps to make up for inadequate padding. I found this actually made for a much safer hike as freed arms improve balance. The webbing is great for letting your back breathe, and the pack material did a great job keeping my equipment dry during a moderate rain. The number of pouches definitely increase the capacity, so don't count this one out for any trip, long or short. Versatility is where this pack really shines.

This pack is perfect if you have the self control and the right gear to be able to use it correctly. It definetly is not designed for heavy loads. However, if you have invested in other light weight gear, then this bag will fit your needs great for hikes ranging from overnighters to trips well over a week in length. I have had this pack in the snow, in the rain, while climbing, off trail hiking, and on extended backpacking trips and have not yet had a single problem with it. No tears, loose seams, etc. In regards to the pocket design and layout: Alot of people have complained about the side pockets being constricted once the pack is full. I have never had that issue. Also important to realize is the function these pockets are designed for: to hold small essential pieces of gear. I fit my pack raincover in there, a small plastic camp shovel, tissues, a small rope, etc. Even some extra clothes and gloves, all without a problem and also with the pack fully loaded on the inside. One feature that I particularly liked about the backpack is the elastic stretch pocket on the outside of the main pocket. The reason for this is that I was easily able to store my gloves and hat in there in winter camping, and snacks and other small items that you don't want to necessarily spend the time digging in the main part of the pack for. Alot of people have also complained about the fit of the waist belt. I am 5' 7", skinny and have a small waist (30 in) and the M size of the pack fit me great. You do want to try it on in the store before getting it though, to make sure you don't have an issue with the sizing. All in all, I love this pack. Its everything I need in a backpack, and if you use it correctly and get the right size, you will be equally impressed.

I purchased this pack to replace an Osprey Atmos 65 mostly to reduce weight. I've used it on several trips this summer including a JMT thru hike. I don't do any significant xcountry hiking, I stay mostly on established trails. I try to keep my total packout weight to <30 lbs and this pack works well for that size load. It carried my Bearvault 500 and all the gear for the JMT and was extremely comfortable. It is on the minimalist side and the materials are lightweight, so I wouldn't expect it to last 10 years. But its hung in there through quite a few miles this summer and should easily make another 300-400 mi season next year.

I originally owned and used a Kelty Coyote pack that was heavy, cumbersome and uncomfortable. I did much research before deciding on this pack. It is amazing what good engineering can accomplish. This pack is so light and comfortable. It can handle a large amount of items and remains its composure. I used to be whipped after a trek using the Kelty. I have not experienced that with the Osprey. The only hang up is the aluminum rod exposure. Placing the pack on rocks easily scratches the white paint. Perhaps, don't paint the stays (frame) and it won't be an issue. I believe this is the best ultralight backpack available.

This is my favorite pack I've used and highly prefer it over the REI Flash. People need to realize that you buy a lightweight backpack to save pounds of course, but it's meant to carry a lighter load. I don't pack solo and always buddy up. ie. I carry a 2 man tent and my friend will carry the food & stove. So, my pack is about 22 pounds for a four day hike. I would guess and say 30 pounds or less would be the optimum comfort level. The shoulder straps are a little on the narrow side, but once you have your bag fully packed, it feels comfortable. I wish the tops of the shoulder straps were a little thicker when I'm just wearing a t-shirt. The only other thing I would change is that the top pocket on the flap is rather large with no divider inside. Overall this is an amazing backpack though. There is insane amounts of ventilation for your back and feels much more comfortable than the REI Flash with the exact same weight.

Just finished another 6 day 110 mile section hike on the AT. I bought this pack looking to lighten my load below the 40lb line I have been trying to break fully loaded with food and water. This pack is more for loads of under 35lbs. What I found after a week long adventure is the pack when pushing 40lbs does not carry well at all on your hips. It tends to slide down. I was constantly playing with all of the suspention trying to hit a happy spot. Preveious to this I had a Gregory Baltoro which I love but weighs over 6 lbs. Bottom line is that this is a nice pack for several days only! the pack became very nice to carry when it was only loaded with 35 lbs or less. I hit this weight on the last 2 days (food was all but gone).

went on a 3 day trip to the california big sur, travailed along the pine ridge trail and the pack handled beautifully with no problems whats so ever. works great with the osrprey water bladder. the pack is super light weight and holds up great! i had it packed with a little over 36 pounds and had no problems, most of the time i forgot i was even wearing it. loads feel very light when you have it adjusted right. hip belt pockets are perfect for keeping thing in arms reach and the top compartment is somewhat easy to get into if you are a little flexible. the pack is amazing and i highly recommend it to anyone looking to do ultra lightweight to mid-weight backpacking

Be careful with this pack. You can overload it. It has more carry space than it's capacity can bear. I did two short hikes carrying about 25#, and the pack performed very well. Very light and comfortable. Just finished 40 miles in the Smokies in the cold and snow, and packed for a winter hike. I carried 35+ pounds, but less than 40. With that weight I could not seem to keep the waistbelt snug and carry the load on my hips. It kept slipping and I would have to tighten the belt frequently. I attribute it to the small buckle. Once I "ate down" my pack weight the issue diminished. But for this issue I would give it five stars. It's a terrific pack and the fourth Osprey I own.

I've progressed in Osprey packs from an Atmos 50, to the 65, and finally to the Exos 58. It's very nearly perfect for me. The back panel isn't adjustable, so definitely try it on with 25lbs (properly loaded!) and see if one of the sizes actually fits you. The medium fits me utterly wonderfully with less than 30-32 pounds on, and is servicable up to ~38. I upgraded to the Exos for my John Muir Trail trip last fall. Including that and a few other trips, and I've lived out of it for 40 days in less than a year of owning it. It's still holding up excellently. It's not 100% made of Cordura so don't expect to drop it down a couloir and come out without a scratch, but I have no concerns on any future trips that I'll have anthing worse than a tiny hole in the bottom that can easily be patched up with duct tape. As I said earlier, you do need to properly load this pack. Everyone should think a little bit before throwing their gear in their packs, but with the mesh suspension you'll have to be slightly methodical. Keeping the pack's center of mass as close to your lower-mid back is even more important. This was my strategy: 1) A BV-500 can fit in the bottom horizontally. Make sure the side pockets are empty and the straps are loosened and the bear can will slide in sideways with a little guidance. 2) My solo tent, sleeping bag, rain jacket, and rain pants all fit snuggly atop the bear can and close to the internal hydration pocket. 3) Other clothes fill the remaining main compartment space. 4) GorillaPod, med kit, fishing tackle satchel, toilet paper, and other miscellaneous items go in the side pockets. 5) Sunblock, chapstick, hand sanitizer, and contact eye drops go in one hipbelt pocket. 6) Compass, multitool, and map(s) go in the other. 7) Fly rod packed in a light case is strapped in on one side. 8) I usually don't carry much water at a time, but if I do then it's usually 1/2 a liter on the other side in a side pocket. 9) If I do need to carry more water, I'll slip my Platypus into the mesh and stick the capped hose end up. As I drink this will compress the bladde and keep water flowing without having a plastic cap digging into my back. 10) Finally, my 3/4 length RidgeRest is strapped in on the bottom. The pack will stand upright by itself whenever I set it down. 11) I don't even use the lid anymore. The expansion collar and kangaroo pockets are wonderful for keeping things like beanies, gloves, and headlamps redialy accessible. One issue that may come up if between resupplies (14 days for me, thanks to a whole lot of side trips) is that your bear can will be so heavy that the can will push the taught fabric/wire part into the mesh and thus your lower back. This isn't fun, so all you need to do is put something inbetween to cushion your lower back just like all other internal frame backs do. I used my rainpants, and while I did sweat more from the comparatively stifled airflow, I survived for a few das carrying close to 40 pounds. The pack really isn't meant for anything about 35 or your shoulders will start shouldering a lot more of the weight. Keep it under 30, and everything feels like a breeze. Some people don't like the feel of the weight of the pack not being held right next to their packs like they're used to. You get used to it. As stated, properly load it and you won't have the pack swaying from excessive torque, and your back will be perfectly fine at the end of a long day. I've done 20 mile days and a 15 mile, 5500' day where I ended up climbing Mt. Pinchot instead of Pinchot Pass with 35 pounds in the pack, and I had no complaints with the pack. It's not something you'd want to use for winter mountaineering or for extended exposed class 4-5, but that's not what it's designed for. If you're looking for a spring-fall pack that makes anything less than 30 pounds feel like you're on a dayhike, this is your pack. If you're looking for something you can use as a haulbag and mindlessly chuck your gear and the kitchen sink inside, look somewhere else. My only suggestions are to make the hipbelt buckle slightly bigger because it's tough to get on when wearing puffy layers, and to make the hipbelt and side stretchy pockets a bit bigger to accomodate cameras and water bottles a little easier. Otherwise, this pack is heaven.