Osprey  Atmos 50 Pack

I bought this specifically for use on the Camino de Santiago in September/ October 2013. I wore it many times while training prior to going on the trip. The pack is easily adjusted and very comfortable. I especially liked the waist belt. When it is properly packed, it really floats on your waist! Many have said it is hard to pack due to the rounded shape of the back, and I somewhat agree. It is a little bit awkward, but not so much that it is something to worry about. I used lightweight packing cubes, which I felt made it very easy to pack. My shoulders do not have a lot of mobility when reaching backward, so for me personally, it was hard to use the outer pockets on the sides of the pack (where most would keep their water bottles). There was more than enough room in my pack for this trip. Since I had a hard time reaching bottles on the side of my pack, I instead bought a bladder and put it in the top pocket behind my head. It worked like a charm, and was easier than using the dedicated water bladder pocket inside the pack. I added some small outer pockets to the straps for my camera, music, and snack. I also used lots of carabiners on the back to attach things like sandals, etc. I strapped my sleeping bag to the outside of the backpack instead of putting it inside the pack. Keep that in mind if you get a rain cover for this backpack! Overall, I thought this pack was great. I saw more of these packs on the Camino than any other brand/ style. Many (most?) people probably would not have the problem that I had reaching the back pockets, because I think that is just due to my quirky body. Try one on in the store and see how it works for you.

I purchased the Osprey Atmos 50 because of the Osprey guarantee and my experience with their hydration pack. Overall, it's a good pack; lots of attachment points, good compression straps and very nice padding. Unfortunately, the pack is shaped in an "hour-glass" and it is "difficult" to push items to the bottom. Also, the side pockets are pretty useless, too small. Another issue I had was that even though the pack itself fit properly, the frame at the hips did not fit well (it was too large). The final straw was that while I was packing for my trip one of the zippers on a side pocket came unthreaded. I do not believe I over-stuffed the pocket.

This is our second Osprey pack, and we continue to appreciate the quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail and lifetime warranty. With REI's help with proper sizing, this pack is a great fit (large) for a 6'+ frame. It's a perfect in-between pack, much more than just a day pack, but sufficient for a light weekend excursion,with plenty of external straps for added accessories. Plenty of storage, lots of padding in all of the right spots and easy access to all compartments. Only con: water bladder is a bit restricted with a full load, but this doesn't diminish an otherwise outstanding product!

I wrote a review of this pack maybe 4 or 5 years ago, when the first version originally appeared, and pretty well trashed the suspension: the padding was too flimsy, the frame rubbed on my shoulders, and the pack bounced around; I called it an updated external frame pack. When Osprey added the adjustable shoulder straps this year, a friend convinced me to give it another look. While it may, technically, still be an external frame (it has a trampoline backband, and a perimeter frame to which the bag is attached), this isn't the old Kelty pack we all remember. (Well, some of us remember it.) I've had it on a few weekend trips so far, and it is the most comfortable pack I've ever owned. Osprey has taken the best features of the internal frame pack (well-designed pack bag, frame just barely buried in the pack bag) and combined them with the best features of an external frame pack (ventilation and load carrying comfort) to acheive something that is truly a hybrid - I'm not sure you can really put it in either the internal or external classification, and I'm not sure that it matters anyhow. I was using a Kestrel 48 pack, which is also adjustable. I could get the right shoulder strap length, but the frame itself was too short. That meant that the point at which the load lifters connected to the frame was too low to give the necessary angle (usually 30-45 degrees) to let you take the load off your shoulders. In my case, with the shoulder straps correctly adjusted, I would get a zero (or even negative) angle, and end up with tired shoulders at the end of the day. (Not painful, but tired.) The Atmos has a slightly longer frame, and the load lifter angle is perfect - I can move the load completely to my hips, if I choose. The extra frame length also solves the problem that I had with the original version: the frame rubbed my shoulders badly. On the current, adjustable version, the frame doesn't touch me anywhere. The tensioned, trampoline backband is incredibly comfortable, and considerably cooler than a true internal frame back pad. You'll still get a wet back on a hot, humid day, but at least some air can get to your back. You would think that the tensioned pad would hold the load too far away from your back, but the sculpted packbag (which others describe as annoying to pack) allows the load to snuggle up to you, just like an internal frame pack does. The result is that the load doesn't bounce, or move in the opposite direction when you turn (like the old-style externals did.) The bag itself is a clean, uncluttered design: two side pockets that will hold a 1-liter platypus bottle well, leaving only about an inch or so of the bottle above the top of the pocket. (On other packs, the pockets were too short, leaving half the bag exposed and causing it to flop over when half empty.) The shove-it pocket on the front (back? I'm never sure what to call it) is roomy and very functional. But my favorite feature is the long zippered pockets on the front, under the shove-it pocket. They are perfect for my rain gear and (in cold weather) a warm jacket - things you want to get at easily during the day. The interior of the pack is plenty roomy; since I don't use a stuff sack for my down bag, and don't use a hydration system, I don't have the loading issues others mention. The lid pocket is roomy and functional, fully floating, and detachable (great for minimalist summer trips.) The mesh pocket on the underside allowed me to eliminate the small stuff sack my first aid and repair kit used to occupy. The hipbelt and shoulder straps are much stiffer than the original version of the pack, and very comfortable and supportive (the hipbelt doesn't collapse, like the initial version used to.) The hipbelt pockets are a bit small, but OK. The ability to adjust the length of the padding on the hipbelt is really nice; the belt fits well regardless of your waist size. The only complaint I have is that the nylon webbing (the moving part) on the shoulder straps and hipbelt is way too long. I could easily cut a foot off each and still have plenty of adjustability. I'd very much recommend that you look at this pack if you're in the market - and that we start leaving our pre-conceived notions about internal versus external frames at the door.

Backpacking and travel. Back ventilation is amazing. Light weight. Loading it is terrible. There is only one access point for the main pocket and it is heavily hourglass shaped. Even though your sleeping bag and hydration bladder both could easily fit, there is no way to squeeze them through the middle of the pack. There is and extra three inches of extra frame at the top above the shoulders that serve no structural purpose. It makes it two inches too long for carry on.

I finally found the pack that works best for me. I have many packs, from a large capacity external framed pack to a minimalist pack that weighs about 1.5 pounds. I prefer the open air and back dryness of an external framed pack but until I got the Osprey Atmos 50 I could not find an internal framed pack that carried like an external. This pack is right-sized for 3-season multi-day excusions if you pack light (without going to extremes). I actually found it to be roomier than my 62 liter pack. The key to going with a pack of this size is to get a down sleeping bag and a small shelter. Together with a lightweight camp stove everything fits inside quite easily. Lots of room for clothes, food, water bladder, fiter, etc. Once you get down to this size and weight you won't go back. And this pack, although a little heavier than the lightest ultra light packs, puts its extra ounces to good use. The suspension easily carries loads to 35 - 40 pounds in comfort. Something that most ultra lights cannot do. Very good build quality and it is way more adjustable than anything else I have owned or used. I am 6'1" and weigh 175 pounds, and the large size fit me well (at its shortest setting). It has only one place to load from (the top) but I don't find that to be a significant inconvenience. The pack is small enough that you can get to anything you really need quite quickly. I have four good backpacks, but this is the one I will be using most often.

This is a great overnight or 2-night pack: it is light, comfortable, and adjusting straps can be reached and adjusted easily while you are wearing the pack. the only complaint is that the zipper on the top overhead compartment jams easily and severely. I had to replace a pack before I took it out on a hike, and then when I was out in the field, it happened again. This design needs to be corrected by Osprey. I had to cut the protective rain flap at both ends and this stopped the jamming, but not what I would prefer. I recommend this pack with hesitation due to the zipper issue.

I am 5'10" 140 lbs and I ended up getting the large. I have a 32" waist, and can still get the pack cinched down enough, but the waist straps are nearly all the way cinched. It is VERY comfortable and rides well. I use the Osprey water bladder system in mine, and really like having that in there. Due to the airflow back panel, the interior of the pack has a bow to it, which can make getting some of the bulkier items into the pack a little difficult, but by getting a little creative where you put things, it still packs out very well. I can let out all the straps and load this thing down, or cinch it down tight and use it like a day pack. I bought mine in summer 2013 and have hiked a lot with it here in the states and in Nepal.

I broke this backpack in during my first solo backpacking experience for four nights in south western Iceland. The back is extremely comfortable and fits very well. Overall I was very pleased and surprised with 50 liters I had enough space to get through four nights traveling alone. The many compartments on this bag make things accessible and easy to get to (except for the lowermost part of the bag). The comfort of this pack is incredible. Aside from normal fatigue one would feel traveling four four days the pack hugs you. It doesn't feel like you're carrying a pack but rather the weight just sits on you. It made hiking up steep inclines very easy and manageable. However here were some issues I ran into: The bus driver must have laid my backpack with the straps up on the bus because when I received it back after a five hour bus ride the front elastic pocket had a finger sized hole in it. It's something that can be easily fixed though. Because of my improper backing, the zipper to the right side of the back busted, but was easily fixed by using a fingernail to straighten out the teeth. I think these issues could have been easily prevented, but I just wanted to share my experiences with this pack. Overall I thought this pack was EXTREMELY comfortable, lightweight, and well worth the investment. Had I not jumped the gun I would gave probably bought the larger 65 liter Atmos, but I do not regret this purchase. Happy hiking!

I use the pack to carry my gear when performing trail work for the USFS. I carry heavy, dense items like tools and fuel in addition to safety gear, food and extra clothing. When shopping for a pack I am not looking for volume but for the ability to correctly carry a load. Frequently I perform trail work swinging tools or clearing debris while wearing the pack. This is a great pack that distributes the load through a series of easily adjustable points. It has one of the best hip belts I have ever owned. The pack does not overly restrict movement or chafe my neck. The comfort is probably due to the correct size frame for my body in addition to the assistance in getting the correct size. Take the time to do it right. The form of the pack body keeps the pack free of my back and promotes air flow. Its not perfect but its much better then other packs I have tried. The pack is a bit on the heavy side as it has a full suite of compartments. For me this is a small price to pay for the ability to keep the 2 stroke fuel separate from my lunch and my felling wedges separate from my hydration bladder. Cant say much about the durability of the pack as this is my first season with the pack but I can say that the Osprey Kestrel I retired when I purchased the Atmos held up for 10 years doing the same duty. I note that it wasn't the stitching that finally gave up the ghost but the fabric lost both its coating and its ability to hold shape At the end it was basically a ruck sack. I look forward to 10 years with the Atmos