Osprey  Aura 65 AG EX Pack - Women's

I bought the XS and so far, it's been fantastic. I took it on an overseas trip from the US to India and across India. When not fully loaded, the pack fits fine as a carry-on (thank goodness!). I had it loaded up to about 25 lbs at one point for a week long trip, and everything was great. I'm really small, so I was scared that loading it up too much would result in it being too heavy, but I really like the suspension. Of course, it's heavy and when loaded a lot, I can see myself not wanting to bend over. Granted, I'm sure this is the way it is with all backpacks. Love the overall look, the generous amounts of pockets, and again, the suspension holds up really, really nicely. Highly recommended!

I just completed a 3 day backpacking trip in Northern California and was very happy with my pack. It contoured to my body and moved with me as advertised. The compression straps on the outside of the pack were useful in keeping my items from shifting. As a result my hips and back were never sore as the weight was evenly distributed. I found the overall wear to be surprisingly comfortable. The pack is big enough that I probably could have left the floating lid at home for this trip. However, the two zippered compartments on the floating lid were great for snacks/lunch and gear I wanted to get to quickly (small binos, map, etc). The large front stash pocket was convenient for storing extra layers and the raincover. The stuff sack was essential for keeping track of my smaller items. The hip belt pockets were stiff and I found it hard to take items in and out of them. I didn't use the two zippered pockets above the front stash pocket very much on this short trip. Overall, I am very please with this pack! I look forward to taking it on my 8 day PCT trip this summer and on many trips to come!

I also got this pack for a 5 days patagonia hike. This is my first backpack so I don't have a previous one to compare this to. I can objectively say the following: Pro: -the main compartment and the front pockets are very convenient and well designed. Compared to the other backpacks on the market, the pockets are way more convenient, especially for a hybrid nature+city trip -The "adjust on the fly" feature was great Con: -as a result of their design for the backpack to fit like a warm hug.. every time you put on the bag, the hip belt is always tucked between you and the bag, so you have to pull out from under you... -the water pouch is kind of hard to access when you have a full pack

I got this one before embarking on the john muir trail. The first few days we were carrying well over a third of our weight and it did an amazing job. The hip belt really relieves a lot of weight from the shoulders and by playing with the straps I could balance the weight during the day to vary the load on my shoulders and my hips. despites a good amount of throwing/shuffling around pine needles and rocks, the material didn't tear or scratch. It also went through a hail storm with no cover and kept my things dry. Super comfortable and well designed, We were a lot of hikers with this one on the trail!

I purchased this pack for a 5 day trek in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. It was to replace my 10+yr old Dana Design pack which finally broke down. I wore it a few times before leaving, but didn't really have the time to truly break it in, but turns out, that wasn't a problem. The suspension and pack fit are truly amazing - I love the way the pack wraps around my hip bones and stays there, even when I was scrambling up rocks, 30 pounds on my back, and 95 km/hr winds trying to blow me off the mountain! Never had any issues with chafing etc - fit like a glove, even on my puny shoulders. The pack cover is a nice bonus, but heavier than the sea to summit I had (which was stolen, so glad I had this as backup!). I did get a hole in it the first day of use. I love the additional pockets (compared to the Ariel, which I nearly purchased), made it easy for me to organize. The 2 pockets on the brain are very useful, and the completely detachable brain is a nice option, since I won't be filling the 65 to the top that often. Personally, I try to limit to 30-35lbs, if I can. I'm confident this pack can handle more, but I just prefer to keep it lighter if I can. Great pack, extremely comfortable. Very durable (up and down rocks, heavy rains, mud etc), excellent quality.

Just got home from an overnight backpack trip with this new pack. It fits good and feels good...it really does hug my body well...no pinch points or hip/shoulder bruising. It sits on (actually hugs) my hip area the way a pack should, and does not sit on my shoulder, hip, and tail bones. Totally different (and fabulous) fit compared to my 9-year old Gregory Electra. Last year I tried on numerous backpacks with no success. It is exciting to find a pack that actually fits this well! The harness and hipbelt adjustments helped with the perfect fit. I am 5'4" and 102 pounds, and bought the Small 65 liter AG Osprey Aura. I found all the pockets and compartments sized well, conveniently located, and easy to reach. I was carrying approx. 35 pounds, but I think this pack could comfortably handle 5-10 more pounds....we will see on the future multiday trips.

I am new to overnight backpacking, and just returned from my first overnight trip to Taconic State Park this past weekend. This pack performed even better than I was expecting. I carried 25+ pounds up 4 mountains over the course of 14 miles, and didn't have any problems. The hip belt fits great, and allows me to carry the weight on my hips rather than my shoulders - I am not a thin woman (5'0", 155 lbs), and had no trouble being comfortable in the size Small pack. I did not experience any bruising or rubbing anywhere from the pack. All of my gear fit in an organized way, with plenty of room to spare. The AG suspension system ensured that my back didn't get too hot & sweaty, either. If you're looking for a pack, I highly recommend trying one of these on. It may not be the perfect pack for everyone, but so far it's the perfect pack for me.

I tried on this pack in the store. I'm a plus sized woman who torso fits the small sized Aura and Ariel. The hipbelt on the Aura is so structured it hit me in a funny place on my hips near my backside. A piece was putting extra pressure in that spot. I asked the REI backpack fitter and he said he has the same problem with the male version of the Aura. In his experience fitting this pack for people with hips and a backside, it doesn't work very well. I tried on the Ariel and it was a lot better. I'm ordering the larger hipbelt and shoulder straps for the Ariel. The REI backpack fitter told me I can return the original hipbelt and shoulder straps when they put the replacements on the Ariel. I wanted to share this information with anyone thinking of ordering this pack online. Try it in the store first before you go through the bother of having it shipped if you are a larger woman.

I wanted to love this pack. It's construction is bomber and I'd heard great things about the new anti-gravity suspension. Alas, I couldn't stop the load from pulling out from my upper back. That is, the load wasn't resting on my hips properly, no matter how I adjusted it; it felt like it was pulling away from me. I'm 5'8" and typically carry 30-33 pounds total, including food and water. Happily, the awesome staff at REI took a lot of time with me to see if we could get it to fit better. When nothing worked, they were enthusiastic about finding another pack for me. I loved their attitude that the right fit was the most important thing, regardless of whether that meant an exchange. That's why I buy from REI. I went with another brand in the end that worked better for me, so definitely try it on in the store with weight in it and have a staffer check it out.

Used Pack a few times now and every time I love it more (I am a 5'1'', 130 Pound Female - Was in-between an extended size small or a shortened size Med so went with the Medium pack): - First time was in late Winter/Early Spring in cold Northern MN - Superior Hiking Trail. Pack was a good size to store all of my winter clothing/gear. The front pockets were great to have accessible items, along with the pockets on the hipbelt (loved it to store chapstick, sunscreen, tissues... too small for a camera though which I am okay with!). The hip belt was brand new so there was some rubbing, but believe that will just be something that needs to be broken in. The hip straps are tight so it's annoying to put on a full pack, but with use I assume this will become easier as well. - Second was an amtrak trip... For this kind of travel I did wish that it had an zipper that accessed the main compartment from the front, but overall am still happy with it. It was nice because I was able to move around quickly while my friends with luggage struggled. I would recommend buying a cover to travel on planes/check luggage so that the straps do not get caught/broke on the luggage belts. -Third was a walk in camping trip in the spring: nice to have the removable brain (didn't need as much room - and the add on rain guard through REI was an added plus for this trip!). Overall really love this bag and am happy with it. All the extra features are fun to figure out. Have not tried the water camelback insert yet though.