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Post by johntpenca on Jun 7, 2019 13:52:08 GMT -8
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rangewalker
Trail Wise!
Agitate, organize and educate.
Posts: 1,029 
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Post by rangewalker on Jul 15, 2019 19:46:29 GMT -8
bradmacmtI have two trips now with the Osprey Aether Pro 70. Right off, I was struck with the detailing and cleverness of the design. The frame is virtually external, and the suspension system with its Airscape back sheet makes it a step-brother to the Kestrel series rather than the AG line in the more conventional Osprey Aether and Ariel packs. FoFor my requirements, the combination of the medium frame (19.5’ torso) and a 35” waist for a large hipbelt works. The shoulder yoke straps are a bit short but well placed for my neck and torso. The pack bag is slender for a 70L, and most of Osprey’s line that I have encountered reflects that more generous sizing. My 2018 Kestrel 38 is slimmer all around than my 2009. The slender profile is a nod too to its intended guide, climber and pro users. I have a long ape index, a knuckle dragger, so I had no issue with the back set and huge side pockets. I love being able to stick a Nalgene 1-liter in addition to the small bladder on the trail. Both my short trips, a three day and a four day, were more off-trail and a scramble over lost trails and abandoned trails — a lot of brush and rock scraping. The Dyneema fabric took it well. I have an issue with pack loss, after a few close calls and events over the last years, so almost all my essentials are in my clothing and not in the pack. I am going to have to learn to balance what goes in the brain versus the pockets. Or leave the brain behind. With all the twisting, weaving and sliding around I did, the pack stayed with me. When I did get out on the trail, and in the open, it was one of the best packs I have owned to date. I will put in the full disclosure though in 2019 my base weight without food, fuel, and electronics & glass, is half of what was just 15 years ago when I thought my eight pound Gregory Shasta was the last story in backpacks.  If I change pad set up, note much for outside the pack except water crossers.  Shows its sleek side.  Easily takes a BV 450 cannister and summer Rockies swag. 2-5 day mode. Sleeping bag and tent fly under canister. tent body bag not in yet.
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Post by ukpacker on Jul 17, 2019 13:24:01 GMT -8
I used to have an Osprey Argon 70, it was a really comfortable pack, felt like an armchair, problem was it weighed nearly as much as one and I sometimes had the impression it was trying to pull me back, but I thought that it would be great to have a simple light pack bag supported by a similar frame and harness system. The Aether Pro is that bag, finally Osprey design a bag that fits my requirements after first exhausting every other possible option. I have no need for a sleeping bag compartment or side entry zips which let in rain water or a backpack built to carry 30kgs which I could never manage anyway. About 20 kgs is the most I can manage and still enjoy the experience of being in the wilderness. I bought lighter packs around 1.5kg which are good enough for loads up to 16-17 Kg but the only way I could tolerably carry a 20kg load with them was to use a tump line around my forehead, something I never needed to do with the Argon. In Europe the Aether pro is only available online which gives you some idea of how small Osprey believe the wilderness backpacking market is over here. I received mine recently, loaded it with 20kgs of books and bedding and carried it on a training walk in nearby countryside. On the limited experience of carrying it for just a day I find it just about perfect , the belt and shoulder straps are not quite as thickly padded as the Argon was but they are padded enough to be comfortable with my 20kg load which the pack holds steady and close to my back, I like to carry some items on the outside so I attached mesh bags as side pockets and bungee cord to the lid but I would rather be able to customize a bag to my requirements this way than have a fixed design imposed which might not be right for me.
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Post by shastabubba on Jul 18, 2019 19:51:14 GMT -8
Just want to give a nod to the Seek Outside Divide pack in this category. It's not much more expensive than the Osprey packs mentioned and has a very sturdy harness/hip belt. Best of all it weighs just around 3 lbs. Also made of xpac, so waterproof (but more durable than DCF), unlike the Ospreys (I believe that's still true). It carries great for me when I'm packrafting and the TPW is 40lbs+, and according to the website, can carry up to 100lbs. Not sure I believe that, but it is rated at 70 liters and is an old-school external frame pack.
(shameless plug) the Divide is the third pack in the video review I just posted, if you're interested.
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jul 19, 2019 7:40:53 GMT -8
Wish they’d do the same treatment with their largest Talon, except maybe making it slightly bigger as we use the back pocket more for stowage than drying nowadays ... and perhaps getting rid of the sleeping bag zipper, the weak link in any pack. Oh yeah, at a certain point have at least the ends of the hipbelt terminate with plain wide webbing and made so one could cut off any slack (at the owners risk of course).
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Image Credit / Coolkat
