Posted: 12/15/2011 2:08:11 PM EDT
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I have been drooling over the Argon 85 Osprey pack at the local mom and pop sports shop. My girlfriend tried to suprise me with it for my birthday next week but found out I have to be there to get it fitted and told me today that we have to go get it monday.
Who has one, how is it holding up and if you had the choice, would you go with a different pack? |
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I have an Aether 70 and love it. I picked out an Ariel for the wife, but wanted her to get fitted. She found the Gregory Diva fit her better. My point is every person is different, and you gotta try them all to find the one that fits you best. I love Osprey, but I'd still try them all before deciding..
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I pack a little more sparse than you guys, my go to winter pack for long trips is an Atmos 50. In the summer I take the lid off and sometimes use it, but it's only about half full.
It is however, the most comfortable pack I've ever worn. And I own Arc'Teryx, Eberlestock and other much more expensive packs. Az |
| I have an Atmos 60 and absolutely love it. It's an incredibly comfortable pack and it can take a hell of a beating. The one drawback to the pack is the shoulder straps are a little narrow and can dig in a little bit at the end of a long day, but as long as I'm carrying less than 50 lbs the straps are golden. You're going to be thrilled with the pack, I definitely recommend a good pack cover to keep it in great shape. |
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I have an Atmos 65 that I have put countless miles on and love it. I have gone through a few North face and Gregory packs but the Osprey is my favorite for multi-day trips and heavier loads. I have packed the thing to the gills and it still rides right where it should. The suspension is comfortable and the mesh breathes really well. A few things that are really handy are the trekking pole attachments, the hip pouches and the sleeping bag hatch in the bottom so you don't have to unpack to get to your bag. You can also store a hydration bladder (or extra) in the cavity between the pack and mesh.
Make sure when you get fitted the shop loads it out (properly) for you. Set 30 minutes aside to hump it around the store if you can. A small frame revolver fits perfectly in the hip belt pouches too. 
I just bought a Stratos 36 for a day pack/overnighter. . |
| They didnt have the Argon 85 I wanted in stock.. they did have an Argon 70 in my size and color.. I asked when I could get a Argon 85 ordered at sale price (20% until tommorow) and they said they could get me one, at sale price, MArch 1st... So we ordered it, and paid for it.. and I wait 3 months. Its fine with me though, cant use it until then anyways, its -30 out. |
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Quoted: A few things that are really handy are the trekking pole attachments, the hip pouches and the sleeping bag hatch in the bottom so you don't have to unpack to get to your bag.
The only thing I don't like about Osprey packs are those damn hip belt pockets. They're never the right size/shape for what I want to carry. I tore them off and sewed on molle straps. Now I can carry whatever I want on the hip belt. But that's not just Osprey. I've had to do that with my Arc'teryx pack too. Az |
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Quoted:
I have an older Aether 70 and I have not been thrilled with the hip belt - it slips down my hips no matter how I adjust it. Osprey makes a quality product, but I prefer my Gregory packs. Did you get it molded at the store? http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/custom_molding |
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I have an Aether 70, a much older ski pack called a Scarab, a more recent ski pack 25+5 pack (I forget the name right now), a small Talon 11 that I won in a spiff selling Osprey packs. I've also bought my GF an Ariel 60, and a Stratos 24. I've been an Osprey fan from a long time ago. There are other good packs too, but IMO they make a great commercially available product. Their customer service is great too. I've seen them step-up for a customer on several occasions when other manufacturers would've probably been slow.
The Argon / Xenon line is considerably heavier than it's siblings the Aether and Ariel and designed to haul heavier loads more comfortably. It's going to be tougher to pack lightly when 6+ extra pounds are empty pack weight. Why an 85L pack? Thats huge. Too big IMO. I consider 70L to be a good all around size; anything higher volume I don't want to carry when it's full anyway. I've found that human nature leads most to fill a pack if there's room; and that leads to a very heavy pack. Even in winter I can make it happen with a 70L. So why such a huge pack? -JC |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I have an older Aether 70 and I have not been thrilled with the hip belt - it slips down my hips no matter how I adjust it. Osprey makes a quality product, but I prefer my Gregory packs. Did you get it molded at the store? http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/custom_molding Mine predates the moldable hip belt - I don't doubt it is a huge improvement. I have enough packs to cover myself from ~500 tp 7000 cubic inches and haven't had the need to switch it out. Although, I do wonder if I could buy a newer hip belt and install it on my pack... |
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Quoted:
I have an Aether 70 and love it. I picked out an Ariel for the wife, but wanted her to get fitted. She found the Gregory Diva fit her better. My point is every person is different, and you gotta try them all to find the one that fits you best. I love Osprey, but I'd still try them all before deciding.. Aether 70 here as well. Love the pack. Got it on sale on SAC a couple years ago for a hell of a steal, something like $130. The old model not the new one with the s zipper down the middle. Only thing I don't like is my frame squeaks a bit when the siliconed cover rides up on the frame corner (if that makes any sense)- i just spray it with silicon spray every now and again. Way I look at it, there are two main packs out there for 90% of folks. Osprey Aether/aerial and the Gregory Baltoro/womens version. Roommate picked up a baltoro and likes it a lot, it has more 'pockets' than my osprey but both are good packs. |
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Quoted:
Quoted: A few things that are really handy are the trekking pole attachments, the hip pouches and the sleeping bag hatch in the bottom so you don't have to unpack to get to your bag.
The only thing I don't like about Osprey packs are those damn hip belt pockets. They're never the right size/shape for what I want to carry. I tore them off and sewed on molle straps. Now I can carry whatever I want on the hip belt. But that's not just Osprey. I've had to do that with my Arc'teryx pack too. Az My 340sc fits perfectly in there. Other than that, I just stow some power bars or jolly ranchers. The molle is a good idea though... perfect for a GPS. |
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We are in good company, gentlemen. I love Osprey, they make a great pack! I have a Talon for when I want to go light weight, a Gregory Palisade 80 for long trek/hunting where light weight isn't possible, and a Kelty Cordova for light hunting. Quoted: I have mostl Kifaru, but my wife has a Talon. Nice little pack. See quite a few Osprey the further back you get in he woods. |
| I have three Osprey packs. A Crescent (equivalent to Argon), a Stratos, and a Kestrel. My wife has an Aura. We go backpacking multiple timesa year, and the packs have always been extremely comfortable, and are still in great condition. Definitely an Osprey fan. |