Backpacks

Osprey Talon vs Stratos

Last updated: July 10, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

If I were to day-hike with my pack 80% of the time or more, then I'd prefer the Stratos 24 [read my review].

As most of you know, I've been sharing helpful guides to Osprey backpacks for more than 2 years now (find full post list is at the bottom).

I thought that putting together a guide around Osprey Talon vs Stratos (which also applies to Osprey Tempest vs Sirrus) models would be helpful for most of you.

Because both of them took place in my top Osprey hiking backpacks post, and their differences can be confusing at times.

Overview

Now...

Let's take a brief look at them before we dig any deeper.

You can think of Talon | Tempest line as a more comfortable & less feature-rich alternative to the Stratos | Sirrus line.

#A sidenote here: REI's backpack capacity chart is GOLD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you read any further.

In short, I'd recommend the Talon 22 for multiple high output activities, the Stratos 24 or Talon 33 if you'll be day hiking only, the Stratos 36 for overnight camping trips and Stratos 50 for weekend trips.

This is exactly why Osprey advertises the Stratos | Sirrus [source at osprey.com] and Talon | Tempest accordingly [source at osprey.com]!

Information given in this post about Talon and Stratos lines

...also apply to their women's counterparts, Tempest and Sirrus lines.

If I had to lay them out one by one...

Talon 22 vs Stratos 24

I'd recommend them mostly for daily purposes.

Talon 22: In addition to day hiking, if you're also planning to perform a fair amount of other high output activities (think biking or bikepacking), then I'd recommend Talon 22 over Stratos 34.
Stratos 24: If I were to day-hike with my pack 80% of the time or more, then I'd prefer the Stratos 24 over Talon 22.
- Its design is intended towards hiking more than the Talon 22. Equipped with more pockets: Top panel zippered stash pocket, front panel zippered storage pocket and front panel vertical zippered pocket. There might not be (isn't) much difference between their volumes, but you always wish having your equipment organized on a hike. This will make a noticeable difference.

Talon 33 vs Stratos 34 and 36

I'd recommend them mostly for day hikes with occasional overnight camping trips with UL gear.

Streamlined design and superior comfort of Talon 33 [read my review] makes it a great match for day hikes with occasional overnight camping trips with UL gear. For backpacks with smaller volumes like this, comfort becomes more important than features. Hell, sometimes I tend to find too many bells and whistles even annoying when I'm on a short hike!

Talon 33: More streamlined (no sleeping bag compartment & less exterior pockets) compared to Stratos 34 and 36, but offers more comfort.
Also, unlike Talon 22 and Stratos 24 & 34, Talon 33 is loaded from top - which allows easier access to your main compartment when you take your pack off and put it on the ground.
- Now yes, I am listing the Talon 33 under this heading and not under the previous one - but don't let that mislead you. Overall design (no sleeping bag compartment and few pockets combined with small size) of Talon 33 would allow you to camp overnight only if you're packing ultralight gear. Otherwise, I'd probably stick with Stratos 36 in most cases for that matter, and prefer Talon 33 just for day hikes.
Stratos 34 (no women's counterpart!): I can't think of any situation I'd recommend this pack over the others mentioned in this post.
- Its design, in my opinion, is mostly "flawed", for the lack of a better word. Its intention is unfortunately stuck somewhere between day hiking and overnight camping. The thing I find the most strange and confusing about it is that it's large AND offers front panel loading at the same time. It doesn't even have a women's counterpart! Is Osprey experimenting their marketing with this pack or what?!

Stratos 36 [read my review] is the only pack in this round-up that offers 3 accesses (top, bottom and side) and horizontal access to mesh water bottle holders at each side (allows you to load & unload on the go, without necessarily taking off your pack).

Stratos 36: The most suitable pick here for overnight trips. Mind you though, I'd still like a (much) larger volume for trips longer than 1 night. Check out Stratos 50 for that matter.
- Versatility-wise, it's a no-brainer that the Stratos 36 is the winner here. If you aren't sure about the ratio of your day hiking trips to your overnight camping trips... Better be safe than sorry. Some say that the more space you have, the more you'll pack, but I don't find it necessarily true for me. I think having the extra space but not needing it is better than needing it but not having it. Especially when you're considering to get a backpack that's far from cheap.

Talon 44 vs Stratos 50

Stratos 50.

I'd mostly recommend them for weekend camping and hiking trips.

Stratos 50: The most suitable pick here for this. I'm pretty sure that the Stratos 36 won't suffice in this case.
- Besides the obvious volume increase, everything else stays the same going from Stratos 36 to 50. The benefit of the additional side access becomes a complete game-changer here.
Talon 44: I'd probably get the Stratos 50.
- Unlike Stratos 50, Talon 44 does not offer a side-access to the main compartment (as it's the case for all Talon & Tempest line-up). If you're like most people; when going above, say, 40 liters; an additional access would probably always come handy. Not having to dig through your entire inventory and then re-packing them mostly save you a lot of time and frustration on the go.

Conclusion

Both are great lines with different design intentions: Talon | Tempest line is more comfortable & less feature-rich than Stratos | Sirrus line.

I'd recommend the Talon 22 for multiple high output activities, the Stratos 24 or Talon 33 if you'll be day hiking only, the Stratos 36 for overnight camping trips and Stratos 50 for weekend trips.

Osprey Stratos 24 vs 34 vs 36

Last updated: June 7, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

Stratos 36 would be the most versatile pick.

As most of you know, I've been sharing helpful guides to Osprey backpacks for more than 2 years now (find full post list is at the bottom).

I thought that putting together a guide around these Stratos configurations would be helpful for most of you. Because, the 50 L version of Stratos took place in my top Osprey backpack picks for backpacking.

And I recommended these smaller adaptations as alternatives for some specific intended uses.

#A sidenote here: REI's backpack capacity chart is GOLD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you read any further.

Overview

Let's take a quick look at them before we dig any deeper.

Stratos 24: Front loading, no sleeping bag compartment, and offers 5 exterior pockets.
- Great for day hiking, but certainly nothing more than that.
Stratos 34: Front loading, sleeping bag compartment (which also offers an additional access to the main compartment), and offers 7 exterior pockets.
- This would probably be my least recommended Stratos.
- Stuck somewhere in between Osprey's line-up and ended up lacking a true identity. It doesn't even have a women's counterpart!
Stratos 36: Top loading AND side access, sleeping bag compartment (which also offers an additional access to the main compartment), and offers 7 exterior pockets.
- Top loading is a great advantage out in the nature as it offers easier access to the main compartment when the pack is sitting upright.
- 36 liters of volume, extra accesses and sleeping bag compartments together make it a good option for overnight hiking trips.
- Versatility wise, no doubt that it's the top pick. Unless you'll be day hiking only, then I'd recommend this over the 24 as well.

Always opt for larger volume when in doubt!

Why?

Because having the extra space but not needing it is always better than needing the extra space but not having it!

Let's get to their bolts and nuts.

Front or Top Loading?

I'd base my decision primarily on this difference. My approach is pretty simple here:

Front loading (Stratos 24 & 34) would make things easier if you have an elevated, wide platform (think bed, desk, etc) to lay your backpack on and open it like a suitcase.
- I mostly recommend this for traveling folks.
Top loading (Stratos 36) would come more useful during activities where you need access to the main compartment on the go.
- You can easily lean your pack against something (think a wall, tree, or even your leg) and voila. You just gained the access to your entire equipment.

I mean... I did say the front loading Stratos 24 is great for day hiking... and overall, that is true...

But I guess I'd still consider a top loading alternative such as osprey's Talon 33. Comes with less bells and whistles, but is more comfortable and offers top loading.

I also compared the Stratos line to Talon line here in detail.

Comfort

These are all Stratos (duh), so their suspension and ventilation systems are identical. I'd rate their comfort level at 8/10, coming right after Xenith/Xena, Atmos/Aura and Aether/Ariel Series.

Intended Use

Stratos 24.

Unless you're a true ultralighter, I wouldn't recommend 24 liters for overnight camping. Not at all. 24 liters is optimal for day hiking, but is off the table for anything more than that.

Having said that, Stratos 36 isn't huge by any means.

It's slightly larger than a carry on sized pack (see the introduction image). But at that level of cost, you obtain a larger advantage in terms of versatility.

Conclusion

You can get the Stratos 24 and be perfectly fine if you'll be day hiking only.

However, if extra size isn't a concern for you, than I'd recommend you the Stratos 36.

Here's a good video review of the 36:

Osprey Xenith vs Aether

Last updated: June 7, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

Aether AG 70. Along with Xenith 88, it's my overall top pick.

If we want to be able to compare Xenith vs Aether, then we should first address to their positioning in Osprey's entire backpacking backpack product line briefly.

It's crucial to make a healthy comparison.

Osprey packs are also far from being cheap. I'd strongly recommend you to read this short post entirely, but if you really want a short answer, here you go:

My top pick would be Aether AG 70. If you think you need more volume, get Xenith 88. If you'll mostly be backpacking for, say, longer than a week; and sometimes even with kids, pets or during the winter; ONLY THEN you might really need a beast like Xenith 105.

Design intentions of Xenith & Aether

If you're a regular read of my site, then you probably know that I recommend Osprey's Atmos/Aura Series a lot.

#A sidenote here: REI's backpack capacity chart is GOLD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you read any further.

It's placed right at the center of Osprey's entire backpacking backpack product line. Owing to its extremely high versatility, it's above average (or actually even great) in doing many different activities. It's focused on being an all-round, versatile backpack.

Aether/Ariel AG, on the other hand, toys with this equilibrium.

It's geared towards extended (4-5+ nights) trips more than anything else. This is why it's a more niche backpack and hence appeals to a more specific type of audience: Heavy hauling and/or extended backpacking.

So it offers larger volume options, is more feature rich and comes with a bulkier suspension for heavy hauling.

What's more, Xenith/Xena takes this aggressive stance of Aether/Ariel AG EVEN FURTHER and targets extended trips & heavy hauling even more so than Aether/Ariel AG. You can sense this in my popular chart below, as well as my Best Osprey Hiking Backpacks post:

So it offers EVEN LARGER (Xenith 105 XL Size equals to 113 liters of volume - see Manual here [PDF]) size options, a whooping FOUR accesses to the main compartment, tons of external gear attachment capability and a rock-solid frame & suspension that hauls heavy loads over long distances without a hitch.

Pushing 6 lbs, it's quite a bit heavy in return.

As you see, these packs are impractical for those who won't be going on extended (4-5+ nights) backpacking trips and/or hauling heavy loads for long distances.

This is why I think Aether AG 60 is sort of "misplaced".

Aether AG 60

Aether AG 60 on the AT.

60 liters of pack volume is considered average.

Extra accesses to the main compartment would probably be overkill (or even useless) at this level.

Also, because of limited volume, you most likely won't pack it much heavier than usual either.

In case you haven't noticed yet, the two most important extra advantages of Aether/Ariel (and also Xenith/Xena for that matter) aren't being exploited with 60 liters.

Hence not only the extra money but also the extra weight spent on them turn to a waste.

Xenith 105.

So, this might sound a little bit aggressive, but when trying to choose between Xenith and Aether, I'd start by eliminating Aether AG 60.

And, if you've been considering Aether AG 60 seriously, I'd now recommend you to consider Atmos AG 65 as well. You can read more about these in my Osprey Atmos vs Aether post.

Now this leaves us with 5 options: Aether AG 70, 85, Xenith 75, 88, and 105.

Xenith 105

Generally speaking, for any trip that takes longer than a week, a 90+ L backpack is considered optimal. This leaves you with one option only: Xenith 105.

This is why the frame of Xenith 105 is 0.5 mm thicker than those of 75 and 88 (4 mm vs 3.5 mm). It's designed to carry the heaviest of backpacking loads: up to 80 lbs (36 kg)!

10 Reviews

Osprey Xenith 105

105 liter backpack built for carrying 50-80 lbs....
Floating, removable top lid with top-and under-lid...
External hydration reservoir sleeve is easy to...
Dual side zips provide easy access to gear stored...
Zippered hipbelt pockets keep snacks and smaller...

Aether AG 70

Aether AG 70. My overall top pick.

If, on the other hand, you aren't going to be backpacking for that long most of the time, then my recommendation would be Aether AG 70.

It's my favorite along the entire Aether/Ariel line. In my opinion, Aether/Ariel line design intention (pockets, accesses, size of suspension system and harness) responds and works the best with 70 liters.

As long as you won't be backpacking with kids or pets, during winter, or for longer than 7 nights; I see no point in getting a pack larger than 60 - 70 liters either.

Combine these two facts and you'll see why the 70 liters is the most wide spread used pack of Aether/Ariel Series.

I've talked more about this in my Osprey Aether 60 vs 70 vs 85 vs PRO post.

358 Reviews

Osprey Aether AG 70 Men's Backpacking Backpack

Removable top-lid converts to DayLid daypack
Top to bottom suspended mesh wraps shoulders, back...
Front stretch mesh pocket and zippered hipbelt...
Large front J-zip provides quick access to main...
Internal hydration reservoir sleeve accommodates...

Xenith 88 vs Aether 85

Xenith 88. Overall top pick.

If, on the other hand, you aren't really sure whether 70 L would cut it for you (either because of the reasons mentioned above or any other), then I'd recommend you the Xenith 88.

Think of Aether 85 as a little inferior alternative of Xenith 88.

88 liters is considered high. If you pack like most people, I'd expect the total weight of your entire inventory to exceed 55-60 lbs (27.2 kg).

This is considered quite heavy, to the point where even Aether's robust suspension start coming short.

This is why getting a pack with an even bulkier suspension at roughly the same volume, Xenith 88, can be a better idea.

Even if you pack don't pack heavy stuff, one extra side access you get with Xenith 88 will make accessing your items much easier than Aether AG 85.

29 Reviews

Osprey Xenith 88 Men's Backpacking Backpack

88 liter backpack built for carrying 40-70 lbs. of...
Floating, removable top lid with top-and under-lid...
External hydration reservoir sleeve is easy to...
Dual side zips provide easy access to gear stored...
Zippered hipbelt pockets keep snacks and smaller...

What about Xenith 75?

Xenith 75.

Xenith 75 is a fantastic pack, but I recommend Aether AG 70 over Xenith 75 for the same reason I recommend Stratos 50 over Atmos AG 50 in this site.

The reason: It'd most likely be overkill.

Extremely bulky suspension and robust harness of feature-loaded Xenith start making a practical advantage once you're past, say, 80 liters of volume.

If you're like most people and you don't always pack extremely heavy stuff...

Then Aether AG 70 would work perfectly fine for anything smaller than 80 liters in my opinion.

358 Reviews

Osprey Aether AG 70 Men's Backpacking Backpack

Removable top-lid converts to DayLid daypack
Top to bottom suspended mesh wraps shoulders, back...
Front stretch mesh pocket and zippered hipbelt...
Large front J-zip provides quick access to main...
Internal hydration reservoir sleeve accommodates...

Now let's lay out some other facts that led me these picks and conclusions.

Accesses

Xenith allows dual side zip-accesses to the main compartment, while the Aether allows only one - through a J-zip front access in 70 & 85 L and through a side zip in 60 L.

Hip-belt

Released after Aether/Ariel's so-called "IsoForm" custom molding design, "BioForm" custom molding design of Xenith/Xena is Osprey's most recent technology in this field.

"What's a custom molding hipbelt?"

Here's how it works:

You drive to an Osprey Dealer,
Have them take the removable hipbelt of your backpack,
Heat it inside an oven and,
Mold it to your unique hip and waist anatomy.

The result: You're handed over the only hip belt in the WORLD designed for the unique curvatures of your own body.

This is why superior BioForm hipbelts of Xenith/Xena are going to respond even better to your unique curves during the molding process.

Durability

It's true that 420 D main fabric of Xenith is twice as much durable compared to Aether's 210 D.

But since even Aether's 210 D face fabric is extremely durable, I wouldn't consider increasing that durability even further as an important benefit - not to even mention Osprey's killer life-time warranty policy as well.

After all, you'd like to pay for things that matter in practice.

Hydration

Xenith comes with an external and Aether comes with an internal hydration sleeve.

Best Osprey Travel Backpack

Last updated: July 14, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

Image belongs to Farpoint 40 (women's counterpart is Fairview 40) - my overall top picks.

As most of you know, as a big fanboy and devoted first-hand customer...

...I've been publishing in-depth guides to all kinds of Osprey backpacks (full post list at the bottom of this post) for the last 2-3 years.

Recently I'm getting asked a lot about my best Osprey travel backpack picks, so here you go.

Hope this guide helps you.

Before we get to it: I'd recommend you to check out Osprey's own PackFinder tool as well.

It returns the best picks for your own specific needs and desires.

#A sidenote here: REI's backpack capacity chart is GOLD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you read any further.

Now... Here's a question you must ask yourself before anything:

"Should I get a travel backpack or a backpacking backpack for traveling?"

I always recommend choosing this according to which one of these following two typical buyer profiles describes your situation the best:

"I'll mostly be carrying my backpack between transportation-hotel-airport. Most of the time my pack will be waiting for me back in my hotel room when I'm traveling around the city."

You're a traveler. Get a travel backpack.

Traveler organizers and front openings will provide easy access to your entire inventory when you lay it onto your hotel room bed (or something similar). Additional carry handles save a lot of time and frustration at the airport and transportation vehicles.

I do recommend reading this entire short post since Osprey backpacks are far from cheap, but if you don't have time to do so...

...then find my quick recommendations below.

To most of you, I can recommend the great Farpoint 40 (women's counterpart is Fairview 40) my eyes closed after using it for 2.5 - 3 years.

Farpoint's less comfortable but better organized cousin Porter 46 would be a good alternative - or even a better choice if you think you'll never walk more than, say, half an hour with your pack.

I don't recommend Ozone Duplex Series (more on this later).

If you think 40 - 50 liters is too small for you, don't get a larger Porter (comfort will literally start sucking), get a larger Farpoint (55, 55 trek, 70, 75 trek, or 80).

I'd personally recommend the Farpoint 55 (women's counterpart is Fairview 55) and make use of the super useful daypack.

I'm not fond of 70 & plus liters because they're too big for a travel pack IMO. I'd just get a luggage instead.

If you'd like your pack to have wheels, then I'd recommend you the beast Sojourn 80L/28".

"My backpack will often be with me when I'm traveling and I'll most likely need access to my items inside when I'm out in the streets."

You're a traveling backpacker. Get a travel backpacking (or a backpacking) backpack.

In most cases you won't have access to a bed (or something similar) to lay your backpack onto, so a suitcase-like front opening won't be useful. Instead, you'll want and appreciate a pack that sits upright when put down and offers top access to the main compartment.

This alone makes things much easier in the streets.

If this is you, then I'd recommend you the Archeon 70 (women's counterpart is Archeon 65 Women's). It's specifically designed for people with your unique purpose - it's a travel backpacking backpack (released in summer 2019).

If your secondary activity will be overnight camping, then I'd recommend you the Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65).

Compared to Osprey's all travel backpacks, Atmos/Aura are MUCH more comfortable & ventilated. They also offer an additional compartment at the bottom and more external gear attachment capability.

If your load will be quite a bit on the heavy side, Aether AG 70 (women's counterpart is Ariel AG 65) would be a better choice.

You can navigate to related heading accordingly now:

Best Osprey Travel Backpacks: Quick Navigation

Best Osprey Travel Backpacks

What is the optimal travel backpack volume?

General recommendation: 40-45 liters

Winter traveling: 55-60 liters

Overall top picks

Larger packs

What about Ozone Duplex?

Top wheeled picks

Best Osprey Backpacking Backpacks for Travel

Intended use: Just traveling

Secondary activity: Overnight camping

Now let's get to the bolts and nuts.

Best Osprey Travel Backpacks

What is the optimal travel backpack volume?

The obvious ideal method to figure this out is deciding what to pack first & size it.

Now you know the optimal pack volume for your own unique needs and desires.

That said...

For most of us (including me), the max limit of our backpack decides what and how much of them we're packing. Not us.

What's more... it's not all that easy to be able to try and size the end volume of your belongings anyway. And I'm not even getting to the fact that most of us don't even want to bother.

Luckily, this isn't the only option we have in hand. We can simply go after what's generally recommended.

General recommendation: 40-45 liters

I personally know many people traveled to SE Asia, Europe or South America with their 40 liters packs for as long as 2 months and were perfectly fine.

After seeing so many inexperienced beginner traveler folks doing this, I don't even look at it as an extreme example anymore.

It's more of a rule of thumb for me: 40 liters is all you really need!

You can easily pack 3 changes of summer clothes (only 1 pair of shoes, though) as well as other traveling essentials.

A bit larger: 55-60 liters

This becomes more acceptable during winter due to thicker garments and some necessary extra gear taking up more space.

During the summer I'm pretty sure you can get away with 40 liters perfectly fine. But if you desire to go larger, that's OK, but I really don't recommend going any larger than 55-60.

The first thing you should pay attention here: Make sure the pack is equipped with a detachable zip-off daypack.

A daypack does not only increase versatility but it also makes the remaining backpack more carry-on friendly when detached.

Overall top picks

My good old Farpoint 40.

In my opinion, Osprey's best travel backpack is absolutely Farpoint 40 (women's counterpart is Fairview 40).

Most of you probably saw this coming even when I just mentioned 40 liters and nothing else.

Because, if you've made any research on Osprey travel backpacks before reading this post, then you probably know that the incredible comfort, durability and pretty looks of Farpoint 40 goes without saying.

Bonus: It's carry on size. Osprey seem to have added this literally onto the name of the pack as of 2020 - and now it's called Farpoint Travel Pack Carry-on 40.

Carry on size limits

Technically speaking, more often than not, airlines will allow packs up to 22" x 14" x 9". Sometimes you'll see them drawing the line at a total of 45 linear inches (height + width + depth).

You're likely to get away with larger packs though (as long as you don't piss off the staff), because it's mostly down to their personal judgments. They mostly won't size the pack.

I've reviewed best carry on backpacks here.

I've literally traveled everywhere with my Farpoint 40 and the thing I like the most is its unbeatable comfort. You can also read my full Farpoint 40 review.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Stow Away Harness Duffel and Side Carry Handle

Click on image to enlarge. I must say I've never used my Farpoint 40 in duffel mode. But the side carry handle (bottom right) saved me tons of time and energy - especially in the airport & business meetings when I had a laptop.

After 3 years of use, it doesn't display any sign of weakness in terms of durability.

In all honesty, though; when Osprey is the brand at hand, I don't really consider this as a benefit.

All Osprey backpacks are solid in this regard anyway.

I also really like its looks - and I own this Volcanic Grey color.

In reality, it isn't Volcanic Grey though - but Green Grey.

I do have two gripes with Farpoint 40:

Having the laptop sleeve behind the main compartment would not only have made packing easier, but also have made the pack even more comfortable. For the latter, luckily you don't wish any extra comfort with Farpoint 40.
I'd like to see an internal traveler organizer.

What fits inside a Farpoint 40.

Protip: If you'll pack a laptop into its sleeve, pack it before anything else.

Otherwise the bloated main compartment will bend the sleeve and make packing the laptop afterwards more difficult.

"How large is Farpoint 40's laptop sleeve?"

It fits laptops up to 17" (including huge AlienWare). Once you're past 15.6" the sleeve height doesn't suffice although the pack still gets closed without a hitch.

Despite these two downsides, Farpoint 40 is still my top pick.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Men's Travel Backpack

(3814)

Osprey Fairview 40 Women's Travel Backpack

(1207)

Porter 46.

If you'll almost never walk with the pack though (which... I'd doubt), then Porter 46 can be a better choice.

It's closer to being a suitcase with straps rather than being a backpack (which is why a women's counterpart isn't even available).

This causes a noticeable decrease in comfort, especially compared to a comfort monster like Farpoint 40.

The advantage you get with getting a Porter 46 over a Farpoint 40, on the other hand, is perfect internal organization.

6 liters of extra volume also allows you to stuff unexpectedly large items inside, like a speaker. If, by the way, you're looking for one, you might want to check out this JBL Flip 5 vs Charge 4 post (soundton.com is also my site, btw).

All your frequently used items and electronics will be arranged better and hence you'll have easier access to them.

2,018 Reviews

Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack

Meets carry-on size restrictions for most airlines...
Large U-zip luggage-style access to main...
Shoulder straps and hipbelt are stowable...
Protected rear panel lockable zip laptop/tablet...
Front panel organization pocket for easy access to...

If you can't decide, you can read my Osprey Farpoint 40 vs Porter 46 post for more.

Larger packs

Farpoint 55's and their daypacks.

If you think 40 liters wouldn't cut it for you (which would most likely be for the winter), and/or you'd really like to have the daypack option...

Then I'd recommend you the Farpoint 55 (women's counterpart is Fairview 55) over Farpoint 40 or Porter 46.

If you're like most people, you prefer traveling with a small backpack rather than nothing.

Rather than carrying tickets, passports, wallets, maps, cards, DSLR cameras and souvenirs; the daypack allows carrying a laptop as well in its laptop sleeve.

If you're like me and you like stopping by a local coffee shop with WiFi and work on stuff for a few hours & rest a little, then you'll absolutely need a daypack anyway.

13 liter daypack of Farpoint 55 fits all these items without a hitch (laptops up to 15.6").

Technically speaking, the main backpack (daypack detached) is still outside the maximum carry on size limits I've laid out above.

According to most of the reviews I've had chance to read, though; no-one had any problems taking the main backpack as a carry-on and the day-pack as the hand bag.

This is because it's down to individual staff most of the time, as I already mentioned earlier in the post.

70 liter Farpoint would probably be too big for most people, so I'd recommend the 55. The temptation to stuff the pack with items you don't need that much will also be stronger with the 70.

I'm always camp "go a little larger than you think" - but the things is, you're already "going a little larger" with 55 liters.

In my experience, 95% of people don't really need 70.

1,811 Reviews

Osprey Farpoint 55 Men's Travel Backpack

Large, lockable U-zip duffel-style access to main...
Detachable daypack with designated laptop and...
Stowaway backpanel, shoulder straps and hipbelt...
Lockable zipper access to padded laptop & tablet...
Lockable sliders on main compartment zipper

You can read more about this in my Farpoint 55 vs 70 post.

What about Ozone Duplex?

Not recommended. Well, not for now, at least.

If you're unaware, unlike Farpoint 55 and 70 which consist of 1 daypack + 1 backpack; Ozone Duplex Series consist of 1 daypack + 1 cargo bag.

Ozone Duplex 65.

This sounds useful in theory - but works well just in that, theory. I have 3 serious gripes with this series that leads me to not recommend them:

When you force the size limits of cargo bag even just by a little bit, it gets bloated and the daypack bulges into your back.
Rather than Farpoint 55 & 70's tall design, Ozone Duplex 65's box-like shape causes the cargo bag's weight to be placed too far away from your body. It's less comfortable.
See image: Rear opening daypack (left) allows access to your items even when it's attached to the cargo bag (right). But as you see, the (misplaced) load lifters get in the way of access, so you must unbuckle them each time.

It's more acceptable for brand new series to have major flaws like these. From what I've heard, Osprey is also on it and is actively working on tweaking its inaccurate design.

I hope to see a more complete Duplex Series in the future and will edit this part of the post when it sees a fruitful update that address these major flaws.

Until then, I see no point in getting a faulty pack like this when you have the option to get a proven solid pack like Farpoint 55 (women's counterpart is Fairview 55).

Top wheeled picks

Whether chassis (wheels) in a backpack worth the significant increase in both price tag and weight comes down to your own needs and desires.

But, generally speaking, I can tell you this: If you get a wheeled backpack, it's very likely that you won't be using it in backpack mode 90% of the time.

This is why I personally don't find it wise to invest in a backpack with chassis as long as the volume isn't over, say, 60-70 liters.

If you'll absolutely get Sojourn, get Sojourn 80.

Because at any less than 60 liters of volume, a fully packed backpack typically ends up weighing somewhere between 8-10 kg.

Most people would be able to carry this load at least for a few hours with ease.

This is why I recommend a rather large one: Sojourn 80.

Wheeled packs are meant to be used in backpack mode for small distances anyway - like staircases and rough surfaces.

266 Reviews

Osprey Sojourn Wheeled Luggage 80L / 28", FLASH BLACK

Lightweight, high-rolling clearance HighRoad...
Deployable backpack harness, hipbelt and backpanel...
Large panel zip opening with lockable zippers...
Four zippered pockets in main compartment keep...
Dual tube extended handle for control of large...

If you still want a carry-on wheeled pack Sojourn 45. Light chassis, carry-on size, optimal volume. Read my full review here.

It's closer to a being backpack compared to its other wheeled competitor Ozone 42, which is closer to being a luggage. Unlike Sojourn Series, Ozone Series do offer a laptop compartment and come with an attached daypack.

FYI, Meridian Series got discontinued.

Best Osprey Backpacking Backpacks for Travel

I've recently published a huge guide to Best Osprey Backpacking Backpacks, so check that out and find the huge data set to entire Osprey Backpacking Backpacks.

That said, if you are almost never going to go on overnight camping trips, then you need to check that out.

Because Osprey does offer some backpacking backpacks specifically made for traveling.

Intended use: Just traveling

I'd recommend you the 70 L option of Archeon Series (women's counterpart is Archeon 65 Women's), a traveling & backpacking backpack released in summer 2019.

Because it's still new, the just is still out in terms of durability.

That said, as I already clarified in this post, I don't even take durability into account when comparing Osprey packs to one another.

Not because they offer an incredible customer service (since it still costs the user some time and effort), but because I'm sure 90% of you will never even experience a durability issue and feel the need to contact.

What's more, Archeon is made of a whooping 1880 denier recycled nylon - extra thick skin.

Unlike Ozone Duplex 65, Osprey did hit the jackpot by introducing the innovative opening system they introduced with their Archeon line. Offers both top and front access.

So, on top of proven durability of Osprey's bells and whistles & typical fabrics, rock solid nylon boosts the durability even further - although it inevitably sacrifices weight. Archeon 70 is 5.5 - 6 lbs, depending on M and L sizes.

Archeon Series aren't equipped with a laptop compartment - although you can use the internal reservoir sleeve for the same purpose and be perfectly fine with it.

Now let's get to my favorite thing about Archeon 70: Opening.

In the introduction, I pointed out to the advantages top loading packs possess over the front opening packs when backpacking.

Offering top AND front access, Archeon is even superior to packs with top loading only.

Assuming the internal compression straps are in play, you're also given front access to the main compartment by unzipping dual front zips.

Osprey Archeon 70 Men's Backpacking Backpack

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Osprey Archeon 65 Women's Backpacking Backpack

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Secondary activity: Overnight camping

I'd recommend you the Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65) or Aether AG 70 (women's counterpart is Ariel AG 65).

You can read their differences in my Aether vs Atmos and Ariel vs Aura posts.

As some of you know, I'm a huge fan of Atmos/Aura AG 65 and recommend them all the time here in this site.

Check out my huge guide to Best Osprey Backpacking Backpacks to see their stance in Osprey's entire product line of backpacking backpacks.

Osprey Packs Atmos AG 65 Men's Backpacking...

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Osprey Aura AG 65 Women's Backpacking Backpack

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Best Osprey Hiking Backpack

Last updated: June 7, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

Image belongs to Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65) - my overall top picks.

As most of you know, as a big fanboy and devoted first-hand customer; I've been publishing in-depth guides to all kinds of Osprey backpacks (full post list at the bottom of this post) for the last 2-3 years.

Recently I'm getting asked a lot about my best Osprey hiking backpack picks, so here you go. Hope it helps you.

Now, first things first.

Backpacking might refer to both traveling and overnight camping trips.

So, if traveling will be your primary (or only) use, then stop reading this guide and check out my Best Osprey Backpack for Travel post instead. I do recommend some backpacking backpacks there.

If, however; your primary (or only) use will be hiking/camping (overnight or not), then keep reading this post.

#A sidenote here: REI's backpack capacity chart is GOLD. Highly recommend you to check it out before you read any further.

I do recommend reading this short post entirely because Osprey packs are far from being cheap. But here are some quick answers:

Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65) is my overall multi-day top pick. Perfect for 2-5 nights.
For really heavy hauling and/or extended (5+ nights) trips and thru-hikes, the best Osprey pack would be Xenith 88 (women's counterpart is Xena 85) in my opinion, although I'm pretty sure most of you would do perfectly fine with Aether AG 70 (women's counterpart is Ariel AG 65) as well.
If you're looking for smaller packs (2-3 nights tops), I'd recommend Stratos 50 (women's counterpart is Sirrus 50), but Kestrel 48 (women's counterpart is Kyte 46) is a great alternative.
Best osprey backpack for day hiking and/or single night camping is Talon 33 (women's counterpart is Tempest 30). Kestrel 38 and Kyte 36 are best alternatives for men and women respectively.

An important comment: If you're shorter than, say, 5'1"; or taller than, say, 6'6"; strongly consider getting the incredibly adjustable series: Volt/Viva. They'll probably be even more comfortable than Atmos/Aura for you.

Navigate to the in depth explanations of each group here:

Best Osprey Backpacks for Hiking & Backpacking

COMPLETE DATA SET: Osprey's All Hiking & Backpacking Backpacks Listed

Where is durability?

Extended (5+ nights) trips (>75 L)

5-7 days

7+ days

Multi-day (2-5 nights) trips (55-75 L)

Very heavy hauling

Weekend (1-3 nights) trips (40-55 L)

Day hiking & overnight camping (<40 L)

Conclusion & Quick Answers

#Note: 60 - 70 L is the sweet spot where the versatility of overnight hiking & camping trips maximize. Check out Osprey's great infographic on their own blog to get informed more about pack volumes.

You might have noticed that dimensions and volumes of Osprey Backpacks mostly don't add up...

I've contacted Osprey's customer service myself about this and laid out my findings here in my Dimensional Inconsistencies of Osprey Backpacks post.

Now let's get to the bolts and nuts.

COMPLETE DATA SET: Osprey's All Hiking & Backpacking Backpacks Listed

Let's begin with the data set I've been collecting for the last few years first.

Related Data Set: Osprey's All Backpacking Backpacks

Bold are my top picks for each group (based on trip length).
If you tend to pack more or less than the average person, then shift the trip length values accordingly.
If you're planning to get either one of them, I'd also highly recommend you to check out Osprey's own PackFinder tool as well.

To see the full table and my top picks, visit my post Best Osprey Hiking Backpacks.

Rotate your phone sideways for a better table display.

	Comfort	Features & Organization	Weight (M Size)
	Trip Length: 7+ nights [>90 L]
Xenith 105 (Men's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	10/10	10/10	5.78 lbs
Cell	Trip Length: 5-7 nights [75 - 90 L]
Xenith 88 (Men's) Xena 85 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	10/10	10/10	5.61 lbs
Aether AG 85 (Men's) Ariel AG 75 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	8/10	9/10	5.37 lbs
Cell	Trip Length: 2-5 nights [55 - 75 L] Sweet spot. Versatile picks.
Atmos AG 65 (Men's) Aura AG 65 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	10/10	8/10	4.56 lbs
Xenith 75 (Men's) Xena 70 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	9/10	10/10	5.56 lbs
Volt 75 (Men's) Viva 65 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	8/10	6/10	4.3 lbs
Aether PRO 70 (Men's) Ariel PRO 65 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	10/10	4/10	3.94 lbs
Aether AG 70 (Men's) Ariel AG 65 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	9/10	9/10	5.21 lbs
Aether AG 60 (Men's) Ariel AG 55 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	9/10	9/10	5.15 lbs
Volt 60 (Men's) [PDF Manual]	8/10	6/10	4.3 lbs
Rook 65 (Men's) Renn 65 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	6/10	5/10	3.52 lbs
Levity 60 (Men's) Lumina 60 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	8/10	4/10	1.95 lbs
Exos 58 (Men's) Eja 58 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	7/10	4/10	2.58 lbs
Cell	Trip Length: 1-3 nights [45 - 55 L]
Atmos AG 50 (Men's) Aura AG 50 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	9/10	7/10	4.21 lbs
Kestrel 48 (Men's) Kyte 46 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review] [Read my review]	8/10	8/10	3.59 lbs
Stratos 50 (Men's) Sirrus 50 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	8/10	8/10	3.68 lbs
Levity 45 (Men's) Lumina 45 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	8/10	4/10	1.85 lbs
Exos 48 (Men's) Eja 48 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	7/10	4/10	2.57 lbs
Rook 50 (Men's) Renn 50 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	6/10	6/10	3.49 lbs
Viva 50 (Women's) [PDF Manual]	8/10	6/10	4.02 lbs
Cell	Trip Length: 0-1 nights [<45 L]
Kestrel 38 (Men's) Kyte 36 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review] [Read my review]	8/10	8/10	3.40 lbs
Stratos 36 (Men's) Sirrus 36 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	8/10	8/10	3.30 lbs
Talon 44 (Men's) Tempest 40 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	8/10	6/10	2.44 lbs
Talon 33 (Men's) Tempest 30 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	9/10	5/10	2.02 lbs
Exos 38 (Men's) Eja 38 (Women's) [PDF Manual] [Read my review]	8/10	4/10	2.48 lbs

If you're interested in getting a travel backpack, check out my Osprey's top travel backpacks post.

Always opt for the larger pack when in doubt.

Why? Because having the extra space but not needing it is always better than needing the extra space but not having it.

To my experience, this is likely to happen regardless of our plans.

Where is durability?

The real reason I didn't take durability into play here isn't Osprey's all mighty lifetime warranty (although it's a part of it).

I mean, it's great to have it after all, but their incredible customer service and warranty policy would still cost some effort and time from the user's end in case of unexpected damages.

The real reason I didn't incorporate durability here is that after years of using and backpacking with people using Osprey backpacks, one thing I've learned is that most of us will never even need to turn to their incredible warranty.

Because almost all Osprey backpacks are made of very high quality, wear resistant fabrics. You can get a feeling of their robust structures even when you simply lay your fingers on them.

I say almost all Osprey packs are very durable because I'd maybe exclude the ultralight and hyperlight series a little bit here: Exos/Eja and Levity/Lumina lines.

Even they are still more durable than their ultralight competitors coming from other brands - but their light nature inevitably requires them to be a little more fragile than the other rock solid packs.

Other than that, yes, some are still more durable than the others and vice versa, but the difference is really non-existent in practice.

I'll lay out my top picks now.

Extended (5+ nights) trips (>75 L)

5-7 days

These extra large Osprey packs are rather rare and hence you don't get much options.

Your best bet is Xenith 88 (women's counterpart is Xena 85) and your single alternative is Aether AG 85 (women's counterpart is Ariel AG 75).

You can look at Aether/Ariel AG Series as a little inferior cousins of Xenith/Xena Series. But it's still a fantastic series of packs.

Xenith/Xena and Aether/Ariel AG are the two most feature rich series of Osprey

Multiple accesses to the main compartment, convertible top lid daypacks, smooth harness and shoulder straps, lots of pockets and external gear attachment capability, etc.

They're the Bugatti of backpacks...

...with Xenith/Xena being a little more equipped to Aether/Ariel AG.

They aren't one of those packs that are just stuffed with features to compensate other downsides, oh no. They're both extremely comfortable backpacks (although they're fairly heavy at 5 lbs).

In fact, they're the only two series of Osprey backpacks that offer state of the art custom molding hipbelts (find source here on Osprey's own site).

"What's a custom molding hipbelt?"

Here's how it works:

You drive to an Osprey Dealer,
Have them take the removable hipbelt of your backpack,
Heat it inside an oven and,
Mold it to your unique hip and waist anatomy.

The result: You're handed over the only hip belt in the WORLD designed for the unique curvatures of your own body.

Released after Aether/Ariel's so-called "IsoForm" custom molding design, "BioForm" custom molding design of Xenith/Xena is Osprey's most recent technology in this field.

Xenith 88.

This is why superior BioForm hipbelts of Xenith/Xena are going to respond even better to your unique curves during the molding process.

Now, going the extra mile this much might seem overkill or even outright ridiculous to you.

But when you're hauling all your belongings for a week long trips throughout long distances, trust me it's not.

This is actually the reason why it's only incorporated to the backpacks with extended trip main purposes only: Xenith/Xena and Aether/Ariel Series.

Osprey themselves agree that it'd indeed be an overkill for anything less aggressive than that.

I've talked more about this in my Osprey Xenith vs Aether post, so check that out if you're interested. My top picks are Xenith 88 and Aether AG 70.

7+ days

The typical 7+ day backpack volume is 90+ liters. This leaves you with one option: Men's Xenith 105.

Keep in mind that Xenith 105 will still come huge for women though.

Compared to Xenith's other smaller 88 & 75 liter counterparts, besides extra tens of liters of volume; Xenith 105 is constructed with a thicker (4 mm vs 3.5 mm) and more robust peripheral frame in addition.

This in the end makes carrying really heavy loads (loads that are heavy even for Xenith 88/75!) noticeably more comfortable due to incredibly well enduring suspension capability.

It's BULKY.

Unfortunately, Osprey didn't introduce a women's counterpart for Xenith 105, so the largest option is Xena 85. No idea why they went down this route.

That said, if you're a female looking for a 90+ L pack, you can get Xenith 105 and might still be perfectly fine with it.

Design differences in men's/women's models take place in the curvatures and shape of the pack (mostly belts and straps) - which I would say isn't going to be a huge difference unless you're shorter than, say, 5'7".

Multi-day (2-5 nights) trips (55-75 L)

Generally speaking, 60 - 70 liters is considered to be the sweet spot for most people. Best of both worlds.

My overall top pick for this category is Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65).

If you're a regular reader of my Osprey related posts, then you know I'm a huge fan of both of them.

If I were to randomly recommend an Osprey backpacking backpack...

I'd recommend Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65) my eyes closed.

Comfortable, useful, versatile, ventilated and well organized. It applies to a huge range of potential buyers - which is why it's almost impossible to go flat out wrong with them.

REI also recommends it not only as the best Osprey backpacking backpack but the best backpacking backpack out in the entire market:

*Video is time-adjusted.

Volt 60 (women's counterpart is Viva 65) comes forward after Atmos/Aura AG 65 - owing to their extremely high adjustability.

Volt 60. Yes, the men's counterpart of Viva 65 is not Volt 60 but Volt 75 - however I'd generally recommend getting either an Aether AG 70 or Atmos AG 65 at that high volume level - which is why I pick the 60 L of Volt instead of 75 L.

If you're quite short (say, shorter than 5'1") or quite tall (say, taller than 6'6"), then the Volt/Viva will be more comfortable than any backpacking backpack out there (including Atmos/Aura AG 65).

If you aren't quite short or tall, Volt 60/Viva 65 are still going to be surprisingly comfortable alternatives - although noticeably less so than the Atmos/Aura AG 65.

One organizational sacrifice you make going from Volt 60/Viva 65 to Atmos/Aura AG 65 is the loss of two useful zippered front pockets which would make your frequently used items readily available.

Unlike Atmos/Aura AG 65, you do get the raincover with Volt 60/Viva 65.

But raincover is not only less valuable in most cases, but it's also replaceable by purchasing separately - which you certainly can't do so for zippered front pockets.

Ariel AG 65.

Very heavy hauling

When you're hiking during the winter or with kids and/or pets, it's likely that really heavy hauling will come into play.

This is why 3 important features;

Bulkier suspension,
Additional J-zip front access to the main compartment and,
Convertible top lid daypack,

of Aether AG 70 (women's counterpart is Ariel AG 65) make them a much better suited option than the Atmos/Aura AG 65.

They're not only going to keep you more comfortable and less sweaty along the way, but also offer a superior access to your higher amount of items.

You can read more about them in this post where I review and compare Aether/Ariel Series.

Top lid daypack isn't available outside US & Canada

They're equipped with a raincover instead.

I've written more about Osprey Aether vs Atmos before, so check that out as well if you're interested to hear more.

Weekend (1-3 nights) trips (40-55 L)

50 L version of aforementioned top pick Atmos AG 65 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 65) is the first pack comes to mind here in this range:

Atmos AG 50. Not my overall #1 recommendation for this purpose.

Atmos AG 50 (women's counterpart is Aura AG 50).

But are they really optimal for this range as well?

Well, long story short, if you pack like most people during weekend backpacking trips, then chances are, the superior suspensions of Atmos/Aura AG 50 are most likely going to over-qualify.

After all, you don't need an airplane engine in a car.

I mean, if you're getting an Atmos/Aura AG 50, I'd probably stop most of you there and point another pack.

I've talked more about this in my Atmos/Aura AG 50 vs 65 post.

However, if you're one of those folks who tend to pack really dense, heavy stuff; then as you can imagine, I would have to make an exception for you.

Atmos/Aura AG 50 can be an optimal choice in that case.

But what if you're like most people and pack typical, normal weight stuff?

Stratos 50. Well thought out and balanced.

Enter Stratos 50 (women's counterpart is Sirrus 50). These are the backpacks you're looking for.

Osprey designed them specifically for your purpose, and hence advertises them in such ways as well.

Not only their suspension quality are just the right amount, but it also comes with all the bells and whistles you actually need - and nothing you don't.

The reason Stratos/Sirrus 50 are admired so much is because they're somehow pretty successfully made quite light without sacrificing too much comfort or organizational features.

In fact, any organizational feature for that matter.

It offers 3 accesses to main compartment (top, bottom & side) and comes with an integrated raincover.

If you've been researching Osprey packs for a while, then it probably caught your attention that you don't easily get to see these features all together even in a well equipped backpack - let alone a light pack like Stratos 50!

As you see, Kyte 46 isn't neither too big or too small. It's just right. This Ice Lake Green color is only available with the most recent version and making us wish seeing it on our other favorite picks.

My top two alternatives to Stratos/Sirrus 50 would be Kestrel 48 and Kyte 46. Actually, they might not even qualify as alternatives but substitutions.

I think it's safe to say that they more or less perform equally well.

Kestrel/Kyte Series is a top-notch backpacking, hiking, and, in my opinion, also a little bit mountaineering backpack line.

Although I wasn't that fond of previous versions, they stepped up their game with most recent 2019 updates.

I've listed updates that took place with this 2019 version in my Kyte 46 review and Kestrel 48 review. Also studied them entirely.

Apart from these practical benefits you get when using Kestrel/Kyte, they're also pretty if you ask me.

Stratos 36.

Day hiking & overnight camping (<40 L)

Front loading backpacks become more acceptable here, so if you'll be traveling with your backpack as much as you'll be day hiking, then you can get a travel backpack rather than a hiking or backpacking backpack.

My top recommendation would be Farpoint 40 (read my hands on review here) in that case.

If you're sure you're looking for a hiking/backpacking backpack, though...

Then my recommendations would be Talon 33 (women's counterpart is Tempest 30). I've reviewed both of them here.

Osprey Talon 33 Men's Hiking Backpack

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Osprey Tempest 30 Women's Hiking Backpack

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Your best alternatives here are the smaller options of Stratos/Sirrus & Kestrel/Kyte:

Osprey Stratos 36 Men's Hiking Backpack

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Osprey Sirrus 36 Women's Hiking Backpack

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Osprey Kestrel 38 Men's Hiking Backpack

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Osprey Kyte 36 Women's Hiking Backpack

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I've also reviewed Kyte 36 and Kestrel 38, and compared them to Kyte 46 and to Kestrel 48 here, so check them out if you're interested.

Check out my Osprey Talon vs Stratos post if you'd like to read more about how each model (Talon 22, 33 and 44 & Stratos 24, 34, 36 & 50) compare to one another.

Or check out my Osprey Kestrel vs Stratos post if you want to learn more about Stratos 36 & 50 and Kestrel 38 & 48.

Talon 33.

Compared to their larger volume options;