User Review: Osprey Aether 70

Osprey Aether 70
Above: The current Aether 70, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed September 11, 2007 by Kent Nordin

Rating:
Design: Top loading internal frame
Size: lg 4400 cu in
Number of Pockets: 3
Max. Load Carried: 35 lbs
Height of Owner: 6'5"
Price Paid: $239.99

After my first summer that included a week in the Winds and Tetons, and several weekend jaunts closer to home I feel I have finally found "my" pack.

What I like:
Hipbelt - It is worth the difference the heat molding makes, buy this from a dealer who can custom heat mold the belt for you. Other highlights are the two strap hipbelt design, this puts the pressure point off of your hip bones and spreads it out around your whole hip. It hugs them like a monkey. Also the straps to tighten pull toward the center of your body, not away from them. This simple difference makes adjustments easier by far and you can tighten down more easily.

Suspension - Being 6'5" this is one of the few packs that accommodates my long torso. I appreciate the curve of the shoulder straps.

Pack bag - it is simple. A bag with a removable sleeping bag compartment divider, and the Osprey top clip strap to help secure loads. The compression straps can also be clipped to adjust to smaller loads, useful when day hiking during a trip where the tent stays put for a night. And the pockets on the side are deep. No worries about losing your Nalgene. There is also a hydration sleeve and port for those bladder types.

Zipper pulls on the sleeping bag compartment are easy with gloves

few nit picks:
the back pocket is impossible to get into when securely cinched down as 2 of the straps are over the top of the pocket.

to use the lid as a daypack you must remove the hipbelt from the pack, a feature I never use but some may.