User Review: Osprey Aether 70

Summary

Extremely comfortable, supportive, tons of great features. Highly recommended.

I have the latest version of the Aether 70 — the harness is a little better than that of the previous version, the tradeoff being that the pack is slightly heavier — a worthwhile trade!

The capacity is perfect for multiday treks in the winter months, when you need to carry more warm gear. It has at least 10 more litres of capacity, in comparison to my Aether 60, probably more like 15. The respective heights are similar, the 70 has a significantly broader base.

The moulded hipbelt fits like a glove, and the back panel sits nice and flush against my back. I love the ability to pack away, or take up, my hiking poles as I move, such a simple but useful feature. I use a pack cover in the rainy conditions, as I've found the pack material very quickly wets-out and starts to seep into the pack contents. The detachable top compartment is another great feature, with its built-in lap belt. I use it for taking the essentials with me when I wander away from camp,  off bird-watching, fishing etc. 

This is the largest of my Osprey packs. I'm only 65kg, so a 70-litre pack is pretty much the limit of what I will carry, around 19-20kg of gear. The 60 litre Aether is perfect for the warmer months, carrying 15-17kg.