User Review: Osprey Argon 85

Summary

Perfect pack for long excursions — very comfortable, great capacity, and durable. Add a few of the accessories to it (rain cover, grab bag, etc.) and it has to be considered a top-of-the-line pack.

I have owned the XL in mustard for about 4 years now and this pack is seriously the best I have ever used. It has nearly everything you are looking for in an expedition pack — capacity, size, comfort, and style. The suspension is very comfortable and as long as you have your pack/gear strapped down, it's easy to forget you are carrying such a large load.

I did not opt for getting the hip belt molded because, in my opinion, it became comfortable enough without it after two short excursions. The ventilation system truly does keep the sweat off your back (within reason, of course) and the hydration pocket holds my 100-ounce Camelbak Omega reservoir without any problems.

The sleeping bag compartment is large enough to easily hold a synthetic North Face long bag and the external pocket can stow rain gear, smelly clothes, and so on without getting anything wet.

The pack isn't totally waterproof, but it is water resistant to the extent that your stuff won't get soaked if it's a light rain. I ended up buying the Osprey pack cover and that has performed admirably as well.

Perhaps the only nuisance is that it is fairly awkward trying to get a wide-mouth Nalgene bottle out of the side pocket because it doesn't have the standard water bottle pocket(s). Other than that, it is expensive, but it sure is worth it.