User Review: Osprey Atmos 65

Summary

I have an Arc'teryx Bora 95 for long hauls, so I'm used to quality and good fit. The Atmos amazed me. It was SO light, and I don't know WHAT it did with the weight ... but ... I was literally jumping up an down on the trail (I have a Marmot Swallow, so my tent has a chunk of base weight to begin with).

My Arc'teryx is for long excursions and stays, like Burning Man events and such. Nothing tops it for that. Well, until the Atmos 65. Its weight by itself is a feather. It has so many ways and places to put gear, you can almost forget what all you're carrying.  

For long tedious climb hikes in the White Mtns, amazing. It keeps me nimble, conforms to my profile so I don't snag on narrow/low passes. I'm 6', ~165lbs, and it fits excellent, with (as noted above) straps to spare. It sits well on my hips, I only feel weight there and a bit on shoulders. The pack seems to "want" my posture to be upright and healthy. I fit my Marmot tent, sleeping bag, stove, pans, fuel, 3 days meals for 2 people, Camelbak, clothes, tent footprint/liner, etc. in there well. It was snug, but adequate and I could have added a bit more. 

Lots of outside loops and resources for carrying add-ons like extra shoes, poles, pad, etc. make its baseline capacity very expandable. Though I noted a "con" on the "detachable" top bag, I found I never really needed to detach it so that doesn't ultimately matter.

A couple pouches have no bottom to them (so why, then is there a zipper at the top of one of the inside ones, I wonder?), and the "hydration" set up is so incredibly stupid as to not be worthy of what is otherwise a totally awesome pack. Forget their "hydration" pouch and just stuff the CamelBak in the outside ... all will be well.

You do feel like a weightless astronaut with it ... like you're going to float down the trail.  I couldn't shut up and my companion kept teasing me about my orgy of delight with the weight mgmt.  Again, a Marmot Swallow is 8lbs+, and I didn't even feel it. After main bulk was offloaded (meals, whiskey, extra water) the weight was embarrassingly low. 

I read reviews of both the Arc'teryx Bora and the Osprey AFTER I bought the Osprey. I have been spoiled in my choice of both. The statement on Osprey that they lead the way, set the standards for other packs, is well noted.  I looked at a Gregory as well as some EMS ones ... the Osprey was awesome by comparison even in the store.  I cautiously kept sales receipts and such for until I loaded and tested it ... this one WON'T be returned.