User Review: Osprey Exos 46

Summary

Excellent pack with some problems that may cause problems for unprepared users.

I bought this pack in 2010 for use on the Camino de Santiago. I carried it over 800 km of Spain and after that for two years in Finland and still use it regurlarly.

For my uses it is simply excellent. It fits me like a glove and is very comfortable. I can fit everything for a summer week or winter weekend into it (note: I travel very light!). On my last hike, I had to swim over a cold river in late September. I was positively surprised, when the inside of the pack remained dry despite a short immersion. Long term soaking will probably lead to wet gear.

Then the bad stuff. Though it fits me well, most of my friends despise it. The adjustability is poor so you need to make sure you have the right size of pack! There are several sizes of this pack and they all have a different back length. Find the right one!

I find the side mesh pockets to be too small to be usefull and too tight when the pack is stuffed. The straps for fastening a sleeping pad are too far back and will only hold a very light pad in place without bouncing. Also having an axe fixed to the outside causes problems as the blade will hit any affixed pad.

In short I like the EXOS a lot and would recommend it. Some thought has to be used before purchase. This is a lightweight pack with no extras, so adjustability and versatility are not as good as on a heavier pack.

If you need a pack for very long hikes between villages or general weekend use and have the time to find the right size, buy this. If you want a pack with lots of pockets and great adjustability, buy something else.