Osprey Exos 58

Summary

This is an awesome pack. Not only is it the most comfortable pack I've ever owned, it's also lightweight and durable. I've loaded it to 55+ pounds comfortably, even on long hauls. In addition to the roomy interior pocket, it has easy external access for water bottles, rain jackets, ice axes, and sunglasses.

The best feature of the Osprey Exos is the comfort. The shoulder straps have surprisingly thin foam with lots of ventilation, and the hip belt is similar. Both combine to comfortably hold the weight snugly against your body. The back is a net that provides more than an inch of ventilation (unless you use a water bladder, in which case it can block the ventilation).  

The pack holds enough for 3-4 days in summer or a weekend in the winter. The pack has one large chamber for gear, and can be cinched down on top and on the sides to ensure a compact profile. The side compression straps are thin, yet strong, typical of the "just enough" approach used by Osprey.  

The pack has a full suite of external pockets and straps to hold your en-route gear. Two ice axe straps with quick-release bungees make for quick release. There is a stretchy front pocket that holds your rain jacket, two net water bottle pockets on the sides, and two vertical pockets on the front. I haven't really found a great use for these pockets, as anything you put in them will compete for room in the main pocket.

There are net zipper pockets on both sides of the hip belt that are great for sunglasses or lip balm, as well as a pocket good for an iPod or phone on the shoulder strap.  There is also a generous pocket on the top of the pack, with a document envelope in the interior.  

The pack has held up very well over two years of rugged use. Nothing has broken to date.

Summary

An overall great pack! Light, sturdy, feature rich, and comfortable. Keeps you cool in the summer and allows you to over stuff it in the winter. You will be looking for more days to take this sweet ride on the trail.

For the weight and an almost frameless pack, you can't get a more stiff ride that keeps the gear snug. I love this pack especially during the summer months with the wide open mesh back that allows your back to breath better than any other pack on the market.

Full of features not found on many packs, i.e. trekking pole quick storage, top lid, super tight compression straps, load lifter, hip belt sinch straps, and much more.

Summary

Lightweight, very comfortable, fantastic back system and lots of pockets.

Well to start, the back system is very good. I mean the way it is curved lets good air flow stopping your back from getting sweaty. The waist pockets are really big, lots of room I found for important things you need at hand.

The walking pole quick storage is a thing of brilliance, you compress the poles and put in the loops freeing your hands to map read etc. and all so the open back pocket, which is separate from the main pockets, is a very good idea. You put your wet tent or wet  clothes. If you lift the top hood underneath is a good size zipped pocket (for first aid, toiletries etc!) there is a whistle on the chest strap. Also on the shoulder strap there is a small pocket, i think it might be for a compass or a small mobile phone etc.

The rucksack i used before was a Golite Jam 50 liter which was great, but i noticed i was prone to a sweaty back in the summer. With the ospre exos 58 with its mesh and curved back this does not happen. You can also see the poles tucked in to the carry straps, which i can't stress how great a feature this is!

After waiting for it to hit the retail stores, I finally purchased this product. However, once loaded, this pack sagged horribly in back, making me feel like I was carrying a bag of rocks, although it was packed well.

The hiking pole attachment on the shoulder strap, cut into my arm, leaving an open wound, something I didn't need on the trail. I had about 22 lbs total in the pack, not even a large load by any standards.

I did like the many features on this pack, including the interior water sleeve, the hip belt pockets, that held everything I wanted them to, the side pockets, which made it simple to get at my water bottles and put them back in.

I love the unisex styling, as not all gals can use a women's specific pack. The hipbelt and shoulder straps were reasonably comfortable.

This pack is plenty big enough to hold anything one would need for a week long+ trip, if packed correctly. However it just isn't the pack for me.

Waited for this pack for months after I read it was coming in January -- finally got one, but it came with a hole in the mesh right above the shoulder straps.

After much tadoo, finally got it repaired (Osprey just stitched the hole closed, I could have done that!!), but now the mesh pockets are fraying around where they are sewed to the zipper. I've used it only on 20 day hikes or so, also I see wear on the bottom where the frame is covered with fabric, even though I'm careful where to set it.

Bummer, Osprey!!!!

Great design, so well thought out. It just didn't fit me (size long). I have a 36" waist, and I thought the belt would cut me in two. Unlike a lot of Osprey packs, you can't change these belts. The pack is working great for a buddy of mine with a 32" waist.

I don't think this will be a very durable pack. I used this pack for one weekend trip, with a load of 22 lbs. When I got back, I noticed that the mesh on the back was beginning to come apart at the side seams.

Comfort-wise, it was okay but not great.