Companion forum thread to:

Osprey Exos Backpack Review

Will, how does the total storage space of each compare to your Comet? I have a SMD Starlite that works great for winter, but is much too large for my summer loadout. I am trying to decide which size Exos to try, so knowing whether they have more or less space than your Comet would help answer that question.

Tim

So this thing carries the same weight a Mariposa Plus, Comet or Pinnacle does, but weighs and costs quite a bit more. So are all the pockets, and the trampoline really worth the difference?

> So are all the pockets, and the trampoline really worth the difference?

The other major difference is that the exos has an internal frame for supporting the load. The others you mention are frameless packs.

Will, thanks for the review.

Quick question on the fabrics. How are the 70d x 100d shadow-check and 160d x 210d window rip-stop fabrics distributed (is one of them orange and the other grey?). Would you say that this pack is of comparable durability to one made by ULA (with dyneema gridstop)?

>The other major difference is that the exos has an internal frame for supporting the load. The others you mention are frameless packs.

One can argue that Mariposa plus and Comet are internal frame packs. I think using sitpad with Mariposa would give some ventilation too.

I have carried 30-32 lbs comfortably in my Pinnacle pack a couple of times with no trouble at all. The lack of frame does not seem to be a problem to me.

I would not temp fate by trying any more.

As I improve my gear selection for milder weather, my weight is dropping off, and I should be down to about 25 lbs for next summer's trips. I refuse to sleep on a foam pad. :-)

Would a Bearikade Weekender Cannister lay horizontally in the largest Exos pack? (It barely does in the Granite Gear Vapor Trail). How would the Bearikade Expedition Cannister fit vertically in the pack?

Thanks!

The weekender fits nicely into the Exos 58 vertically... something that it didn't do with the Atmos 50. I didn't try it horizontally because I never use it that way... but I think it might fit.

Mark, do you have the largest Exos pack to give it a try? What I hate about vertical placement of the Bearikade is the hassle of how to make use of the space around the cannister, while laying it horizontally, no space is wasted as it consumes the whole circumference of the pack at that point in the pack.

Thanks!

A friend of mine has one. He lives in a difference city. I got to play with it a bit but don't have regular access to it or any real experience yet. I can give him a ring and see if he can try it... though I don't remember if he owns a bearicade or not. I know he has a bearvault he could try.

For me, the canister vertically has worked well because I have some long and reasonable thin items that go up the sides next to the canister, and I like being able to access the contents of the canister without taking it out of the pack.

--mark

I have carried 30-32 lbs comfortably in my Pinnacle pack a couple of times with no trouble at all.

That's encouraging (am waiting for a used Pinnacle to arrive).

I should be down to about 25 lbs for next summer's trips. I refuse to sleep on a foam pad. :-)

Maybe that new thermarest due out in spring will help that situation. But you'd better start saving now, not inexpensive.

Mark, I'm curious -- we all pretty much pack much the same stuff. What is your long and thin stuff that goes alongside the cannister?

Too bad the fit isn't adjustable. My torso size - 17.5" would put me in the "small" size, but my hips are no where near "31." Osprey should realize that women are made differently and we have larger hip sizes for a reason. Also, after having numerous children, not all of our waist sizes return to our college size. Women are really getting into lightweight backpacking, so Osprey - don't forget about US.

>What is your long and thin stuff that goes alongside the cannister

On one side it is shelter (typically gg the one) and on the other a ba clearview. Both are folded to be the same length as the bearicade and go into the corners nearest to my back. Then the bearicade goes in.

--Mark

Mark, what is a "BA Clearview"? Thanks!

I figured it out -- it is this, right?
http://www.bigagnes.com/str_pads.php?bid=8

Edited by marti124 on 11/26/2008 14:38:09 MST.

I'm not used to seeing backpacks go by anything other than torso length. What does "hip larger than 33 in (84 cm)" mean? That is not waist, correct? How does one measure that and what if the hip says "long" but torso length says "medium", then what does one get?

Thanks.

Hi all. Looks like there's lots of good discussion on the New Osprey Exos backpacks. I would like to add a few comments:

Timothy, the Exos 46 is approximate equivalent in volume to the SMD Comet. As you know the actual usable volume of a pack can vary, despite the stated volume. I find the Exos 46 and Comet to have enough volume for a typical lightweight backpacking trip, and can be stuffed to carry the extra food for an extended trip. I managed to get food and gear for an 8-day trip into the Exos 46.

Joe, comparing the Exos with the GG Mariposa, SMD Comet, and GoLite Pinnacle is comparing apples and oranges. I put packs with removable stays into a separate category. With stays in they have an internal frame, but they don't have the comfort and real load carrying capacity as a pack with a built-in internal frame, like the Exos. For a little extra weight you get more comfort. It goes up from there, eg with a Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian you get still more comfort with a little more weight, etc.

Ashley, I would judge the fabrics in the Exos packs adequately durable for lightweight backpacking, with heavier fabrics and reinforcements in wear and stress areas as needed. But they are not as tough as Dyneema Gridstop.

Roleigh, I don't have a Bearikade, so I can't give you a definitive answer. The reason for the hip sizing is the bottom of the pack's frame is contoured to cradle your hip, so they list the maximum hip size each pack will fit.

Best, Will

Will, your comments on the pack are much appreciated at this point. I have both an Atmos 50 for bigger loads and a Talon 30 for lighter ones. While I find the Talon to be excellent, I was never happy with the fit of the Atmos nor how much main bag space is lost with the angled frame. I was looking for a potential replacement, and it sounds like waiting for the release of the Exos was well worth it. It is also good to see that the Exos does not suffer the same problem as both other pack models, with the side pockets being truly accessible with no compression strap running across them.

As an aside to this excellent review - as one of the runners in the Hardrock 100 this year, thanks so much for volunteering!! It sounds like you were at the Pole Creek station? You should have had the Exos pack plopped close to the goodie table; if it caught my eye I probably would gladly have given up a few minutes of race time to ask a few questions about it :-) I truly appreciate you taking time to volunteer and help the runners. Sometime I'd like to spend six days doing 100 miles of trail in beautiful Colorado like you did instead of 30-something hours ;-)

cheers,
Bruce
Delta, BC

I cant wait to see this pack released
i curently own a stratos 32 and an atmos 50.
they are the only packs i can use with the state of my back ( was lucky to survive a speeding car vs bicycle accident )
i cannot for exemple use a talon 44 with a moderate load (6-8kg ).

while the atmos is very confortable, its a pain to get the hottest of my 2 sleeping bag in it
and the maximum i am able to stuff on top of the bag is one week of food.

I am planning a 10 days hike in Greenland next summer, so maybe one of those 2 bags is the solution instead of buying another sleeping bag.
And i would save 300G at leaston the backpack weight.

By looking at the one before last photos, i am impressed by the volume of the 46l one, it looks like it would hold more stuff than my 50l atmos.
I will definitly need to have a look at the 2 bags before choosing.