Perhaps you are a weekend warrior just looking for some fun and relaxation on the trail with your family. Or you might be an elite mountaineer, aiming to spend weeks or months climbing the most treacherous road up even more dangerous peaks.
You might be packing light, or you might need to think about every ounce of space for the valuables you’ll be hauling on the long journey ahead. There are many things to consider, whether you’re an amateur or an expert hiker.
However, there are some things that should be just plain obvious. For example – the brand of backpack you choose to purchase and carry your essential equipment in. I, for one, am incredibly mindful of the backpack I wear to my weekend-long LARPing tournaments that my college friends and I play out in the far off wilderness.
Something that can carry any items, from foam swords and shields to my roleplaying dice. The backpack should also be able to hold all my essential hiking gear.
In that regard, there should really be no argument or debate.
No matter your experience or the type of trail ahead of you, you can always rely on the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack to bring you and your possessions where you need to go next. Its quality is among the best and that’s why this backpack makes it to our list of top 10 hiking backpack.
Best features of the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack
The Osprey Aether 70L Backpack has been lauded by reviewers as a favorite among hikers, whether they are weekend warriors or seasoned explorers trekking where few humans go. The Osprey Aether 70L Backpack boasts a variety of amazing features that cast a shadow upon all other hiking backpacks on the market.
This backpack comes in three diverse colors: Bonsai Green, Midnight Blue, or Arroyo Red, so you can blend in with any environment.
A support system that brings weight off of your back
This backpack totes a LightWire alloy peripheral-frame suspension system. It’s gender-specific IsoForm CM hip belt and harness adjust and conform to the shape of your body – it’s a comfortable fit no matter whether you are a man or a woman. The ribbed back panel is made of foam, while its grip mesh and is frame sheet reduce your carrying weight with special cut-outs.
The IsoForm Harness is also great – it’s a spacer mesh surface that doesn’t have sewn seams, while it is capable of four inches of careful torso adjustment. Then there’s the hip belt, which contains moldable foam that can be secured with an ErgoPull hip belt closure.
Hydration sleeve quenches thirst and gives convenience
The Osprey Aether Backpack features a 3-liter hydration sleeve, something I believe is crucial for any hiker’s backpack. A person requires at least 2 liters of water per day to remain active and healthy – that extra liter will provide for the additional hydration your moving body is going to need.
Plenty of space means tons of storage options
This Osprey backpack can carry up to 70 liters. It’s recommended by expert hikers that the hiker, whether you’re a minimalist on a short trek or you’re in it for the long haul, carry no more than 30 or 40 pounds in your pack. The Osprey Aether Backpack has plenty of space for that, as well as its superior support system that will distribute that weight from your body and make your journey easier and more comfortable.
Wide variety of pockets for superior organization
With the number of pockets that are featured with this backpack, you’ll never lose track of your items. It has a stretch-woven front pocket that you can adjust, along with dual-access side pockets.
Have a smaller daypack you want to carry as well? The Osprey Aether 70L Backpack has add-on loops, and you can attach a smaller bag to these. It is also built with a Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment, so you don’t have to carry your pole unless you need it on the steeper inclines. Another pair of loops are designed to carry ice axes, which also have bungee tool tie-offs.
This backpack also has a top pocket that you can convert into a lumbar pack, which are available in varying sizes, so your going will be much easier on short, daylong hikes.
With so many storage options, the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack can be taken anywhere – desert, tundra, mountain, or forest, it has no limitations.
How does the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack compare with other backpacks?
When it comes to the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack, there are hardly any other backpacks on the market that can meet its match. You might, for example, take a look at the Osprey Aether 60 Backpack.
While both of these backpacks share similar features, the Osprey Aether 60 Backpack doesn’t have a nearly as advanced or reliable support system as its competitor. Nor do other backpacks carry as much space as 70 liters.
Downfalls of the Osprey Aether Backpack
There are not many pitfalls to list for Osprey Aether Backpack. However, one Amazon reviewer complained that upon the second time using this backpack, the stitching on the zipper flap seam came apart.
While the suspension system is superior to most backpacks on the market, there are a few that some people might prefer – such as another Amazon reviewer, who favored the support system of the Gregory Baltoro 75 just a little more. This is a very slim and tall pack, so some users (especially tall people) could find the curves to be a little bit bothersome.
Video Review
Final thoughts
The Osprey Aether 70L Backpack totes an impressive number of features, all for an incredibly reasonable price range. If you aren’t certain about your future, and you want to be prepared for any hiking or another sort of outdoor situation, the Osprey Aether Backpack – with its great support system, comfortable straps, smart pockets, and that essential hydration sleeve – is going to be your best bet. Purchase the Osprey Aether 70L Backpack here before summer begins.
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