With brand new innovations and the custom fit, this feature rich pack is going to appeal
to a variety of backpackers.
The Osprey Aura AG 65 Pack has got all the innovations that you are looking for from
weekend backpackers to through hikers.
We are going to take a look at all the features to show why we are so excited about this pack.
The first thing to talk about with any backpack is the suspension system and how it carries
the load.
So we are going to flip it around to talk about the very innovative, Anti-Gravity Suspension
system.
So there is the AG in the naming, that stands for Anti-Gravity.
And this is a very innovative suspension system.
It changes the way I have seen backpack suspension in the past.
So just to go through all the features here, the first thing that stood out to me about
this pack was the very broad, breathable mesh that is here in the back panel.
It is a very comfortable mesh and it is a seamless construction.
So if you start here at the top, that mesh starts all the way up at the top of the pack,
makes its way down into the lumbar area of the pack and into the hip belt as well.
So this is one piece of mesh from the top all the way through into the hip belt.
That really hugs your body as you are wearing the pack.
So unlike other packs that may form hot spots in different parts, this is going to conform
to the shape of your back.
It is very breathable mesh, but it is also very durable.
So you have got really broad openings in that mesh that is going to allow warm air to escape
to keep you comfortable when you are hiking and that same mesh is here under the harness.
So in the harness you have really nice padding.
It is perforated, so you have got a lot of breathability there.
But something I love about this harness that is different than what I have seen before
is you have an adjustable back panel here so you can adjust that up and down to have
a perfect fit.
But the load lifter straps are a little broader than I have seen before as well.
And as you tighten in those load lifter straps, this part of the harness really hugs at your
shoulder.
So although there is a difference in fabric here from the harness to the back panel, there
is almost a seamless feel.
So as you cinch down on that and have it really conform to your body, it hugs all the curves
and it definitely fits really well.
So you have custom fit there.
And if I move down to the hip belt, you have custom fit in the hip belt as well.
You can change the diameter of the hip belt.
You can make it longer or shorter, depending on your size.
So that just adds to the custom fit of this pack.
There is a lightweight aluminum frame here and it is out of view, but it comes around
the pack and it really transfers the weight right to your hips.
It is very supportive, but it doesn’t weigh a whole lot.
So really smart feature there.
And I will mention that when you need to adjust the harness, you just have to get a hand on
either side.
There is a buckle on the interior there and you move it up and down, so it is really easy
to adjust.
But once you have it dialed in, it is not going anywhere.
It is going to have a very secure hold.
Underneath of these shoulder straps I want to mention that they bring the seams away
from any point that comes into contact with your body.
They move the seams up to the top so it is really innovative, makes it very comfortable
and, again, really cuts down on hot spots.
The other features on this side of the pack, you have an adjustable sternum strap.
That sternum strap has a whistle on it as well.
You have a hydration port right here in the back, so this is a hydration compatible pack.
You can route the hose on either side to your preference.
On the hip belt you have a pocket on either side.
I have just got a granola bar in this side, so a nice size pocket on the hip belt.
And there is access to the top lid from the back.
So you have a nice open zipper, store light weight gear that you want to get your hands
on quickly.
And then up top I call this a map pocket, because it is pretty shallow, but you have
two different compartments in there.
We will flip the pack around and talk about all the other features.
If I turn the pack to the side here you have got stretchy mesh pockets on both sides here.
We normally call these the water bottle pockets.
You can put your water bottle in this pocket sideways.
That makes it really easy to just reach behind you and grab it when you want it, but you
can also have top entry into this pocket.
So I have got just some tent poles in here to show the depth of this pocket and to show
that these compression straps on the side are great for lashing gear.
You have got one of these stretchy pockets on both sides.
And while I am back here, there are stow on the go trekking pole loops.
This is something I really appreciate about Osprey packs.
If you are hiking along with your trekking poles and just want to put them away for a
short period of time, you don’t have to take you pack off, lash them to the outside.
You can just put them right here and continue hiking.
If I turn the pack to the front, you have to an array of features up here.
And I will mention it is a feature rich pack, meaning you have got a lot of pockets, really
great organization.
But it is not a very heavy pack.
So this is also going to appeal to some ounce counting back packers who are looking for
the innovations with the custom fit and they want to have organization with their pack.
So starting at the top you have a nice lid that we talked about earlier.
This is a floating lid.
So if you are through hiking and sometimes you have a bigger load, sometimes you have
a smaller load, this lid goes up and down and can really cinch down the pack.
There are also compression straps all over this pack.
So if you don’t have it packed out completely like I do today, you can cinch down all of
those compression straps and really secure the load in.
If I peel that lid back, this is a top loading pack.
And the top lid is really easy to open.
It opens up really wide so you can access your gear really easily.
There is a strap here on the top, this red strap, that also compresses the load in.
So it keeps everything exactly where you want it.
And another innovation here that it really like... if you don’t have it packed out
completely like we talked about, you can actually remove that lid.
There is this flap jack, a flap here on the top and all you have to do to use this, turn
these little buckles in-side out and that will protect the top of the pack.
So if you want to leave that at home, if you have a smaller load, you can use this to just
cinch down the top of the pack.
In addition to the top access you have bottom access here with the sleeping bag compartment.
These are really easy to open.
The zipper pulls here are nice and big.
And I have just got a compressed sleeping bag in there.
There is a piece of fabric that compartmentalizes the bottom from the top so you can close that
just so you have to compartments there.
Or, if you have bigger gear, you can open that up.
Moving up here you have two bigger pockets on the front of the pack.
And there are zippered pockets there.
This is a great place for something you want to get your hands on quickly like maybe a
water filter or your stove.
So I have just got some gear in there.
But these pockets are pretty big.
And so if I just reach down, the pocket starts up here and goes most of the way down so where
the sleeping bag compartment starts.
So really great way to organize your gear again two separate pockets.
Right here on the front you have got a stretchy mesh pocket.
I have just got an extra layer in there.
So this is really convenient for lighter weight items and you can see how big that expands.
So nice pocket there.
In addition to all the pockets, you have got areas on the outside of the pack where you
can lash gear.
You have got trekking pole loops here on the outside.
You also have a tool loop on either side, so you can definitely attach an ice axe there.
There are removable sleeping pad straps here on the bottom and those can also act as compression
straps.
From the Anti-Gravity Suspension system to the custom fit hip belt, to all the pockets,
organization and all of the innovations that were put into this pack, you have got attentions
to detail that make a big difference.
This pack is going to appeal to anyone from through hikers to weekend back packers, people
going on expeditions.
This is a great option for the back country.
It is the Osprey Aura AG 65 Backpack.