I tested out Osprey’s Aura 65 Backpack on a 5-day hike in Southern Oregon. This was my first time trying out Osprey gear. I have friends who swear by Osprey’s backpacks. They are loyal to the brand, continuing to buy pack after pack over the years. When I asked one friend why she is so loyal, she responded, “Osprey bags have the best fit to my body that no other backpack has been able to match.” Those were some mighty strong words to put out there and so I decided to see for myself.
Now for a bit of background on the backpack. The Aura comes in two sizes, 50 cubic liters and 65 cubic liters. It was recently updated, improving it’s ventilation and suspension capabilities. It features something they call “Fit-On-The-Fly” hipbelt, which allows you to fully adjust the hipbelt to your body. Similarly, it has an interchangeable harness and adjustable torso length. With three different sizes to choose from (S, M, L), you’re bound to find a pack that will be a suitable fit for your body. All three sizes of the pack weigh under 4 pounds, and carries between 3700-4200 cubic inches, making it an excellent backpack for multi-day hiking trips.
A couple of other bells and whistles to note:
- Removable top pocket
- Separate sleeping bag compartment
- Hydration sleeve built-in
- Vertical zip pocket-easy access!
On such a heavy pack the support given from the hipbelt is paramount, and I felt that it was adequately padded and comfortable. I liked having small pockets on the belt itself, it provided easy access to gum and Emergen-C that I stashed there. The bag was easy to load, though as with any time you go backpacking it’s important to organize your gear and think about balancing the weight.
Something I noticed was how strategically placed the straps were. It was easy to tighten or loosen the bag if I had it on my back, and the straps were just where I needed them. It felt like they (the all-knowing pack designers) had thought of all the areas that I would want to tighten or loosen, and then put a strap there for me.
All in all an excellent choice for a multi-day backpacking pack. My one comment would be to be certain to get fitted by a professional before buying the pack. The size of the bag is very important for the correct fit. By taking the time to get fitted before buying a pack, you’ll be that much more happy in the long run (or out on the trail, whichever comes first).
The Aura 65 Osprey backpack can be bought for $192 here on Amazon.