Osprey Aether 65 Review

The Osprey Aether 65 may be among the heaviest packs in our review, but it knows how to carry a load. With its Fit on the Fly shoulder strap pads, hip belt, and adjustable torso length, you can dial in the fit for maximum comfort while walking down the trail. Osprey has always been a household name in top quality backpacks, and with this addition, they continue to build on what works.

Comfort

The Aether 65 has a sturdy suspension system that can carry heavy loads while still allowing ventilation. The Airscape back panel features dense foam that supports the back and creates plenty of space for air to pass through. This is all covered by a mesh that keeps your shirt from filling the gaps that would block airflow.

The injection-molded frame sheet is very sturdy and runs the length of the back panel to a lumbar pad, creating a comfortable contact point where the load is properly transferred to the hips. When the hip belt is cinched tight, this extra lumbar padding supports the lower back, providing a close-to-the-body feel. The only downside is that the attached hip belt can cause the pack to sway side to side while you walk and flex your hips. This effect is more noticeable when the load is heavier and bulkier.

The shoulder straps on this pack feature a soft, supportive foam on the upper shoulders that tapers down to an adjustable, dense foam. This extra cushion at the apex of the shoulders helped keep the pack comfortable during extended use under heavy loads.

Ease of Use

The Aether 65 makes accessing your gear a breeze, whether inside or out. It is an excellent choice if you find it as hard as we do to see that other camp sock in the dark abyss of your pack. Also, all of the straps and buckles ensure that your gear is always secure.

The pack has three entry points, making it easy to grab precisely what you need from inside. It's quick to load using the top drawstring opening. But once everything is inside, we find it's easiest to access the main compartment through the large front zipper. This large opening makes it quick to grab a rain jacket or mid-layer when the weather turns. The huge zipper panel allows access to everything in the pack above the sleeping bag compartment.

The third opening is the sleeping bag compartment, which allows access to the bottom compartment. Storing your sleeping bag separately keeps it safe and clean from the rest of your gear. If your sleeping bag is small enough, this space is also perfect for camp clothes. The flap separating the compartments can be opened if you prefer a non-divided pack.

The shove-it front pocket features reinforcement, ensuring the elastic will not develop holes. While this doesn't allow it to stretch as much as some packs, it's still useful for a wet ground sheet or to throw a jacket in after the first climb of the day. Two compression straps go over the shove-it pocket and are great for keeping all of your gear nice and secure. They can also perform double duty by lashing camp shoes or dirty socks to the pack.

The hip belt pockets on this pack can fit several bars, a phone, and chapstick. We appreciate how smoothly the zipper opens and closes with one hand, allowing us to grab a snack without having to stop and either tuck or put our trekking poles down. For larger quick-access items, the top lid has two zipper pockets, providing an ideal space for a headlamp, sunscreen, and toilet paper. The top zipper pocket has an included rain cover inside, which takes up most of the room but can be moved to the pack's main body to free up the pocket.

The dual-access water bottle pockets keep a bottle very secure, with no risk of dropping it when bending over. They are convenient to grab a bottle out of, but any bottle taller than a Nalgene touches your side when leaning forward. If the bottle is left upright, it is still easy to retrieve with one hand, but you will need to use both hands to return the bottle to the pocket.

Weight-to-Volume Ratio

Tipping the scale at a hefty 5 pounds, the Aether 65 is one of the heaviest packs we tested. Though its beefy suspension and reinforced features make it heavy, they also keep it comfortable under heavy loads. This pack forgoes weight savings by adding reinforcements to the back and side stretch pockets, thereby increasing the product's lifespan.

With such a feature-loaded pack that is so adjustable, it's no surprise that the weight adds up. We found that even though it starts at a disadvantage, it can handle the penalty and still carry heavy loads.

Adjustability

The Aether 65 is the only pack we tested that allows you to lengthen the padding on the shoulder straps, extending that cushioning down to get the perfect custom fit. While wearing the pack, you can un-velcro the cushioning and adjust its length using Osprey's Fit on the Fly system. We found this feature to be convenient to adjust and a nice step up to dial in the pack's fit.

The torso length adjuster is a slide lock and webbing that can be tightened or loosened to match your height. We measured its vertically adjustable range at 4 inches.

The pack also features a Fit on the Fly hip belt that functions similarly to the shoulder strap. It is easy to adjust and offers a wide range for different body types.

Should You Buy the Osprey Aether 65?

A good backpack is an investment that will last for years to come. The Aether 65 has awesome features to dial in the perfect fit for every user, is made with high-quality materials, and can comfortably carry a ton of weight. If you're planning long backpacking trips with a lot of gear, this backpack is worth considering.

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