
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is the pack that changed the game forever by popularizing the trampoline back panel. To this day, it remains one of our favorite backpacks. It is the real deal for any length of backpacking trip. Its overall design is user-friendly, with well-thought-out pockets to stay organized. The Anti-Gravity suspension is extremely comfortable, even after hours on the trail.
Comfort
The Atmos is an incredibly comfortable pack. The AG or Anti-Gravity suspension uses a suspended trampoline mesh. This feature is fairly common, but the AG takes it one step further. Not only is the entire back panel suspended, but the hip belt also adds to that hip-hugging feel.
The results impressed us. Despite some initial skepticism, most of our testers agreed that this design distributed weight across our backs and waist quite well for moderate loads. This eliminates hot spots, pressure points, and other high-friction areas. The shoulder straps also have effective padding. They are thicker around your shoulders, tapering to a thinner, more perforated design around the mid-chest.
Not only is the padding thicker, but it is also pleasantly cushy. It strikes a delicate balance of being soft enough to conform to the wearer's shape (a good thing) without being too soft. However, the shoulder straps are a bit too cushy when the weight is over forty pounds. We then noticed an obvious lack of weight distribution.
The back panel is exceptionally well-ventilated. It's an excellent choice for warmer adventures or for those who tend to get sweaty. The Anti-Gravity suspension is used on the back panel and the hip belt, creating exceptional breathability and setting the Atmos apart from most other contenders.
The LightWire tensioned peripheral frame is moderately stiff and extremely effective at transferring loads up to forty pounds. However, above 50 pounds, it starts to feel “mushy,” as one tester puts it, and doesn't feel as comfortable as some other models. We found that packs with a more traditional suspension perform better with heavier loads.
Ease of Use
The Atmos is one of our favorite all-around designs. It has a rich array of pockets, adequate access, and many other great features. The oversized zippered hip belt pockets were a favorite feature and some of the biggest in our review.
The Atmos has plenty of access to the main compartment, through the top, the bottom sleeping bag compartment, and even through long side zippers. The waist belt pockets easily accommodate items like a smartphone and snacks and feature a design that makes opening and closing them while hiking easy.
Our reviewers' opinions were mixed on the dual-sided mesh water bottle pockets. On the one hand, they allow you to insert water bottles either vertically or angled forward, making them accessible without having to remove the pack. On the other hand, tall bottles encroach on our natural elbow path of motion, and they require two hands to load, which can be slightly tricky.
One of our favorite features was the stretchy mesh “stuff it” pocket. This pocket is perfect for spare layers, camp sandals, fuel bottles, and other awkwardly shaped items. Wrapping around the mesh beavertail pocket, you'll find two decent-sized zippered pockets. These pockets enhance the pack's ability to keep us organized. It also features a lower zippered sleeping bag compartment with a removable divider. The two compression straps that cover the sleeping bag compartment are big enough to hold a large, closed-cell foam pad.
The top lid features two zipper pockets, and its floating design allows it to be removed, enabling it to be left behind to save weight. However, if you do this, you won't have anything to cover the cinch-top opening, so we don't recommend this strategy for saving weight with this particular pack.
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
At just over four and a half pounds, the Atmos is about the average weight for full-featured backpacking packs.
While the Atmos is hardly “ultralight,” it has a respectable weight and gives up virtually nothing in comfort or features. The suspension system is also far superior in many ways when compared to some of its competitors. Still, it isn't the lightest pack by any means, especially considering the amount of gear it carries. If you are looking for the lightest pack that can carry forty-plus pounds, others outperform it.
Adjustability
The Atmos is available in three sizes and features Osprey's Fit on the Fly adjustment system. This system offers a good vertical range when adjusting the shoulder straps (approximately four inches of vertical play), allowing you to dial in the perfect torso length for your specific needs.
This pack also features a hip belt with up to six inches of adjustment to fit a wide range of waist sizes. This range optimizes the comfort of the hip belt and ensures adequate coverage of the wearer's iliac crest to minimize hot spots. However, when loads get above the forty-pound range, the hip belt isn't quite rigid enough to support the added weight.
Several of our testers used the Atmos AG 65 in the field, and this pack fits most people really well. We spoke with several local outdoor shops about their experiences fitting people with the Atmos. All the shops we spoke to confirmed that it fits most people fantastically, regardless of their body shape. The ability to dial in the fit is one of the reasons so many of our testers found it to be one of the most comfortable packs in our review.
Should You Buy the Osprey Atmos AG 65?
The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is an exceptionally comfortable and well-ventilated pack that has most of the features our testers love. For moderate weights of forty pounds or less, it is one of the more comfortable packs in our review. For warm-weather hikers, this pack also offers an unprecedented amount of ventilation and is worth considering if you spend many days in hot climates.
What Other Backpacking Backpacks Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a lighter, more minimal backpacking backpack, check out the feature-filled Granite Gear Blaze 60 or the simple but useful Ultralight Adventure Equipment Catalyst. If you're looking for a similarly designed pack that can handle more weight, we recommend the burly Osprey Aether 65.
Compare to Similar Products
![]() This Product
Osprey Atmos 65 AG | |||||
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Awards | ![]() Best for Superior Comfort | ![]() Best Overall Backpacking Backpack | ![]() Best Lightweight Support for Long Distances | ![]() Best Bang for the Buck | ![]() Best for Carrying Heavy Loads |
Price | $295.47 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $164.97 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $320 List | $199 List $199.00 at REI | $280.00 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This now classic pack offers incredible ventilation, an awesome set of pockets, and a hug-like suspension | This super-light pack caries loads like a pro and has just about every feature you could ever want | This comfortable yet supportive pack has an extremely functional set of features and is one of the lightest in our test | The Flash 55 is a great value, with excellent features and a great weight to volume ratio at an affordable price | This heavier but more comfortable pack provides great support for larger loads |
Rating Categories | Osprey Atmos 65 AG | Granite Gear Blaze 60 | Ultralight Adventur... | REI Co-op Flash 55 | Osprey Aether 65 |
Comfort (40%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Weight-to-Volume Ratio (20%) | |||||
Adjustability (15%) | |||||
Specifications | Osprey Atmos 65 AG | Granite Gear Blaze 60 | Ultralight Adventur... | REI Co-op Flash 55 | Osprey Aether 65 |
Measured Weight | 4.6 lb | 3.0 lb | 2.8 lb | 2.8 lb | 5.0 lb |
Advertised Volume | 65 L | 60 L | 75 L | 55 L | 65 L |
Weight per Liter | 1.13 oz/L | 0.80 oz/L | 0.60 oz/L | 0.81 oz/L | 1.23 oz/L |
Organization Compartments | Lid, front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Lid, front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets | Lid, front mesh pockets, 2 side pockets per side, hip belt pockets, shoulder strap pocket | Lid, front pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets |
Access | Top, sides, bottom | Top, front | Top | Top | Top, front, bottom |
Hydration Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Materials | Main: 210D recycled honey comb nylon Accent: 210D high tenacity recycled nylon Bottom: 500D high tenacity recycled nylon |
100D robic nylon w/ DWR coating | 400 Robic fabric | Main: 100D ripstop nylon Bottom: 420D nylon |
420HD nylon, DWR treatment |
Measured Volume (main compartment) | 50 L | 58 L | 55 L | 45 L | 45 L |