Osprey Aura AG 65 Review

The Osprey Aura 65 is one of the most adjustable backpacks we've ever tested. The Aura fits many body types, offers premium comfort features, and offers classic organizational systems.

Comfort

The unique Anti-Gravity (AG) suspension system is the star of this pack. A seamless stretch-mesh back panel wraps onto the hip belt. Not only is this soft, perforated panel incredibly breathable, but by integrating the back panel with the hip belt, the Aura AG is incredibly comfortable to carry. The perimeter frame is superlight, with an adjustable harness and reinforced load-lifter straps.

The hip belt design is another unique aspect of the Aura AG. Unlike many packs where the hip belt moves independently of the rest of the bag, the Aura's hip belt fits into the back panel in a single, integrated design, limiting its outward motion. This seamless construction cradles your hips but makes it challenging to get into the belt. You have to manually pull the hip belts open and wedge yourself between them.

A few of our testers found that the hip belt sits higher in the front than in the back. While the front of the hip belt rides up high and can dig in and pinch the belly, the back of the frame can dig into the derriere of curvier women — this effect was more pronounced with heavier loads. Even though it took some time to fit it correctly, most of our testing team found the hip belt extremely comfortable once it was properly adjusted. The Aura's shoulder straps are well-shaped and breathable for most women, though the narrower harness may not suit those with broader shoulders.

The Aura AG isn't the best at handling heavier loads (40+ pounds), because the suspension system sits away from your back. While this affords superb breathability, other, more stabilizing designs pull the bulk of the weight against your back. We noticed that the top of the pack shifted around when scrambling over uneven terrain, crossing logs, and bending over to pick up trash we found on the trail. While this didn't impact our overall impression of the Aura, it is worth considering if you find yourself on trails that require a lot of dynamic movement.

Ease of Use

The well-placed pockets on the Aura AG offer easy access to your gear on the trail, and the compartments separate trail gear from camp gear so you can set up camp without unloading the entire pack. Storage includes the main pack body, two zippered exterior pockets, and one large mesh stow pocket. Though it provides many storage options, it is relatively simple and easy to use, which we appreciate.

Although the main compartment appears too slim and too curved to fit much, it can, in fact, hold a bear canister vertically, even with a little room to pack around it. (A bear can also fit horizontally in the very bottom of the pack, if that is how you prefer to load your pack.) The main compartment has top and bottom access; the top cinches closed with a drawstring and has a removable brain. The bottom compartment is ideal for a sleeping bag and features a detachable internal separator that lets the main compartment function as one or two chambers.

Our favorite pocket on the pack is the large mesh outer pocket. It stretches out to accommodate extra layers – you can even fit a helmet in there – but remains tight against the pack when empty. We love how the mesh and fabric integrate, enhancing the mesh pocket's durability without compromising volume. Behind this pocket are two surprisingly spacious zippered pockets. The brain has two zipped pockets: a small one on top for storing identification, camera batteries, and other small necessities, and a larger one below that, with enough room for layers, lunch, and more.

The hip belt pockets are huge – they easily fit a smartphone, snacks, and lip balm. The side water bottle pockets fit tall, narrow bottles well, while a wider, Nalgene-type bottle fits snugly. It is easy to access bottles with vertical and horizontal entrances. In the horizontal position, taller bottles get in the way of your elbows, while wide, short bottles are hard to get in and out of.

Weight-to-Volume Ratio

At 4.5 pounds, this pack certainly isn't the lightest in our lineup, but when you want the Cadillac of backpacking packs, all the bells and whistles add up. We measured the main compartment at 40 liters and the lid at 10 liters, for an overall volume of 50 liters before considering additional pockets. Considering this relatively large capacity, it has a very reasonable weight-to-volume ratio.

Supported by fancy suspension and full of plenty of pockets, it's no wonder that the Aura AG is heavier than much of the competition. But the trade-off is a well-ventilated pack with plenty of organizational features and a large capacity. If you know that your gear's weight adds up, opting for a supportive pack like the Aura is likely the right choice.

Adjustability

No matter who you are, the Aura AG's impressive adjustability makes it a great option for pretty much everybody. The suspension system has a sliding adjustment for torso length, and it only takes a few seconds to adjust the shoulder straps. It comes in three torso sizes, yet still offers three and a half inches of torso adjustability within each size, making it even more accommodating.

The hip belt offers one of the widest ranges of adjustability available, making it great for backpackers with fuller hips. For women with larger waists or wider hips, it can be extremely frustrating and uncomfortable when the hip belt padding ends behind your iliac crest. While the webbing is extendable, like most packs, what truly makes this belt stand out is seven inches of adjustable padding. For tall women with small waists, a pack that fits both your torso and hips is hard to find – but you've found one with this pack.

Should You Buy the Osprey Aura AG 65?

Osprey is known for making supremely comfortable backpacks with tons of bells and whistles. The Aura AG delivers all of these attributes and more, but all for a rather high price. If you want a durable pack with a tailored fit and excellent ventilation, the Aura is a great choice.

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