REASONS TO BUY
Sensational comfort and back breathability
Tons of organizational pockets
Perfect for those getting into the ultralight lifestyle
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier than other ultralight packs
Mesh back may have durability issues
Osprey Exos Pro 55 Review
An excellent pack for those who want to move up from a conventional backpack, but don't want to lose out on creature comforts
The Exos is a great pack for dipping your toes into the ultralight world.
Credit: Justin Simoni
By Justin Simoni ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 18, 2023
RELATED: The Best Ultralight Backpack
Our Verdict
What if there was an ultralight-enough backpack for enthusiastic backpackers who want a turn-key solution that has enough room for their gear, has the features they want, and truly is light enough not to notice on one's back? We've just described the Osprey Exos Pro 55 in a nutshell, one of our favorite packs for a lightweight, full set of features. We truly enjoyed this against-the-ultralight-grain pack for what it brings to the table that other packs fail to achieve — a complete package with a shallow learning curve right out of the gate. Chances are, if you're a hiking fanatic, you're already familiar with Osprey's unique harness system featured in the Exos Pro with a feather-light build. Our ultralight pack review shows how it stacks up versus competing products.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Looking to dive into ultralight backpacking without getting rid of all the creature comforts you're accustomed to in your more draft horse-like pack? The Osprey Exos Pro 55 may be your ticket to ride. Featuring design and features borrowed heavily from Osprey's more conventional lineup, this pack utilizes much more bantam materials. It's effortless to start using while also having the ability to grow with you after you've got some serious trail miles under your feet.
Testing out the Osprey Exos Pro off the Colorado Trail on 11,000'+ Georgia Pass on a very chilly early spring morning.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Comfort
It's hard to compete with the comfort of the Osprey Exos Pro 55. Thanks to Osprey's signature tensioned mesh back panel, the pack's weight is pulled directly off your back and down onto the hip belt, which allows for better air circulation.
If you're familiar with Osprey's more conventional packs, this uses a similar solution that the designers somehow slimmed down to fit into this ultralight category. The hip belt is also far more integrated into the pack than others in this roundup, which may help get that feeling of the pack “hugging” your whole body rather than just resting on your hips.
A comfortable pack like the Exos Pro 55 makes for a happy, trail-eating hiker.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Load lifters on the shoulder straps help adjust the pack when food stores dwindle. The manufacturer claims 30 pounds is the Exos Pro load limit, but I went far over this in lab testing and on multiday trips with little protest from my back. The tensioned back panel solution to the comfort problem does come at a slight cost of weight, as this pack is a little heavier than its closer to cottage-company brethren.
Ample side pockets put your gear close at hand, and are even easy to access while wearing the pack, no advanced yoga practice required.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Ease of Use
“Welcoming” could be a good adjective for the Osprey Exos Pro 55. Hip belt pockets and side pockets are easily accessible for taking things out of the pack without having to take the pack itself off, which can speed up snack time. The top lid reveals the main pack body with a few buckle removals, and the main pack body itself has a simple cinch to keep things securely enclosed. The rigidity of the back helped keep the main pack body in place as I rummaged through looking for a puffy.
The lack of modular components that can be removed from the pack — only the lid is removable — means that there are fewer things to worry about having to tweak. The only detail I puzzled over is the main pack body's lash points around the center pocket, which are oriented at an angle rather than horizontally.
Lash points around the center pocket work well to carry additional gear, like these snowshoes. I do wish they were oriented horizontally to make the threading of my Voile Straps straighter.
Credit: Justin Simoni
These lateral straps worked great when I had gear attached via a carabiner but weren't as useful if I wanted to lash larger items, like snowshoes, an extra stuff sack, or a bear canister over the center pocket. The Exos Pro is what I grab when a friend wants to borrow a pack from me; it works well and there's no real learning curve.
The Osprey Exos Pro 55 can be worn without its lid, but the back padding, harness and hip belt can't be removed.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
With so many features and creature comforts, I was interested to measure the total weight and weight-to-volume ratio for the Osprey Exos Pro 55.
I measured weight at 30.4 ounces (862 grams), and the volume of the main compartment at a respectable 46 liters. Over 10 additional liters of gear can fit into the 2.8-ounce (79 grams) removable lid. Unlike many other packs in this roundup, the hip belt, the back padding, and the frame cannot be removed from the Exos Pro to cut down pack weight.
Using hundreds of ping pong balls and an enormous “graduated cylinder”, I measured the internal volume of the main compartment to be approximately 46 liters.
Using the advertised volume and measured weight, the weight-to-volume ratio comes to 0.6 ounces per liter. In the cutthroat world of ultralight backpacks, this is only just above average of all the packs in our lineup. Given the more conventional design decisions and all the built-in niceties, this is pretty commendable, as other packs often have to strip away many features one may be counting on.
Side pockets of the Exos Pro were some of the most voluminous of any pack I tested.
Along with the main compartment and lid, the Exos Pro 55 offers even more with generous side and center stretchy mesh pockets and one zippered and one zipperless hip pocket. I was able to stuff each side pocket with five 700-milliliter Smartwater bottles, or with my camp stove, a 1-liter pot, and two 8-ounce fuel canisters. Each hip pocket held about 0.5 liters, the equivalent of four Clif Bars.
I measured the volume of the Exos hip belt pockets at approximately half a liter each, or four Clif bars.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Although the weight-to-volume ratio is average compared to other packs in this roundup, the features and creature comforts are well above. It will be up to you to decide if those extra grams are worth it.
The top lid is removable -- one of the few things you can take off this bag -- but it does come in handy when moving the pack around camp or on a break, acting as a useful handle.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Adjustability
The Osprey Exos Pro 55 is available in two sizes. A “women's body style” model, the Osprey Eja, is also available — one of the few ultralight packs available in different body styles. Torso length is highly adjustable on this pack and took me only a few minutes to dial in. The shoulder straps also feature load lifters. Unlike many of the packs I tested, the hip belt, harness system, and internal frame are not removable.
The single feature that is removable is the top lid. The top lid is the first thing I strip off the Exos Pro for shorter trips. The organizational space is great, but it's usually not needed unless I'm going on a larger trip or guiding, and I need to keep things like a satellite phone or a large first aid kit at-hand. Given the many features that can't be removed from this pack, it makes it less attractive to use for lighter loads or as a day pack than many other packs in our lineup. You'd be better served with a smaller pack for such adventures.
I could fit a bear canister fairly securely between the top of the pack and the lid, but then it wasn't easy to use the pockets in the lid itself.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Lash points are available on the pack's exterior around the center pocket and on the top of the lid. Ice axe loops are also attached to the back. A bear canister can fit between the top of the pack and the lid if you prefer not to stow it within the pack itself.
Alpine adventures are a treat with the Exos Pro 55.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Should You Buy the Osprey Exos Pro 55?
For folks counting ounces (but not grams), this is an excellent option for a new ultralight pack for multiday trips. Others who require good back ventilation will cheer that Osprey makes this breathable pack as an option for the ultralight crowd. As long as you don't need a pack that's versatile for overnights and can strip down for day hikes, even seasoned ultralight packers should give the Exos Pro a serious look.
Carrying heavier loads for winter conditions is very manageable with the Exos Pro.
Credit: Justin Simoni
What Other Ultralight Backpacks Should You Consider?
The Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 is another great starter pack with the legs to take you several thousand miles further once you've graduated from your Padawan status. The Granite Gear Crown3 60 is a worthy contender, with ample back padding, a removable lid, and many features you can use or remove as you dial in your trail system. The Six Moon Designs Swift V is another solid choice, especially if your gear isn't yet optimized to all fit into the main compartment and you need a little more capacity.
Three cheers for ultralight backpacks from the highest point of the Continental Divide, Grays Peak!
Credit: Justin Simoni
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Osprey Exos Pro 55 versus top competing products:
—Justin Simoni
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