Having a bad backpack can be an absolute misery, we know because we’ve had several! Not only are cheap backpacks deeply uncomfortable, but they can also cause long term damage. That’s why finding the right backpack is critical, particularly if you will also be using it for over night hiking.
It’s fair to say that we’ve been through our fair-share of crappy packs. The ones which seem ok at first, and then you realise soon that your neck is in agony and the pain in your shoulders is excruciating….. and you’ve only had it on for 10 minutes.
That’s why we took the plunge and decided to invest (this is most definitely not a sponsored review). We’d heard the positive feedback for Osprey as a brand and we’re here to jump on the bandwagon.
Once you try the Aether 60 you won’t turn back. Here’s why we love it and what you’ll be getting if you decide to invest.
The Osprey Aether 60 pack in the wilds of New Zealand
Osprey Aether 60 backpack review
We purchased the Aether 60 before embarking on doing all 9 Great Walks of New Zealand. We needed a pack that would hold all our gear for over 30 days, that we could carry up mountains and importantly, that it would be comfortable.
We also needed the pack to double up as a suitcase for our trip around the world. It needed to be hardy enough to take being thrown on the top of buses in Asia, handled by airport baggage handlers and withstand the rough and tumble of travelling on a budget.
Here’s how we found the pack.
Features
60 litre capacity
Mouldable waist strap
Lightweight, but durable material
Multiple zips to access the main compartment in different areas
Compartment for water bladder and loops to attach hiking poles
Several clips to attach sleeping mats, bags or additional items
Removable top lid
Pros
Very comfortable
Mouldable waist belt
Lots of space
Very durable
Ventilated back, making it good for warm climates
Great for multi-day hiking
Osprey Lifetime Guarantee
Cons
Not waterproof (requires a raincover)
Zips on the side pockets sometimes just open up
You can see what our pack looks like from A LOT of usage below! Still going strong, and we’ll use this until it literally falls apart.
The Osprey Aether 60 still going strong
Space
So the Aether 60 is (surprise surprise) 60 litres big, which is plenty of space for longer trips. We were able to squeeze in two sleeping bags, food, clothes and power cords into this pack with plenty of room to spare!
The only other large compartment is the top, which can fit in a reasonable amount, but compresses once you clip it onto the main pack so it doesn’t sit too high. The waist strap has a couple of side pockets which are useful for small items like keys and your wallet. The talon also has a slide in compartment for a water bladder pack.
Personally, I don’t think I would need a bigger pack, as this is one of the bigger ones on the market! I would be looking at what I was packing, rather than thinking I didn’t buy a big enough pack!
You can also attach sleeping mats and other equipment to the back of the pack, so they don’t have to take up space inside.
The straps on the Aether 60 - the most comfortable we’ve tried
Comfort
This is the major pro of this backpack, and a big reason I bought it. We do a lot of hiking up mountains, which means that a full backpack puts even more weight on your body. If you have a bad pack, everything will rest on your shoulders, which can be very damaging.
Having a pack that ergonomically worked with my body was important, as the last thing you want is to be incredibly sore on day one of a five day trail.
The Osprey Aether 60 has this covered. The most impressive part is the waist belt. This can be moulded to your waist, so it fit like a glove. This is really important as it distributes the weight to your waist and more evenly across your body.
You will need to take the pack to your nearest Osprey stockist that has the oven that allows it to be moulded to you. It doesn’t take long and it makes the world of difference, you can learn more about it here.
You can also raise the shoulder straps up and down the pack to fit your height, as well as tightening and loosening accordingly.
Another benefit which you notice once you start using it, is the ventilated back. Until this pack, getting a really sweaty back was pretty standard. However, this rarely happens with the Aether. It’s particularly important if you plan on hiking or travelling in warm climates.
Durability
We’ve had the Aether 60 for a while, and it has really been put through its paces, so we can comprehensively tell you about the durability. We can confidently tell you that this pack can take a lot of wear and tear.
The only thing that has managed to damage it was a squirrel at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, that could smell food in the pack! I think the pack can be forgiven for being torn by a hungry animal with sharp teeth!
Otherwise the pack has withstood everything we’ve thrown at it. Osprey also has a lifetime guarantee for replacing packs that fall apart from fair wear and tear. This doesn’t extend to squirrels, but should reassure you that these packs are made to last.
The result of leaving food in the top when a hungry squirrel is around…..
Problems with the Aether 60
Call me a novice, but one of the things I wasn’t expecting was for the pack to not be waterproof! For the pricetag, we just assumed that all backpacks were naturally made to be water resistant. It means you’ll have to buy a rain cover and probably a pack liner too if you might experience heavy rain. We were told this is standard for most packs, but it seems to be a strange feature in 2020!
A small problem is also that the zips on the pockets on the waist strap begin to eventually open up. After a lot of use, the zips have degraded, but it’s not a significant problem (and it wasn’t a major part of the pack for me).
Should you buy? Yes!
The Aether 60 has been a game changer. I genuinely haven’t experienced any of the back and shoulder pain that has been an issue with other packs, including when I’ve used it on multi day hikes.
Having used many other brands before Osprey, we can honestly say that they pale in comparison. Just make sure you don’t have food in it when there are hungry squirrels around….
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If you’re thinking of buying this pack and have any questions, feel free to ask away!
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