Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Osprey backpacks

BTW Vigil, needed to add, I'm saddened to no end by what Osprey has become. I still have four older Osprey's in the house I use constantly, and have had on the order of at least 15 different Osprey packs over the years. My son's primary pack is an Osprey Crescent 75 from around 10 years ago, my primary pack along with the Bora 80 is an Osprey Crescent 90. I think the design and build quality started downhill sometime after 2003, and the second (and now 3rd) generation of Crescent and Aethers are really nothing compared to the older versions.

In many ways, the lightweight craze is partly/mostly to blame for the demise of pack design.

I have the Aether 70 and I love it. I wouldn't hunt it as I don't think it would perform well with real heavy schit. But for backpacking, I dig.

Female friend uses one as well. She digs it.


Travis

Brad

I don't think it is lightweight craze, since my Silhoutte still is lighter than most of the larger packs. I think I think it is in store comfort, that is the root of it. The current packs feel better with 20 lbs of sand bags for 10 minutes in a store and they require no real fitting.

I have an Aether 85 that has been to hell and back and will be again in a couple weeks for a bighorn sheep. Great supportive pack--best I've had.

As was stated, the hipbelt is stiff; but it fairness it is supposed to be molded to me with Osprey's heat molding system and I haven't done it.

Makes a big difference for sure.


Travis

Vigilguy, I look forward to seeing your store in Utah! Do you know where and when? I'll definitely come by and check it out.

Brad,
Junk? Gimmick laden crap? hmmmm....hardly. Thanks for the laugh, though. While they may not be your favorite, and while they may not fit you well, they are a long ways from being the names you called them.

I've hiked a lot in osprey packs and I have really liked them. I've got a friend who runs a guide service climbing some of the big mountains and they recommend osprey almost exclusively. All of his guides use osprey packs. You can believe that if they felt their gear was compromising their success even by 1% they wouldn't use it.

Take a look at REI's customer ratings of anything osprey:
http://www.rei.com/search?query=osprey
you can do the same with any online retailer. Reviews on these packs are superb.

If you don't like osprey gear, you are in a very small minority. It has been proven in the most treacherous places in the world and people (not named Brad) love it.

Vigil - I say go for it.

You'll be hard pressed to find a pack that works so well for both backpacking needs and hunting needs.
I don't have the dough for many packs, so I use one...the Aether 85.
I had a whole mountain goat in mine last year and had a h*lluva tough hike out. Performed flawlessly with balance and comfort--even with the 100 lbs in it.

I call it like I see it. If the pack didn't cut muster I'd be calling it out here...I have 210 miles on mine from this Summers training for my upcoming Rocky mountain bighorn hunt. I wear it every other day for five miles. It continues to shine.

It also bears a rifle perfectly and still feels very balanced...


For the money it's the best pack out there imho.

VG,

Where will your store be? I'd love to stop by.

I have an Aether and my daughter has an Ariel and we put 20 or so miles in a couple days in the Uintas last week. We both love them. I actually like my Osprey better than the MR I had.

Hauled my daughter everywhere this spring looking for a pack and after trying everything she could get her hands on, she chose the Osprey.

Good Luck with the store.

I still have a small Osprey daypack somewhere in my garage and used the crap out of an Argon for a season. I feel his comments were a bit harsh but I would agree with the essence of Brads opinion and his conclusion.

I liked the fit of the Argon...the daypack not so much. There were some things about the Argon I just couldn't live with. Its likely, a less savvy or less demanding buyer would be happy with the same packs.

broomd, nice goat!

I'd like to see you in that pack standing up, but based on that photo, the pack is far too small for you. Could be wrong though. Have a better pic?

We have been in business for 12 years as a specialty gear outfitter.

www.BearRiverOutfitters.org.

Our store is on 130 South Redwood Road Unit E in NSLC. Still getting it ready. We will have Hilleberg tents on display, as well as Montbell and Valandre' bags.

Thanks for the support!

Thanks for all the comments! I would like to see if I can get my hands on a Osprey demo model and try it out.

I personally use three McHale packs myself, but want to offer a descent production pack with a good reputation in our store, so I certainly appreciate the feedback, positive and negative from everyone.

Not much picwise that really shows the full view of the pack on me, Brad. It fits good and proper, but looks small in the picture. It's also completely empty in the pic, awaiting my boned-out goat. It's comfortable enough that I use it as an oversized day pack.
I'm almost 6'6" and everything on my Aether is as tall/large as one can purchase.

Gotchya. You do look like a big lad!

Do you have a "factory original back" (one that fits the pre-bent stay shape), or do your packs need the stays customized to get a good fit?

Charlie,
I realize it's your website and not mine, but I think you meant ".com" not ".org".

Thanks! What was I thinking? Must've been tired when I typed that! We are doing a major overhaul of our site, and will be launching in September.

www.BearRiverOutfitters.com