Osprey Atmos AG 65L Men's Backpacking Backpack, Black, S/M

After 28 years, I finally retired my Camp Trails 75-liter pack. It's still got plenty of life left in it, but I was ready for something with a more advanced suspension system and compatible with hydration packs.A few years ago, I bought my son the Osprey Atmos AG 50 and was so impressed that I concluded that the Atmos AG 65 would be my next pack. Finally pulled the trigger this year, and am thoroughly pleased.Things I love:1) Fit and Comfort. I'm a big fan of the AG suspension system. It's easy to adjust and effectively distributes the weight. It really does make the pack feel lighter than it is.2) Integral Rain Cover. When the rain lets loose on the trail, it's so nice to just unzip the bottom pouch and pull the rain cover over the pack. When the rain subsides and the cover is dry, just fold it up and zip it back in its dedicated pocket. It's tethered with a lanyard inside the pouch, but you can remove it if you need to.3) Organization and Access. I like that you can access the main compartment through either side. The sleeping bag compartment is just the right size for my bag, pad, and pillow. The stretchy outer pouch is great for quick stowing of a hoodie or boonie hat. There are enough pockets to be thoughtful about organization but not so many that it's needlessly complex.4) Torso size adjustment is stupid easy.Some misses:1) The waistband pocket zippers won't zip closed one-handed, no matter how I try (they curve up and then down again instead of being straight). Kind of a hassle to have to use two hands to close it up. This may vary from pack to pack as another family member with an Atmos AG 65 pack could zip them up one-handed. His was a Large size, so maybe they have different pocket dimensions.2) The bottom of the pack is not flat, so you can't stand it up on the ground -- it has to be leaned up against something, and even then, it wants to tip over or slide out from under itself.Niggles:1) I think I would have preferred dedicated water bottle pouches on each side instead of the dual-access stretchy pouches. They work, though (I use them for sunscreen and bug spray).2) The edges of the brain don't have a hem that extends down for a tidy mating between it and the main compartment (loved that about the old Camp Trails pack). It doesn't affect function, but it just doesn't look as tidy when cinched.3) Not super keen on the color options. Would like to have a grey option, like the women have with the Aura AG 65.4) It's a bit of a pain to adjust the straps on the brain because they're underneath. Similar nuisance for the "removable" divider between the main and bottom compartments (have to unzip the side access zipper to get to it, and it's not a buckle -- you have to thread the webbing).5) The strap to hold the hydration bladder could stand to be a little longer so it can sit lower, making more room for the tube to go through the opening in the pack. (I'm using CamelBak hydration bladders; did NOT like the fold-over-style Osprey bladder. At all.)Style Points:1) Emergency whistle molded into the chest strap buckle.2) Waistband cinches pull forward instead of backward. I makes it easier to take up all the slack.3) Mesh suspension system provides some breathability between the pack and me.4) The pull tab on the main compartment cinch makes it so easy to fully open with one pull.All in all, it's fantastic pack. Just returned from a trip to Red Castle Lake via the Bald Mountain Trail from East Fork Blacks Fork on the north slope of the Uinta mountains in Utah. It's 10 miles each way with about 2,300 feet of elevation gain and every type of weather. This pack was comfortable the whole way, stayed dry in the rain, and carried everything I needed with ample room.If it has the longevity of the pack it replaced, I'll be a happy camper! Hah...hahah...Other info in case it's helpful:I'm 5' 10" and 155 lbs and chose the Small/Medium. My total pack weight was 35 lbs (41 if you count my camera, two lenses, and two spare batteries).Primary gear included:> North Face Stormbreak II (love this little tent).> Kelty Cosmic 20 sleeping bag (in a 10L REI compression sack -- so tiny!)> Therm-a-Rest X-Therm NXT sleeping pad.> Trekology Aluft 2.0 pillow.> MSR WindoPro II stove and fuel.> Generic Amazon ditty bags of various sizes (brilliant for organizing stuff)> Sawyer Squeeze water filtration kitAgain -- bag, pad, and pillow all fit easily within the sleeping bag compartment of the pack.

Both the Atmos AG 50 and 65 are amazing backpacks ... they feel lighter (anti-gravity feature), allow good air flow on your back, and seem to have more space than other backpacks with similar volume ratings. Osprey is absolutely the best. My first Osprey was the Exos 48, which I bought for its ultra-light-weight feature. It is indeed ultra-light, but unsuitable for carrying more than 20-25 lb ... in fact, I think it's downright unsafe. So, I moved 'up' to the Atmos AG 50 and 65. The only difference is volume; I use the 50 for 3-day hikes, and the 65 for anything longer. They're water resistant, but also have built-in rain covers. The bottom compartment is ideal for tent and sleeping bag, readily accessible for quick camp setup. I really like having both the internal hydro-pack system AND the 2 easily accessible external pockets for water bottles. Regardless of how much water I'm carrying (up to 5 liters), I divide it between those 3 containers, giving me ready access to both methods of carrying drinking water. But most of all, the Osprey AG packs are just downright comfortable, with a perfect combination of being rugged yet lightweight.

I am a novice backpacker. I borrowed packs for the first few hikes then tested a few more. Of all of them, this pack fit the best and distributed the load in a way that feels that I'm hardly carrying any weight. I used this on a 10-mile, 3-day hike, with a thousand feet or so of elevation gain. There was no trouble at all; no chafing, no sore spots, no constant adjusting. I'm quite pleased with the fit.For reference, I'm 5'8" of normal build and of retirement age. I tested the small size but found that the height adjustment had to be at the top of its range, and the pack felt a bit confining. With the large, the height adjustment is at the bottom, and the pack seems to fit just right. It would be nice if there was a medium, so the height could be set in the middle of the range, but the large works well enough.The pack was plenty large for a two-night stay, even for a newbie like me who brought too much stuff. I expect it to be even better as I learn to bring less. My inexpensive tent is a bit large, so I had to strap it to the bottom of the pack. The straps provided for this purpose worked like a charm. The pack has the main bag and two layers of pockets on the back. (There is no side access to the main bag as on some packs.) I found the back pockets a handy place to stash items needed while hiking, and to organize stuff sacks at the camp site. The side pockets are large enough for bicycle-style water bottles.Overall, I'm quite pleased with the pack. It wasn't the cheapest option out there, but it earned its price in terms of capacity and comfort.

I haven't actually hiked with it yet, but I'm pretty much in love with it already. I've been gearing up, and working on getting a base weight of 25-30 pounds which this handles no problem, of course. I love how you can access the main compartment from top and both sides.And the outer pockets and additional storage are well laid out. It's truly designed so well I'm having difficulty criticizing it. It's actually my first real backpack, so I don't have much frame of reference, but I can say that loaded up with 30 pounds, It feels surprisingly light on my back.I'm 5'5" and male, by the way. I'm still dialing in the torso length adjustment but seems to be a good fit for my body (the small/medium 65 L)Oh and I didn't even know about Osprey's "almighty guarantee" before buying the Atmos but it certainly sweetens the deal! You can return the bag any time, no receipt, and they'll send it back repaired (you pay shipping). That's pretty sweet! And pretty much means I'll never have to buy another one!

Capable and reliable. Very comfy