Located in Southwest Colorado, Osprey is highly respected not only for the top quality packs they make but for the good stewardship they practice with their support of sustainability initiatives and the Leave No Trace program. Osprey’s “Pass on the Passion” program is unique in that you can return your old pack to them which will be donated to one of several organizations and you will receive a 10% refund. You may also get the idea that people love to work for this company and they must since they were named as one of Outside Magazines “Best Places to Work.” They have been around for over 35 years and each and every pack design has passed through the hands of the founder and head designer. This is what I call a “hands-on” approach! This helps make Osprey a leader in their field.
In addition to all of those good social behaviors, the company makes some of the highest quality packs around. Everything from daypacks, backpacks, travel packs and hydration packs can be found under the Osprey product line. The only thing you have to decide is what kind of hiker are you and once you figure that out, you are sure to find a backpack to suit you perfectly.
Osprey has perfected the art of producing a comfortable pack regardless of the kind of outdoor pursuits you participate in. They offer heated custom molding of the hip belts for optimum comfort, ventilated backs on some models, and a cutting edge hydration system which they call Osprey Hydraulics. The hydration system is PVC and BPA free and is built to provide a more stable and comfortable fit while keep the water load balanced and it also is more convenient to slide the resevoir into the pack.
Pack fit is crucial to performance and your comfort. Osprey packs come in multiple sizes so once you’ve decided on the model you need to determine the appropriate size. Make sure to figure out the optimal size for your body type. The recommendation is to measure your torso length or have a friend measure from the top of your hipbones to the bone at the base of your neck. Next, you will need to measure your hip size. The pack should fit comfortably centered over the hip bones and fit snugly with only a 3-6 inch gap between the tips of the pads on the hip belt. Harness sizing usually corresponds to pack size but some models offer interchangeable harnesses. A properly fit harness should terminate 2-3 inches beneath the armpit.
Finally, Osprey offers what they call the All Might Guarantee that states that they will repair for any reason, free of charge any damage or defect in their product no matter when it was purchased. Now that’s confidence in the quality, design and craftsmanship of their products so why wouldn’t you want to purchase a backpack made by such a great company.