Jul 10
6
Osprey Atmos 50-Available in Aspen Gold,Graphite Gray or Green Apple
If you’ve been exploring the outdoors for a while, it’s likely you know exactly what you want out of your backpack. High capacity, strong suspension, versatility and comfort — the Atmos 50 will fit the bill perfectly.
When you’re planning on doing a lot of day hiking and want a pack that’s super light, well organized and built to let air circulate across your back, the Osprey Atmos 50 deserves your attention.
The lightweight Atmos 50 backpack has been overhauled this year to rest closer to the back, providing a better fit while upholding its unsurpassed reputation for breathe-ability. Osprey’s well-known Airspeed suspension offers a flexible but strong internal frame that distributes the load comfortably and keeps weight spread across the hips, not on your shoulders.
The most important thing to know about the Osprey Atmos 50: it’s a hiking backpack. Use it for an overnighter or weekend trip if you wish, but keep the load under 30 lbs. or you’ll turn this well-constructed, lightweight pack into an uncomfortable and over-stressed book bag.
A Great Weekend Pack
That’s not a knock on this backpack’s quality; it’s an affirmation of its intended design. The Osprey Atmos 50 is a perfect weekend pack.
So let’s get to the features that make this an outstanding pack for day hiking. Says a reviewer from Atlanta: “I love the compartments on the outside. They are constructed to flow perfect with the pack. Nothing sticks out to get hung on a low hanging branch or a narrow trail.
The odd shaped interior compartment is cool. My down bag, tent, and clothes conformed exactly to the bag. There were plenty of compression straps to keep everything tight. The H20 compartment worked just as expected.”
Created with organization in mind, the Atmos 50 has seven pockets in addition to the top-loading main compartment. Stash your gear where you need it most — whether that’s in the front slash pockets, front and side storage pockets or the zippered mesh cubbies on the hipbelt.
You can attach your trekking poles while you’re on the move using an external attachment loop, and, of course, there are ice axe tool loops and bungee tie-offs for extra gear.
Your hydration bladder slides into the space behind the mesh back panel and can be accessed with built-in drinking tube portals. If you need a sleeping pad, removable straps make it possible to lash it onto your pack while keeping the Atmos snug against your body.
Short Excursion Perfect Backpack
It’s important to repeat that Osprey crafted this super light pack (it averages 3.5 lbs.) for short excursions and the expectation that those trips wouldn’t require more than 30 lbs. of gear. Several users stressed this point through their own experiences.
“The design is ingenious and by far the best pack I’ve ever worn. Don’t load it over 30 for a good ride. I once carried slightly over 35 lb between resupplies and the molded frame didn’t quite fit right,” said one reviewer on REI.com.
One complaint about the Atmos 50 that users have shared is a lack of durability in the seams and bottom of the pack. “It needs some kind of durable material to cover these parts because any abrasion or contact with a hard surface quickly eats away at the material covering the frame at the bottom of the pack,” says one user.
Osprey will gladly repair any problems with its design, regardless of fault. Those who had trouble suspected that overloading the pack played a role in stressing the seams, and some recommended using Plasticote to reinforce abrasion-prone areas at the bottom of the pack.
If a lightweight, well-organized daypack is what you’ve been seeking, check out the Osprey Atmos 50 hiking backpack.
