Jul 10
4
Osprey Exos 46 Pack
Osprey Exos 46 Backpack
Fastpacking, though not new, is rapidly gaining popularity among hikers. To go “fast,” you need a lightweight backpack, something that fits close to the body without letting sweat drench your back. You’ll also need the right gear to have you “packing” for more than a day’s hike.
Not just any lightweight Osprey daypack can accomplish these feats. Enter the Osprey Exos 46 daypack: under 2 lbs. of hauling might in a body-conforming, shoulder-saving package.
The Exos 46 sports the same features that make all Osprey’s lightweight packs so popular: a supportive-but-light aluminum frame, back panel ventilation, form-fitting shoulder harness and hip belt, and the ErgoPull hip belt closure that spreads tension uniformly across the belt.
Fastpacking thru-hikers require smart capacity and outstanding compression so everything fits and moves with the body, from the gear-heavy beginning of a hike to the supply-shortened end. Side compression straps can be routed over or under side pockets, bringing the pack in as you lighten your load.
The Exos 46 is top loading and offers a floating lid pocket and an additional pocket under the lid for storage. Two vertical zippered front pockets and a stretch-woven one keep small essentials secure. And, of course, there are mesh cubbies on the sides and zippered ones on the hip belt — plenty of easily accessible places to stash your must-haves.
Though minimalist, Osprey is careful not to skimp on necessities. Pack your H2O bladder behind the back panel and attach your tools to various loops and bungee tie-offs. You can even store trekking poles without taking off your pack. Although there isn’t a dedicated sleeping back compartment, external straps let you lash one on should you need it.
Exos 46 users say this pack is well designed and highly adjustable. It’s great in wet weather, too. An online reviewer from Kentucky has taken his pack from treks in frigid temps to spring jaunts in the mid-seventies. “I am fully convinced this is the perfect pack for lightweight backpackers who still cherish the comforts of good suspension and room for a few extra luxury items. The pack is well designed with ample storage. I found that it held everything I needed very efficiently (both for cold weather and warm),” he said.
Another owner from California shares his satisfaction with the Exos 46. “Bravo to Osprey for making an almost perfect pack. I have taken it on two 3-day hikes in Sequoia National Park (which means a bear canister) and it has easily held all of my equipment with room to spare. The main compartment holds my bag, canister, filter, stove, and spare clothing. The additional pockets make organizing the rest of your gear a breeze and finding your stuff even easier.
“In addition, the suspension system on this pack makes carrying all this stuff easy on the body. I have never used a pack as comfortable as this and I have been backpacking for over 20 years.”
Though the majority of Exos 46 users are happy with this hiking backpack, there are some cons among owners. Among them, disappointment with the hip belt — “the hip belt does not wrap all the way around you; instead, there is a section of hip belt sewn to each side of the frame. … I could never get the Exos “hip belt” to support a 20-25 pound load adequately. No matter how tightly I pulled the belt, after a mile or so, the load settled onto my shoulders and stayed there,” says a user from Ohio. His conclusion was that this pack, though internal frame, performs more like an external frame backpack.
A Texas user (who said this pack was better suited to his “skinny friends”) echoed this complaint, saying his 22-lb. load required constant tightening of the hip belt. He would prefer to see a swappable hip belt, as found on other Osprey models, though typically a feature of expedition packs and not lightweight ones.
Another user had to get used to the bar behind the neck and was annoyed with a lack of outside access to the bottom of the Exos 46. But overall, this hiking backpack gets a superior rating as a day pack or fast-packing backpack for longer excursions.
Go here to see more of the Osprey Exos 46 back pack…
