Osprey Archeon 70 Pack for Men (New Series)

Osprey Archeon 70 pack for men is a durable yet heavy construction with an adjustable torso length, a rain cover, and three access points, suitable for long excursions and heavy loads.

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Key features & benefits

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So what this is about

This Osprey Archeon 70 pack for men is the largest in the brand new series they launched for the season 2020. The series includes 8 packs in total, starting from daypacks that are 25 liters.

The pack is built in two sizes L/XL and S/M and this is a fully-featured outdoor item. So to start with the access points, you have them 3 in total:

• Top access under the floating lid.
• Front access through a U-shaped zippered entrance.
• Bottom access (picture below).

So you realize, there is a separate bottom compartment with the usual zipper. The pack comes with a rain cover included (shown below), so this is an extra bonus. In view of its enormous price, this is normal to expect.

You will see in the specifications below that this is a heavy pack, it is more than one kilogram heavier than their Rook 65 pack.

The pack is hydration-compatible and you have the usual internal sleeve shown in the picture below, that can accommodate a hydration reservoir of up to 3 liters in size. It is compatible with Hydraulics and Hydraulics LT Reservoirs.

This series is completely built from recycled materials, one must appreciate their efforts. It comes with a Global Recycle Standard (GRS) certificate. Note that all buckles are metal and this is reflected in the weight.

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Overview of features

Suspension system

This is always the most important part of a pack and I like to start with it. So the suspension here is based on two aluminum alloy stays that go parallel along the back panel. They serve as guides for the sliding shoulder harness, and they transfer the load to the hip belt zone. So you have an adjustable torso size in the range 19 – 23 in (48 – 58 cm) for the L/XL pack.

There is also an HDPE frame sheet and this is what they describe as AirScape back panel which is the same system used in several series of this brand. You can see it also in their Osprey Viva 65 pack for women and in the packs from the Volt series for men.

So this is what they describe as a ‘close-fitting back system’. The meaning is this is not a highly ventilated design, the pack is designed to stay close to the body but there is a mesh visible in the picture above, this should give a bit of ventilation. You will sweat in any case when you carry such a big pack, so it may be better to have the load closer to the body.

But if you would rather have some of their ventilated packs, better check this Osprey Rook 65 Backpack for men with excellent tension mesh on the back. The picture above shows that you have a smooth transition from the lumbar area to the hip fins, there is no massive lumber padding here. This is a nicely padded section without seams from the inner side,

The pack is with the usual load lifters, there is also an adjustable sternum strap with a safety whistle. For the mentioned torso adjustability you have markers on the shoulder harness (shown in the picture below) so they will guide you where to position the slider.

Pockets

You have the usual set of pockets here, 7 in total, and they include:

• One pocket at the top of the lid.
• One on the lid’s underside.
• Two stretch pockets are on the sides, one is in the picture above. They are with dual access.
• Two zippered pockets are on the hip belt, see one shown above.
• There is a zippered mesh pocket is inside, it is positioned on the U-shaped front flap and it is with a key attachment clip.

Compression straps and attachment points

• You have dual (lower and upper) side compression straps. They are very wide and strong.
• The two straps on the bottom section (shown below) are for a sleeping pad or tent attachment, and they are removable.
• There are also two loops for ice axes or trekking poles, one is shown below.
• There are 4 attachment loops on the lid.
• A load compression strap is on the top, under the lid.

The picture above shows one of its metal hooks. They look great but they add to the weight. Please see a bit more about the whole Archeon series in this short video:

Incredibly durable fabric

I could not find any info about the fabric and asked them. In the answer, they wrote this was a 1880D recycled nylon. Such a denier value sounds incredible, I do not remember seeing any pack with such a number. Now you know why this pack is so heavy, see more below.

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Who is it for

Weight-wise, they describe it as a backpacking pack, but I could not believe my eyes when I saw its weight. The larger pack L/XL weighs no less than 6 lb 1.6 oz (2.77 kg). If you are a backpacker you will have to decide if this is for you or not. But you have seen above the denier value.

Capacity-wise, this is a huge pack with its volume of 70 liters (4272 in³), and with its weight capacity of up to 45 lb (20 kg). They describe it as designed to go anywhere and to do anything. But you have seen its weight.

Features-wise, this pack has them just enough. This is a tool for hikers with lots of equipment that can be carried in the pack or attached to it from outside. Nothing essential is missing here.

Price-wise, you will follow the links and see its updated price. As of the moment of writing this text the pack is very expensive. It is new on the market and this might be behind such a price. Hopefully, it will change in the future.

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Specifications

• Sizes: L/XL & S/M.
• Volume:
  – L/XL: 70 l (4272 in³).
  – S/M: 68 l (4150 in³).
• Weight:
  – L/XL: 6 lb 1.6 oz (2.77 kg).
  – S/M: 5 lb 8.16 oz (2.5 kg).
• Weight capacity: 45 lb (20 kg).
• Dimensions:
  – L/XL: 33 x 15 x 13 in (84 x 38 x 33 cm).
  – S/M: 31 x 15 x 13 in (79 x 38 x 33 cm).
• Torso fit:
  – L/XL: 19 – 23 in (48 – 58 cm).
  – S/M: 17 – 21 in (43 – 53 cm).
• Waist/Hips ft:
  – L/XL: 28 – 50 in (71 – 127 cm).
  – S/M: 26 – 45 in (66 – 114 cm).
• Metal buckles and componentry.
• Fabric: recycled nylon/mesh.

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Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons

See how I rate it:

 

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Note that the Osprey Archeon 45 pack for men and women is described in our separate post, so check it if you need a smaller pack from this series.

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