Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT vs Standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG Packs

There is a completely new Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT backpacks series on the market. So how does it compare to the standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs? Find out here.

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So what this is all about? Anything new or different?

In this text I am not presenting all the features of these new LT packs that they share with the standard packs. I assume you are familiar with standard packs, and this would be redundant. My focus is on differences only, and in practical terms this means missing features. 

Actually, there is nothing new in this LT series. But there is a difference in the torso adjustability. 

In the new Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT backpacks they use the ladder-type torso adjustability that is already used in their Exos packs for men and Eja packs for women.

There is not much one could object to this system, but it is inferior to the system in the standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs.

What is actually missing in the Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT packs ?

I shall explain this by starting from this comparison table with my rating. On the first view, the result may not look so bad for the LT packs, but you will realize it is far worse than you might think.

 

Adjustability

The new LT series comes without the shoulder harness padding adjustability. In the standard packs you can re-position the padding and make it longer if you need this. Such a feature is useful for users with a larger body size. You do not have it in the LT packs.

But indeed the new LT packs do have the hip belt padding adjustability, this is the same system as in the standard packs. This means that you can extend the padding on the front, the hip fins can be extended. 

As mentioned already, the LT series has the torso adjustability as well, but it is different and less user friendly.

Access points

In the standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs you have:

• Top access.
• Bottom access through the sleeping bag compartment.
• Two side access points with inverted-J shaped zippers.

However, in the new Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT packs:

• You have the top access.
• There is no bottom compartment.
• There is only one side inverted-J shaped zippered access.

Attachment options

The new Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT packs come without the Stow-on-the-Go system for trekking poles attachment.

Pockets

• The standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs have two pockets in the lid. There is only one in the LT packs.
• The larger packs in the standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs have two extra zippered pockets on the front. There are no such pockets in the LT series.

Weight

Now, this is the best part of the story.

You have seen how many useful features are missing. So how much did this affect the weight? Here is the result:

• Osprey Atmos AG 50 pack weighs 4.32 lb (1.96 kg).
• Osprey Atmos AG 50 LT pack weighs 4 lb (1.81 kg).

So yes, you are reading this correctly, this is only 150 grams of weight difference. For the larger 65 liters packs, the difference is 250 grams.

Formally, regarding the weight as a parameter, according to the comparison table above, the LT packs are better. But does this all make sense to you?

In the picture below you can see what I received recently from Osprey in their newsletter, they proudly announce that the pack is 10% lighter. But strictly speaking it is only 8%.

Price

There is a price difference, and the LT packs are a bit more affordable. But they are still very expensive. The standard packs are a better value for the money. This holds in particular for the previous version of the standard packs, it is still available.

How to easily recognize which is which?

Here is the logo on the Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT packs:

Note that standard Atmos & Aura AG packs are available in several versions on the market. They have different logos on the front, see the pictures:

This is the previous version of the standard packs:

Places to buy

• Osprey Atmos & Aura AG LT packs are available at REI, Osprey-US, Osprey-UK.
• Standard Osprey Atmos & Aura AG packs are available at various places like REI, Osprey-US, Amazon, 

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