Osprey Aether AG 70 backpack described in the text is a part of a new anti-gravity series introduced by Osprey in 2017. This 70 liters pack is the middle-size in the series which also includes packs of 60 liters and 85 liters. This is the ultimate backpacking tool for extended tours, with many extraordinary features.
Bonuses
- Top lid converts to a fully functional daypack.
- Attachment points for the Osprey Daylite pack.
- Rain cover.
Key benefits
- Advanced suspension system.
- Adjustable torso length.
- Moldable hip belt and harness.
- Interchangeable hip belt.
- Interchangeable harness.
- Four sizes to choose from.
The most important changes introduced in the new AG series
There are essentially two:
- The harness is completely redesigned.
- The daypack is completely redesigned.
To compare, please see my text about the previous version of the Osprey Aether 70 pack.
Aether AG 70 pack – description
About the sizes first. As you see from its name, the Aether AG 70 is officially a 70-liters pack, but in fact, it comes in four different sizes/volumes. So you have 67, 70, 73, and 76 liters versions to choose in the moment of purchase. Its harness also comes in 4 different sizes, S, M, L, XL, and the same holds for the hip belt. Imagine how many combinations you have to choose for an optimal fit. If this is not enough, the harness is adjustable.
This is a top loading pack with a removable lid and a spindrift collar underneath it, but it has an extra access point on the front. It is J-shaped, the same as in the previous model, so this makes it different from the new AG 60 liters pack where the entrance is on the side.
The bottom compartment is with the standard zippered entrance, and the divider between the main compartment and the bottom section is removable.
The suspension
The new AG suspension is supported by the LightWire tensioned, full peripheral frame. The best part of this construction is top-to-bottom suspended mesh that wraps your back, shoulders, and hips. But this is different from their starting design used in the Atmos and Aura series, although the new tensioned mesh used here looks really cool.
The hip belt ISOFORM 5 CM is interchangeable and with custom heat molding. For molding, you can use an Osprey’s oven, or you can just use the pack for several days and it will mold naturally by your body heat. So no worry about this, you will have a perfect fit in any case.
The ISOFORM 5 AG mesh harness is also interchangeable and you can choose one of four sizes.
So again, the harness and the hip belt have some break-in time and they accommodate and form to your body shape after a few wears, and this is the actual meaning of the word ‘isoform’.
These features are also a bonus because family members or partners can use the same pack, and they can use their own specific molded hip belt and harness.
See here how Osprey’s oven works:
To adjust the harness, slide your hand between the back panel and harness and break the Velcro hook and loop connection. After that move the harness into the desired position and press to re-engage the connection.
Top lid – convertible to a daypack
In the previous Aether version, the removable lid serves as a lumbar pack for short tours. This is completely changed in the new AG version where you have a fully functional DayLid daypack with 16 liters of volume.
Note, the big pack is equipped with an additional flap with buckles, to use when the lid is removed, so you can close the big pack for protection from elements.
The DayLid daypack is with the following features:
- Shoulder straps are with mesh and edgeless wrap.
- You have dual access to its main compartment.
- It comes with an adjustable chest strap.
- There is a zippered pocket.
- It comes with an external hydration sleeve.
- There is a tuckaway attachment loop on the bottom, which is paired with a bungee cord on the top, to attach an ice axe.
- There are four attachment webbing loops.
The sternum strap of this DayLid daypack can be fixed to three different positions, there are loops on both shoulder straps for this purpose. The loops that are not used for the sternum strap, can be used as attachment points for other equipment.
So, I will not exaggerate by saying that nothing on the market can come close to this extraordinary design. There are many backpacks with daypacks, but no one can be compared with what you have here.
Pockets
There are seven in total. Dual stretch mesh pockets are on the sides, dual zippered pockets are on the hip belt, there are two zippered pockets on the lid, and you have one large stretch mesh pocket on the front.
Attachment points for Osprey’s Daylite pack
On the front of the pack, there are two vertical flaps and two horizontal straps, see the picture below. This is the part of what they call the StraightJacket compression.
When you undo the horizontal strap, underneath the flaps you will see 4 attachment loops. These are the attachment points for the Osprey Daylite pack, which is designed for such a purpose and it can be added to many of Osprey’s packs.
So this is yet another bonus with the Aether 70 AG pack, though this pack is not an exception, many other Osprey packs have these attachment points, but they do not have the flap system used here.
Other attachment points & straps
I already mentioned the four webbing loops on the lid (they appear as attachment loops on the DayLid daypack). Two attachment loops are on the bottom for ice axes or for trekking poles, and those are paired with bungee cords higher up.
The pack comes with the Stow-on the-Go trekking pole attachment system. This is a nice feature typical for many packs of Osprey, useful to have when you need free hands on the fly, like when you have to scramble, to eat something or to drink, or to take a photo.
Dual compression straps are on the sides, and the lower straps are with InsideOut features. This means that you can route them through the pocket (when you only want to compress pack when not full, to ensure its stability), or you can pass them over the side mesh pockets to secure items stored in them.
There are two removable compression straps on the bottom. As already mentioned, on the front you have the StraightJacket compression straps.
Good and less good features
Here is my short summary:
- Great suspension.
- Very modern design.
- Bonus daypack.
- Three access points.
- Many attachment elements.
- No side zippered pockets.
- Expensive.
The pack is a bit heavy but see what it offers. The weight is the consequence of many useful features. I have some objections regarding the ventilation and lumbar support and I have discussed this in my text about the Osprey Aether AG 60, so please have a look there.
There is a lot of confusion regarding:
- The rain cover.
- The external hydration sleeve.
- The DayLid day pack.
I have been in touch with Osprey about these issues and all is described in the Aether AG 60 text.
Please see how I rate this pack:
My rating breakdown of the Osprey Aether AG 70 backpack
-
Volume/Weight ratio - 8.9/108.9/10
-
Features & bonuses - 9.9/109.9/10
-
Comfort - 9.9/109.9/10
-
Price - 8.0/108/10
Osprey Aether AG 70 vs Competitors
Here is the Osprey Aether AG 70 side by side with two other packs from top brands, see how it compares. Note, all three packs are new 2017 models:
Weight, kg
Volume, l
Adjustable harness
Access
Hip belt pockets
Rain cover
Metal frame
Bottom compartment
Day pack
Osprey
Aether AG 70
2.36
70
yes
top, front, bottom
yes
no & yes
yes
yes
yes
Gregory
Paragon 68
1.64
68
yes
top, bottom
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Kelty
Coyote 65
2.2
65
yes
top, front, bottom
yes
no
yes
yes
no
Specifications
- Gender: for men.
- Frame: peripheral wire.
- Purpose: backpacking, mountaineering, thru-hiking, travel.
- Four sizes:
– S: 67 liters (4089 cubic inches).
– M: 70 liters (4272 cubic inches).
– L: 73 liters (4455 cubic inches).
– XL: 76 liters (4638 cubic inches). - Weight:
– S: 2.3 kg (5.07 lb).
– M: 2.36 kg (5.21 lb).
– L: 2.49 kg (5.48 lb).
– XL: 2.52 kg (5.55 lb). - Carry weight: up to 27 kg (60 lb).
- Torso fit:
– S: 16 – 18 inches (41 – 46 cm).
– M: 18 – 20 inches (46 – 51 cm).
– L: 20 – 22 inches (51 – 56 cm).
– XL: 22 – 25 inches (56 – 64 cm). - IsoForm harness sizes to choose: S, M, L, XL.
- IsoForm waist belt sizes to choose:
– S: 29 – 31 in (74 – 79 cm).
– M: 30 – 34 in (76 – 86 cm).
– L: 33 – 37 in (84 – 94 cm).
– XL: 36 – 60 in (91 – 152 cm). - Maxium pack dimensions (H x W x D): 33 x 16 x 13 in (84 x 41 x 33 cm).
- Materials:
– Main: 210D Nylon Dobby.
– Accent: 210D High Tenacity Nylon Shadow Box.
– Bottom: 500D Nylon Packcloth. - Adjustable torso.
- LightWire tensioned, full peripheral frame.
- Top to bottom suspended mesh.
- The lid transforms to a daypack.
- Access: top, bottom, front.
- Sleeping bag compartment with a removable divider.
- Front stretch mesh pocket.
- Adjustable sternum strap with emergency whistle.
- Integrated FlapJacket to use when the lid is removed.
- Dual zippered hip belt pockets.
- Dual upper side compression straps.
- Dual front StraightJacket compression.
- Dual access side stretch mesh pockets with Inside-Out compression straps.
- Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment system.
- Dual ice tool loops with bungee tie-offs.
- Removable sleeping pad straps.
- Internal hydration reservoir sleeve.*
- Rain cover.**
- Colors: 3, see the pictures.
- Guarantee: Osprey’s All Mighty.
*Note, there is some confusion about this issue. I discussed this in the Aether AG 60 text.
**The same confusion, please follow the link to see more.
This is an addition in May 2017, they have modified the promotion video and published on May 26, so here it is:
Conclusion
In summary, I do not have much more to say about this Osprey Aether AG 70 backpack, you have seen the facts and features. This is a very sophisticated tool and this is so obvious. The daypack is its true standout feature, no pack on the market can come close to it with respect to this.
Though this new AG series is not perfect and I do have some objections. There are a few missing features, and things which I am not happy with, and I discussed them a lot in my text about the 60 liters version. Note that there is a bigger version, Osprey Aether AG 85 described in the site.
You have seen the Gregory Paragon 68 pack in the comparison table above, very lightweight and advanced new 2017 design. So, just to know that it also has a daypack converted from the internal sleeve, but it is with less features of course.
Also, if this Aether AG 70 is too expensive for you, check the Kelty Coyote 65, this is a new pack in the series, launched in 2017.
Finally, to stress that there exists a parallel Ariel AG series for women, so please see my text about the Ariel AG 55 and Ariel AG 65.
Thank you for reading. I hope this text has been useful to you. If this is so, please share it with others. If you have any question or comment, please use the comment box below. Have a nice day.
Hi Jovo,
Thanks a lot for great and detailed review of this pack! A very few reviews of this pack are available out there at the moment and none of them are so detailed.
Have a specific question though. How would you compare this exact pack to the Atmos AG 65? You’re mentioned difference in the the AG systems of both, but it is not very clear which is better and in which sense. My understanding is the Atmos is ventilated better, but the Aether better distributes weight.
Wondering how would you compare those two?
Thank you!
Hi Max, Atmos AG has received so many awards in the past, and Aether AG is yet to prove its quality in practical use. I would not say that Aether distributes weight better, do not see reasons for that; the two packs are very similar in that respect.
But your question is interesting and perhaps I could even claim that it is the other way around, but I am not sure of course. In my text about Aether AG 60, I mentioned that the modified Sirrus and Stratos series look more anti-gravity than Aether and Ariel AG, in the sense that they more resemble the structure in the original AG design in the Atmos & Aura AG packs.
You surely have a better ventilation in the Sirrus and Stratos packs, but this is not what you are asking of course.
In general, with such items it is always about feeling and comfort plus the list of specifications. So Aether AG has more, the DayLid is a great part of it. But the rest is personal, you feel it right for you or not. Compare this with water filters. You get sick after drinking filtered water, or you do not. Then you know which is good, there are measurable criteria for that.
Hi Max, me again. You motivated me to write a separate text Osprey Atmos AG vs Osprey Aether AG. So please have a look, this is how I see these two series. I shall be happy to hear your opinion. Best regards.
Thanks a lot, Jovo! Just commented under the new post.
So great to hear again from you Max. Thank you.
Jovo,
Thanks for including the 70 liter version on your site. This is actually the size I’m interested in.
I’d like to get your input on sizing. I’ve gotten input from a couple other sources, and would like yours as well. My torso length is about 18″, my hips/waste are about 30-31″, and my height is about 5’9″. So it’s seems I’m in-between sizes, and either a small or medium could potentially fit. Do you have any idea of which size would probably be better for me?
Obviously each person is different and you can only get a general sense of my size/frame from personal measurements I provided, but I thought your perspective and insight might be helpful. Thanks you.
Hi Alan. It is hard to say when you are in-between sizes. I would go to the nearest shop and try any Osprey’s pack in this category size to see how it fits.
But let’s think out loud, imagine it is too big or too small. What makes the difference?
Regarding the harness/torso size, I would go for bigger rather than for smaller; if too small, then you might have less padding in the shoulder zone, (and the waist belt will be sitting too high which I dislike). If too big, you have padding longer around the shoulder so this is not bad, but the waist belt is sitting too low. The shoulder strap padding should be all the way around the shoulder, plus at least 1-1.5 inches; if you have more this is not a problem. But too low positioned belt may make it necessary to move it higher and adjust the shoulder harness which can be done.
I believe the same reasoning could be applied for the waist size, padding extended farther around the hips is not a problem, better this than not having it enough.
Yet, since this is in-between size, the differences are not big and bigger would work better. But I am sure you can also have a totally opposite opinion from somebody else.
Actually, you’re speculation is consistent with most others I’ve read and heard from. For someone between sizes most recommended going with the larger size. In my case this would be a medium rather than a small.
As you describe, it’s generally not too difficult to make a make slightly larger than ideal fit a smaller user. But if a backpack is too small it more difficult to make it work. I’ll be going to REI tomorrow to try one out and will compare the small and medium.
Thanks again.
Hi Alan, I am just coming from our outdoor shop, I was checking if they have received Aether AG, unfortunately not yet. But related to our conversation here, I was checking with Atmos, so yes I agree with you, I would rather go for a bigger model rather than smaller. Good luck in your search.