I used the Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack recently on my winter hiking tour and in this review I share my impression about this interesting backpack. So keep reading.
Key features & benefits
- The best possible ventilation.
- Adjustable torso length.
- Adjustable hip belt padding.
- Rain cover included.
- Lidless use design.
- Lightweight pack.
- Bluesign approved.
What this is about
This pack is one out of four in a new Atmos & Aura sub-series of backpacks that Osprey launched recently. The official name of this pack is Osprey Atmos AG LT 65, but it comes in two different volumes of 65 and 68 liters.
The Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack is a lighter version of their standard Osprey Atmos AG 65 pack. It comes without several features:
- There is one pocket in the lid, instead of two in the standard version.
- There are no front zippered pockets.
- It comes without the Stow-on-the-Go attachment for trekking poles.
- It has one J-shaped side access instead of two.
- There is no bottom compartment.
- There is no shoulder harness padding adjustability.
- This LT version is 250 grams lighter than the standard Atmos AG 65 pack.
In spite of that, the pack still has quite a number of excellent features. All the differences are discussed in detail in my separate post.
Overview of features
Access
This is a classic-shaped top loading backpack with a floating and removable lid that protects the top access point with a collar equipped with a cinch cord and a top compression strap.
If you want to use it without the lid, you have an integrated flap with buckles, so you can close the pack properly, and it will still look great, just shorter, see the picture:
The backpack is hydration-compatible so it offers an inner sleeve in the main compartment, with a pipe port on the top behind the harness.
But there is also a J-shaped zippered access on the left side of the pack (the picture below), and as mentioned above, there is no bottom compartment. I would rather have a bottom compartment than this side access which is not really practical for me.
Suspension
This is the best part of the pack, and it is very similar to what you have in the standard Atmos & Aura packs. You have seen the letters AG in the name, so this is again their anti-gravity design with a beautiful 3D trampoline type tensioned mesh that extends all the way from the top to the hip belt fins.
There is a peripheral metal frame which is a 4-mm diameter wire that goes all the way down to the back side of the hip belt. It gives the shape and rigidity to the pack, and it serves as the frame to which the mesh is attached. The shoulder harness is also connected to it through a pair of sliders.
Now, this tensioned mesh is what makes this backpack so great, and it is behind the letters AG (anti gravity) in the name. There is nothing better on the market, only the standard Atmos & Aura pack are on the same level.
The idea behind it when they launched this design around a decade ago was that you wear a pack and not carry it. In practical terms, the meaning is that the mesh is in contact with a large area of the body, so the weight is distributed and you feel it less concentrated on your hips or shoulders as in standard packs.
This is the best example of a ventilated backpack. The picture above shows how it looks, the pack is completely separated from the body, only the mesh touches the user’s back.
Note that this mesh goes even behind the harness attachment area, see below how it looks. Observe also the pipe port.
The mesh goes from the top to the lumbar zone, and it also continues to the hip belt, see the picture below. When you spread the hip belt to put the pack on the back, tension is added to the whole mesh, including the part that is on the hip belt.
In other words, this is a backpack where ventilation is also on the hip belt, and there is nothing currently on the market even remotely close to it.
But this is not all; the hip belt fins are with Velcro, so you can move them to your desired position, see the picture below. This hip belt padding adjustability is rare in backpacks on the market.
The shoulder harness is with an excellent and breathable padding, the picture below, and with a sliding sternum strap.
The torso length is also adjustable, and you have a ladder type system with 5 different positions. This is very easy to use. Note that the two packs (55 and 58 liters) have different torso ranges, see the numbers in the specifications below.
Pockets
The pockets organization is standard here, there are 7 of them and they are very good. The lid pocket is simply enormous, see its zipper below.
The same holds for the two side stretch mesh pockets that are also with dual top and side access:
The two hip belt pockets are also among the largest you can have. I find it difficult to unzip them with one hand only, but they are with very good pull loops suitable for gloves, just like all the other zippers on this pack.
Completely on the bottom there is a dedicated zippered pocket where you have a rain cover stored, see how it looks:
The front stretch mesh pocket is large and with a top buckle. I like it, and I use it for pieces of clothing that I use on the go, like the rain jacket which you see in the picture:
Compression straps & attachment elements
This Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 backpack has plenty of compression straps and attachment options. On the sides you have seen those red compression straps that go over the side pockets.
But there are also upper straps on the sides, to compress the pack and also to use together with dual loops on the front (the picture below) where you can attach an ice axe and trekking poles.
There is also a red top compression strap underneath the lid. Load lifter straps are in place as well.
Dual straps are on the bottom, see the picture below, so here you can attach a pad or anything you want:
On the lid, you have four attachment loops shown below, so with some extra cord you can attach some stuff here as well.
Materials
I mentioned the frame, and this is their standard Lightwire design. The pack is described as an internal frame pack, but in fact, the bigger part of the frame is visible.
The fabric is nylon with quite standard denier values. The upper part is all 210D recycled nylon. On the bottom you have a much stronger recycled 500D high tenacity nylon.
These are bluesign approved PFAS-free DWR materials, and Global Recycling Standard (GRS)-certified.
Please see more in my video:
Who is the Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack for
Regarding gender, this is a pack for men, but they have the corresponding Osprey Aura AG LT 65 pack for women. The functionality is the same, but make sure that you go for the Aura version if you are a woman, there are women-specific details in the construction.
Regarding the best use & capacity, I have used it recently, in the first week of March, with all my equipment for overnight sleeping outdoors, see the picture below.
This means the usual bulky stuff like a sleeping bag, a solo tent, a pad, an inflatable pillow, water and food, thick warm clothing, gloves, a beanie, a rain poncho, a waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, etc. All this fit inside easily and I did not have to use any of the attachment elements.
Clearly, this is a pack large enough for backpacking tours in any season. The volume capacity is 65 liters and 68 liters for the two options, and the official weight capacity is up to 40 pounds (18 kg).
To tell you frankly, I am not completely convinced that it would be the best choice if you go to the mentioned weight limit. I had around 11 kilograms (24 lb) only, and it was fine.
However, there is one detail that is not great for me. I had a pressure point on the lower edge of the hip belt, completely on the back, and this is in the area where the frame ends. I have seen some other users mentioning the same issue.
But the shoulder harness was simply excellent, no issues of any kind.
Regarding the weight, as mentioned above, they have made it lighter than the standard Osprey Atmos AG 65 backpack.
There are two sub-sizes and two different weights. Take for example the 65-liters version with its weight of 4.068 lb (1.845 kg) and you can describe it as a lightweight pack. The Volume/Weight ratio is very good 35 liters/kg.
Though it is only 250 grams or around 8% lighter than the standard Osprey Atmos AG 65 pack, and you have already seen how many useful features were lost with it. In my view, this was not worth the effort.
Regarding the price, the pack is more affordable than the standard version, but it is still in the group of expensive packs. This is not surprising in view of the brand behind it, and the Osprey’s All Mighty warranty that you have with their products.
Specifications
- Volume:
– S/M: 3967 in³ (65 l).
– L/XL: 4150 in³ (68 l). - Weight:
– S/M: 4.068 lb (1.845 kg).
– L/XL: 4.245 lb (1.925 kg). - Dimensions (L x W x D):
– S/M: 33.46 x 15.35 x 12.6 in (85 x 39 x 32 cm).
– L/XL: 35.43 x 15.35 x 12.6 in (90 x 39 x 32 cm). - Torso fit:
– S/M: 17-20.5 in (43-52 cm).
– L/XL: 19.5-23 in (50-58 cm). - Waist/Hips fit:
– S/M: 28-50 in (71-127 cm).
– L/XL: 30-50 in (76-127 cm).
Final thoughts & rating
In conclusion of my Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 pack review I wish to stress again that if you need a ventilated backpack, this is the one to consider. You will not find anything better from that perspective, except for the standard backpacks from this series.
The pack comes without many features that are available in the standard Osprey Atmos AG 65 pack, however, you still have them many as you have seen in the text above.
I have used the pack recently for my winter hiking tour with all my outdoor sleeping stuff, and I am simply impressed with its volume.
As for the carry weight comfort, in my view the pack is for medium loads. I would not go on very long tours with the weight close to its official maximum weight capacity, and this is mainly because of the mentioned issue with the hip belt pressure and pain point that I experienced.
But I cannot stress enough how important it is to actually try the loaded pack to get some idea if it works for you or not. Testimonials by others cannot possibly be enough, we are all built differently.
I have included this pack in my list of the best backpacking packs for men. If this pack is too big for you, please check the Osprey Atmos AG LT 50 pack with the same features.
Below you can see how I rate this pack against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 Pack
Pros
- Excellent ventilation.
- Great suspension.
- Lightweight.
- Rain cover.
- Adjustable hip belt padding.
- Recycled materials.
Cons
- Too long hip belt straps.
- Lower edge of the hip belt may create a pressure spot.
- No bottom compartment.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Large Packs. You might want to see how this pack compares with the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 pack.
Bookmark this site and come again, this will keep you informed because I add texts here regularly. Let me know if you have questions or comments, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.
Leave a Reply