The Osprey UNLTD AG 32 Backpack for Men & Women is a high quality day pack with a full harness adjustability, a rain cover, a ventilated back panel, and much more.
Key features & benefits
- Adjustable torso length.
- Adjustable hip belt fins.
- Ventilated back panel.
- Rain cover.
- Stow-on-the-Go poles attachment.
- External hydration bladder compartment.
- Versions for men and women.
What is in the name
The Osprey UNLTD AG 32 pack is the latest addition to the UNLTD series from Osprey, and more specifically to their AG series. So this pack is a smaller version of the much larger Osprey UNLTD Anti Gravity 64 pack. The features are not the same of course as this is a much smaller day pack.
This gender-specific pack is built in two sub-sizes S/M (32 liters) and L/XL (34 liters) for men, and WXS/S (30 liters) and WM/L (32 liters) for women. So essentially there are 4 packs in the group with exactly the same features.
The pack is a panel loading type with a long zipper that opens it widely, and this is the only access. You do not need anything extra for such a small pack.
It is hydration compatible, and for this you have a separate external compartment behind the harness. Here you have their Hydraclip design for easier reservoir hanging. For those who use hydration bladders this is the best option as the access to the bladder is easy. But for me this is a lost space as I never use a bladder.
The pack comes with an included rain cover, and this is a feature that is important for me. I know that many people find it unimportant. In any case, you have it in its separate pocket on the bottom of the pack.
Suspension system
This backpack comes with an adjustable torso length with a ladder type adjustability, so you have several specific lengths at which you can attach the harness, and this in the range of 4 inches (10.2 cm). From what I see in their latest packs, they seem to be switching completely to this system or its variants.
Fine tuning is always possible with the usual straps on the shoulder harness. Though here you have something completely unique to this series, these same straps are used as load lifter straps. The same system is in the larger packs from this series.
This they describe as an AutoLift harness system that engages the upper frame of the pack, keeping the load close to back, stable and in proper balance. However, being unique does not mean it is also perfect. In my view it is better to have separate load lifters and shoulder harness adjustability.
The picture below shows the injection molded pipe attachment elements on both sides, and an adjustable sternum strap with an emergency whistle. The padding is an EVA foam.
The hip belt is with adjustable fins, so here you have Velcro connection and markers and you can position the padding as it suits you best.
This is what they calk the Fit-on-the-Fly hip belt design, and there is no doubt this is very useful to have. If the pack is used by family members of different body shape, they can always reposition these fins to have a perfect hip belt comfort.
I am a thin person so the straps on the front of the belt are fine, but my guess is they are quite short for people with a larger size in that part of the body.
The lumbar padding is ‘injection molded’ this is the phrase which they use. So this is different from their larger UNLTD packs that have a unique 3D printed lumbar padding.
This all is supported with a 4 mm powder coated LightWire peripheral frame that shapes the back panel and gives tension to its AirSpeed ventilated back panel which is one of the great features of this pack.
What is AG in the name?
As mentioned, the back panel is a breathable high quality mesh, and this continues smoothly to the hip belt. This is behind the letters AG in the name, which means ‘anti gravity’.
This suggests that the weight of the pack is distributed over all your back instead of being mainly on the hip belt and partly on shoulders. The original idea introduced several years ago was that you more wear than carry such a pack.
But let’s be realistic, this is a really ventilated design and this is a great feature, but the letters AG are more or less meaningless.
Pockets
This pack has a bit unusual set of pockets. On the left side of the hip belt you have one zippered pocket, see the picture below.
On the opposite side you have a mesh pocket that is connected with the side mesh pocket, so essentially this is a large side mesh pocket with two access points. I would rather have a standard zippered pocket than what they have created here. So I am not really impressed.
You have one standard side mesh pocket on the other side. There is one large pocket on the front. They describe it as a front compression panel with stretch side panels. On one side of it you have a zippered pocket for maps, the picture below shows them both:
One zippered pocket is also on the top, and you have a key clip inside. Such pockets are typically not so great because they are basically hanging inside of the main compartment, so when this is full, you have no space to put things in the pocket.
So this is 6 pockets in total, quite enough but nothing spectacular.
Attachment options and straps
You have the usual dual upper and lower side compression straps. There is also a pair of straps on the bottom, see the picture below.
On the right is an ice axe loop which is paired with a bungee higher on the pack. I find this loop too high, but the pack is with a curved profile and they did not have other place for the loop that would keep a straight item like an axe. So when an axe is in place, it is too high, see the picture below and imagine what happens when you walk through bushes.
This pack also comes with their famous Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment system, this is something I truly love and I have it in several Osprey’s packs.
Materials
The mentioned rain cover is made with bluesign approved fabrics and DWR treatments made without PFAS. You also have a bluesign approved and GRS-certified 100% recycled bottom fabrics. All DWR treatments made without PFAS.
The main body is what they call the NanoFly whatever this means, a 210D high-tenacity nylon and UHMWPE ripstop, and DWR treatments is made without PFAS.
Please see more in this short video:
Who is this Osprey UNLTD AG 32 pack for
Regarding the size and best use: This is a great day pack with all you may need for a variety of tours. It has plenty of attachment elements and pockets.
Ventilated back panel design makes it suitable for users who sweat a lot, and for warm weather tours in general. But when the weather changes, you have the cover to protect stuff in its compartments.
As you realize, they build it in gender-specific versions, so this means differences in the harness shape to fit anatomical differences between men and women.
In view of its size, the carry capacity of up to 35 lb (16 kg) is quite impressive, and you can be sure you will carry the load comfortably.
Regarding the weight, it is a bit heavy for its size, you will see the numbers below. You can compare it with the Arc’teryx Aerios 30 pack to realize what I mean.
Those injection molded elements add weight, and the same holds also for its hip belt adjustable fins.
Regarding the price, this is not a pack for people who are on a budget. If you are one of them, better check in the category Day Packs here in the site.
Specifications
This is for both men’s and women’s packs, the latter are with the letter W used.
- Weight:
S/M: 3.354 lb (1.52 kg).
L/XL: 3.398 lb (1.54 kg).
WXS/S: 3.272 lb (1.48 kg).
WM/L: 3.316 lb (1.5 kg). - Volume:
S/M: 1953 in³ (32 l).
L/XL: 2075 in³ (34 l).
WXS/S: 1831 in³ (30 l).
WM/L: 1953 in³ (32 l). - Dimensions (L x W x D):
S/M: 23.2 x 14.6 x 11.4 in (59 x 37 x 29 cm).
L/XL: 24 x 14.6 x 11.4 in (61 x 37 x 29 cm).
WXS/S: 22.4 x 14.6 x 11.4 in (57 x 37 x 29 cm).
WM/L: 24 x 14.6 x 11.4 in (61 x 37 x 29 cm). - Carry weight: 15-35 lb (7-16 kg).
- Warranty: Osprey All Mighty.
Regarding torso length related to these and other packs from this brand, here are the tables from Osprey so you can easily decide about your size:
Final thoughts & rating
In summary, this Osprey UNLTD AG 32 Backpack is a top quality product and if you can afford it, you will have a reliable and comfortable pack for your day tours. Advanced materials are used, and the pack has almost all features that you need. It comes with their All Mighty guarantee for peace of mind.
However, for its size, the price is incredibly steep. It is fair to say that there are many packs of that type on the market which you can buy for half the price, and perhaps even for less.
For example, their Manta 34 pack is equally functional and its price is only around 60% of this UNLTD pack, and this is also an expensive pack. So I must say that I do not see the point of such a high price here.
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 UNLTD AG 32 Backpack
Pros
- Ventilated.
- Fully adjustable suspension.
- Very comfortable.
Cons
- Very expensive.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Day Packs.
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