Thread: Osprey packs

I have a osprey volt 60 I haven’t done any hunting with it but it has being an awesome tramping pack for the last couple of years

I went with the Osprey Mutant 52. I wanted a pack that would be good for multi day trips, and still have the option on being able to carry out a load of meat. Using a 50 litre pack has forced me to reduce what I carry and limit those items I used take just in case, but never used. So far I have done 4 day hunts with it.

@Robojaz, I'd be interested to see/hear what you pack for multi-day in the 52lt

Before the Aether 85 I had a Exos 58, and found it pretty hard to get everything in there with a bit of room left for meat.

If/when you have time it would be great if you could take some pics of your gear

Originally Posted by ebf

@Robojaz, I'd be interested to see/hear what you pack for multi-day in the 52lt

Before the Aether 85 I had a Exos 58, and found it pretty hard to get everything in there with a bit of room left for meat.

If/when you have time it would be great if you could take some pics of your gear

In my exos 58 I can get 3 nights worth of gear in with my tent on the inside pretty comfortably, so could easily free up a lot of room putting it on the outside

Osprey variant 37 and 52 are about as good as you'll get in a frameless pack, they are designed as a serious alpine backpack. I have used the 37's for over 10 years as a day pack, overnight pack, even a couple of nights, carry-on for international travel etc., even the odd international trip with that pack alone. The first 37 suffered from frayed webbing and was replaced by the importer here without question but with a Mutant 38 as the Variant 37 was no longer available. The Mutant 38 has the advantage of being made from a water resistant material so you don't need to be so particular about keeping the water out. On all other counts the Variant is a better pack, all be it that the Mutant is still very good. I also have a Variant 52 for extended trips, it has all the features of the 37 plus it's made from water resistant material like the Mutant and is very good pack. The Variant 37 is no longer available but the North Face Phantom 38 appears to be almost identical, it may not be available here but is in the US. These packs are frameless but have a removable aluminium sheet that protects your back and provides some structural stiffening, in the absence of a frame perspiration is a downside. I think that many would be surprised at how good these packs are for NZ hunting conditions or whatever else you want to throw at them, for many a larger volume pack seems to be required, they won't be everyone's cup of tea but they have fitted my purpose and my preference is to leave stuff behind that I'm not going to use.

Originally Posted by burtonator

I just ordered the aether 70 pro, at 1.8kg its a very good lighter pack with a frame that can also carry a good amount of weight
I emailed them as they had them on special for $399 just before the lockdown so im sure if you email them they will do for that price once we are out of lockdown

I bought a 70L Aether AG and it wasn't big enough for me. Rapidly changed to the 85 AG and its much better in capacity.
The detachable top which converts to a day pack is excellent. Big enough to hold waterbottle, firstaid pack, down jacket and meat bags.

I haven't totally gotten it to fit me after 2 trips, the bottom of the waste belt rubs on my hips but I'm sure its just a matter of breaking it in.

Originally Posted by ebf

@Robojaz, I'd be interested to see/hear what you pack for multi-day in the 52lt

Before the Aether 85 I had a Exos 58, and found it pretty hard to get everything in there with a bit of room left for meat.

If/when you have time it would be great if you could take some pics of your gear

@ebf sure can, I will take some photos today.

@ebf as promised here are some pictures of what I pack into my pack when using the Osprey Mutant 52. Less rifle, ammo and snacks.







I save a lot of space using compression dry-sack. this is everything in respective dry bags.



and now packed into the pack





To show how much leftover space I have packed a 10 litre fuel can into the pack.








All packed.

That's impressive how you made all that stuff disappear into there.
What does it weigh (less 10L fuel).

Weighs in at 12.2kg. That's without ammo, snacks, or water. Most places I hunt have streams/rivers so I don't carry water unless I have to and filter it as I go.

Also in summer I probably would not take bivvi bag so would drop some weight there.

Well dialed in there. What’s in the wee Stanley flask?

Originally Posted by outdoorlad

Well dialed in there. What’s in the wee Stanley flask?

Well that would be a wee dram of bunnahabhain 12, for those cold nights ....

Why do you take the saw?

walking poles.. brand please and why did you choose that brand ? What is in the orange Hunters Element bag