Backside Line
When you want essentially the most sturdy and supportive backpack to haul heavy hundreds into the backcountry, the Osprey Aether can deal with no matter you throw at it. Once we loaded this pack up with 60 lb of weight for testing, it didn’t falter. It’s exhausting to make that sort of load really feel comfy, so general the Aether did an honest job dealing with it. Among the finest issues in regards to the pack is its capacity to regulate the torso size with out taking it off, to dial in that excellent match.
Sturdiness additionally stands out with this mannequin. The burly nylon and a restricted use of mesh ought to maintain this pack kicking for a few years. The mesh that we do see is proscribed to protected elements of the stretch again pocket and water bottle pockets. Fortunately, these water bottle pockets are decently simple to entry, accommodating sensible water and Nalgene bottles with Osprey’s intelligent vertical pocket design.
Because of the common consolation at its highest hundreds, we do desire different packs for heavy hauling consolation. Nevertheless, everybody’s physique is totally different, so strive on any pack to see the way it matches and works on your backpacking type. In any other case, that is completely a backpack prepared for years of gear-intensive adventures.
How We Examined
We roamed some native trails in Minnesota throughout the winter with this pack throughout our refresh of your complete backpacking information lineup. We’ll replace this assessment and our information with extra in-depth, three-season findings after we take a look at them.
Fast Specs

Osprey Aether/Ariel 65
Most Sturdy Backpacking Pack
CleverHiker Score:
4.3/5.0
Value:
$320
Weight:
5 lb. 2 oz.
Quantity:
65 L
Max Weight Rec.:
60 lb
Professionals
- Extraordinarily sturdy
- Nice function set
- Good load hauling functionality
- Good water bottle entry
Cons
- Consolation is not pretty much as good as competitors
- Heavy
- Overkill for many backpackers

Consolation
General we expect the Aether is a snug pack, nevertheless it approaches consolation just a little bit in another way. Most backpacks are solely rated as much as 30 or 40 kilos, so their suspension methods are solely designed to be comfy as much as these weights. Against this, the Aether is rated as much as 60 lb, which suggests Osprey constructed up its parts to accommodate these hundreds. Importantly then, it can nonetheless be comfy with 30 kilos it it but additionally really feel a bit overbuilt. Since this was considered one of our two heavy hauling packs, we determined to guage it on the most of 60 lb to see the way it really dealt with the burden. And we had been left just a little bit shocked.
The expertise wasn’t uncomfortable, nevertheless it additionally left us feeling like among the know-how from Osprey’s Atmos line might be applied right here to enhance the expertise. The Aether has a really standard-feeling hip belt and suspension system with no fancy contoured mesh. It’s simply foam and thick nylon. We suspect that the know-how that makes the Atmos so comfy merely doesn’t work at these greater hundreds. However in contrast with different backpacking backpacks, the Aether falls behind just a little bit in consolation.
Thankfully we didn’t encounter something catastrophic. There aren’t any apparent strain factors, the shoulder straps work nice, and the again panel does a superb job as effectively. We admire the customization choices that Osprey provides for consolation right here, notably the power to regulate the torso size on the fly – which is a singular function to get essentially the most out of this pack.

Options
As Osprey’s heaviest hauling pack, the Aether is loaded with options that make it an awesome selection for expeditions or different journeys the place lengthy heavy carries are obligatory. In contrast to lots of different backpacks that merely have exterior attachment factors for non-obligatory lashing, the Aether has a full-on webbing strap system on the again design for carrying giant objects. The beefy nylon assist construction across the webbing straps makes it clear this can be a system designed for heavier objects – not only a tent or sleeping pad like most backpackers use. Beneath this can be a again stretch pocket that’s product of stable face material with mesh on the perimeters however in a protected space. On that very same again panel are some attachment loops for clipping in considered one of Osprey’s daypacks. That is one other distinctive function for individuals who need a peak bagging pack or a city bag.
The 2 ice axe loops embody strong attachment cords on the center of the pack, and that is a type of packs we’d anticipate to see frequent use of ice axes. We had been additionally pleasantly shocked by the hip belt pockets. They’re one of many few that we examined that may be closed with only one hand.

Sturdiness
It is a tank, an absolute bomber of a backpack, designed for throwing your self into nature and never worrying about your gear in any respect. That is essentially the most sturdy pack we examined, sporting 210D nylon for its thinnest elements and 420D for all the things else. We weren’t capable of take a look at the Aether to wherever close to its limits and even when we tried we doubt we may put a dent on this factor with out years of exhausting abuse.
Most backpacks fail with repeated abrasion towards the load supporting areas. However the Aether merely doesn’t have these issues. The thinnest material used right here is identical because the reinforcement material used on different packs. The stitching high quality is unbelievable – no seams confirmed any give. And the restricted use of mesh is confined to smaller areas. The water bottle pockets are maybe the one space the place the mesh may snag and trigger issues. Nevertheless, that is on par with different backpacks. Osprey is an organization that has put some efforts in direction of sustainability for his or her materials decisions, and it’s price commending. The principle physique material is Bluesign accredited, and the DWR end is PFC free. Notably this lags behind their different packs just like the Exos and Atmos, since these packs additionally use recycled supplies and are PFAS free as effectively. We’d prefer to see these enhancements within the Aether lineup, however the effort right here remains to be respectable.

Ease of Use
Regardless of being Osprey’s most built-up pack, the Aether manages to stay decently simple to make use of. Like its cousin the Atmos, the quantity of options can get overwhelming at sure factors, however each function supplied works effectively with out frustration. The water bottle pockets are decently simple to entry right here – like on many Osprey packs – and Smartwater and Nalgene bottles match with out challenge.
The hip belt pockets additionally deserve point out right here. That is considered one of only some packs the place these pockets might be opened and closed with one hand. They’re giant and effectively positioned, and we like that they’re product of stable material as an alternative of mesh.
Like another Osprey packs, the Aether includes a torso adjustment that may be shifted whereas sporting the pack. That is nice for dialing within the excellent match on path or switching issues up because the load makes the body of the pack behave in another way.

Ought to You Purchase the Osprey Aether 65 Backpack?
When you’re on the lookout for essentially the most sturdy, heavy-hauling backpack, the Aether is difficult to argue towards. It’s on the outer fringe of backpacking backpacks within the sense that its sturdiness and load-hauling capabilities strategy an expedition pack, searching pack, or mountaineering pack.
All of this comes at a price. The Aether is each heavy and dear for a backpack. Most backpackers don’t want this a lot backpack. In case your complete pack weight is beneath 50 kilos, there are different packs that may meet your wants for much less cash and weight. Moreover, in case your pack weight is 50 kilos or greater, it’s price asking your self, do you actually need all the things? It may be price doing a shakedown to think about when you want that a lot gear – and actually need one of many burliest packs on the market. Nonetheless, for individuals who want one thing sturdy to hold cheaper, heavier, and bulkier backpacking gear – or specialised security gear for expeditions, winter hikes, mountaineering, or path work – the Aether could also be price its weight and value.

What Different Backpacking Packs Ought to You Take into account?
For backpacks of all styles and sizes, take a look at our full Backpacking Backpack gear information.
Gregory Baltoro 65 Assessment – The Baltoro was the opposite heavy hauler we thought-about apart from the Aether. Not solely did we discover it extra comfy when loaded with 60 kilos, but additionally discovered it barely simpler to make use of, and it matches a BV500 bear canister horizontally internally.
Gregory Paragon 58 Assessment – In case your pack weight gained’t exceed 50 kilos, we expect that the superb Gregory Paragon is an general higher choose for most individuals.
Osprey Atmos 65 Assessment – When you like the general type of the Aether however gained’t be carrying 60 kilos, the Atmos is a great various that ought to maintain you pleased with its excellent suspended mesh again panel.
