Osprey Packs Aether 85 Backpack

Osprey Packs Aether 85 Backpack

Great for multi-day climbing trips laden with hardware or for backpackers who believe going light means sacrificing too many comforts of home, the redesigned Osprey Aether 85 backpack offers plenty of volume and a high performance suspension system for all sorts of load toting. For short excursions from camp the IsoForm hipbelt can be threaded through the lumbar pad sewn on the bottom of the detachable top pocket to form a hip pack. But for big loads of camping equipment, Osprey has designed the next best thing to a custom built backpack. The AirScape suspension system not only serves as a rock-solid foundation for evenly transferring the weight to the hips, lumbar, and shoulders, but it also offers superior breathability. The Osprey Aether 85 backpack now offers the IsoForm custom moldable hipbelt technology to match the user's unique shape over this important load-bearing surface. The dual density shoulder harness offers a smooth, contoured fit, interchangeable sizes, and no sewn seams against the shoulders (as is true of all surfaces on the pack that contact the body). The Osprey Aether 85 backpack can also be considered a hydration pack on steroids. An internal backpanel hydration sleeve with twin exit ports provides customized plumbing and the external dual entry side pockets accommodate one liter bottles for easy access. The Osprey Aether 85 backpack is designed to comfortably carry loads of 45 to 55 lbs. For smaller loads be sure to check out the Osprey Aether 70 and Aether 60 backpacks.

• Special Note: IsoForm hipbelt and shoulder straps are available in multiple sizes; please call customer service at 800-369-3949 and talk to a pack expert to request the best size for you
• Key fabrics: 210-denier double ripstop, 210-denier Oxford, 420-denier Oxford, 500-denier Kodra, 840-denier stretch power mesh
• AirScape suspension consisting of peripheral 7075 AL rods, internal HDPE framesheet with single aluminum stay and a covering of ventilated nubbed foam and mesh grip
• Men's IsoForm shoulder harness with dual density foam and Spacer Mesh surface
• Men's IsoForm custom moldable hipbelt
• Two-way Stretch Woven nylon with Lycra® front pocket and side pockets
• Zippered sleeping bag compartment allows for access to main compartment too
• Removable sleeping pad straps
• Side compression straps - perfect for carrying trekking poles
• Internal compression strap (red for easy visibility) to secure load
• Dual ice axe loops
• Detachable zippered top pocket mates with hipbelt to create a lumbar pack
• Internal backpanel hydration pocket with twin exit ports
• Osprey Excessory compatible
• Capacity: 5,200 cu. in. (85 l) in medium, 5,400 (88 l) in large
• Weight: 4 lbs. 12 oz. (2.15 kgs.) in medium, 4 lbs. 15 oz. (2.24 kgs.) in large

Buy the Osprey Packs Aether 85 Backpack from Altrec.com. Orders over $45 qualify for free shipping.

Reviews - Osprey Packs Aether 85 Backpack

Anonymous - 2009-07-24

Superior pack
I've been using Osprey packs for a number of years and I got Aether 85 for larger volume. In my opinion, Osprey packs are very well made and on top of that they are light weight. Make sure the fit is right and it hugs your back nicely distributing the weight appropriately. Highly recommended for all levels.

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Humberto - 2009-02-28

Great Fit!
I picked this one for my upcoming trip to Mt. Rainier. I am 5'5", 150 Lbs and the pack fits me perfect. Very lightweight and the storage space is enough to carry everything you will need for a long trek. My favorite features are the storage space at the bottom for your sleeping bag(Easy Access!)and the adjustable straps and waist belt. A lot of thought and engineering was put into this. Perfect pack for all types of trips....

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Steve, an aerospace engineer - 2008-07-26

Large volume, light weight, excellent quality and design
Re-entering backpacking after 20-some years. Trying to go lightweight, but switched to this higher volume pack, to have sufficient room for a bulky synthetic 0F sleeping bag and warm synthetic clothes, for high altitudes and shoulder seasons. Took it on a 3-night trip in the Pecos Wilderness to 12,000 ft. Load-carrying system was comfortable even when 5 quarts water loaded me to perhaps 50 lb. for a hike to a dry camp. Floating top pocket sometimes a bit awkward, but works well. In combination with lower 'sleeping bag' pocket, and outer mesh pockets, provides enough pocket storage to keep smaller items organized and accessible. However, the simplified design still keeps the weight 1-3 pounds below quality packs of comparable volume. Various cinch straps keep the load close to your back even when all the volume is not being used. However, I had to cinch the 'large' hip belt all the way closed to get a reasonable fit on my 33-34-inch waist, so some people may need to select hip belt sizes that differ from the usual ones supplied with the various pack sizes.

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Sizing Chart

All Osprey packs, save the transit bags, are available in multiple sizes to fit a range of torso lengths. To find your torso length, have a friend measure your back along the spine from the level of your iliac crest (the top of your hipbones) to your C7 (the knobby bone at the base of your neck).

To determine your hipbelt size measure around your hips, not your waist. A properly fitted hipbelt rides centered over the hipbones and needs to be very snug; after all it will be carrying the bulk of the pack's weight. The padded portion should wrap well around your hips, leaving a gap of 3 to 6 inches between the tips of the pads when securely tightened.

Nearly all Osprey hipbelts use an exclusive ErgoPull design. It creates mechanical advantage to provide extra leverage in cinching down the hipbelt. The ErgoPull design also draws tension along the top and bottom of the belt, not through the center, so it distributes pressure more evenly over the padding and relieves direct pressure on the hipbones.

Step 3 - Harness

Osprey Crescent & Luna, Aether & Ariel and Waypoint packs offer interchangeable shoulder harnesses. Harness sizing usually corresponds to pack size, but your best bet is to try one on. A properly fit harness should terminate 2 to 3" beneath the armpit. Webbing should not touch the body. By breaking the hook and loop connection and sliding the harness up and down the backpanel the torso length can be adjusted up to 3". (see illustration).

Once you have the correct size pack, harness and hipbelt, and the torso length set properly, it's time to put some weight in the pack (20 to 30 pounds of well distributed weight will do) and dial in the fit. First, snug down the hipbelt and harness. Connect the sternum strap (A) - position it about 2 inches below your collarbones and snug it down lightly. Finally, tighten the load lifter straps to draw the load solidly against your back. The lift straps (B) should come off your shoulders at a 45 to 60 degree angle in Osprey's ReCurve and Ethereal Suspension packs. In other models these straps serve more as compression straps and ride flatter; they may even angle downwards.

In a good fit, there should be no pressure points and no gaps between your body and the pack. With Osprey's ReCurve packs, final tweaking may involve custom fitting the aluminum stays to your back.