Australian Hiker | Osprey Aether Plus 60L Pack

Pack capacity-Large 60 Liters
Pack dimension-Large 83H X 37W X 33D cm
Pack weight-Large 2.7kg
Colours Black, Axe Green, Eclipse Grey
Carrying capacity 14-27kg

Cost $599.99

Osprey Aether Plus 60L Pack

Pack

Rating

Rating:	8 / 10
Durability	1.8 / 2
Versatility	1.5 / 2
Weight	1.4 / 2
Comfort	1.7 / 2
Value for Money	1.6 / 2

Osprey Aether Plus 60L Pack Review

For many years my goal has been to lighten my pack weight as far as possible to minimise the impact on my ageing body. To a great extent everything I now carry has a place in my pack and I’m not carrying gear just for the sake of it. Why then would anyone want a beast of a pack like the Aether Plus? I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I had the opportunity to test out this range which comes in 60, 70, 85 and 100 litre sizes so I opted to test out the Aether Plus 60 which even though its the smallest pack in the range, at a 60 litre for capacity (the L-XL size) its more than I am ever like to need with my preferred pack Sie being around 50litres for multi-day hikes.

The first thing you notice with the Aether Plus 60 is that it has pockets and zips everywhere. In fact if you can think of a feature that is possible to add to a pack then this pack has it. This really is a full featured pack. Starting from the bottom the Aether Plus 60 comes with the split zip system and compartment that allows you to store items like tents or sleeping bags and other accessories in the bottom of the pack without having to pull everything else out to access them. Not only does it have this lower segregated compartment, you are also able to unzip the front of the pack to access everything like an open suitcase. Still working your way up the pack there is a seperate zip pocket in front of the main compartment and then on top of that is a small stretch pocket at the front which is pretty standard on many packs these days. This stretch pocket is actually reasonably small and in all honesty, I would probably end up keeping my rain gear in it just for easy access.

Again moving upwards you come across the pack brain which at first I didn’t realise was actually a proper day pack that can be detached from the main pack and used on small side trips while leaving the main pack behind. You can also just use the pack brain closure flap if that’s what you prefer leaving the brain at home if need be. Still on storage, the main pack contains an internal water bladder pocket. I must admit I prefer an external access pocket for my water bladder because if my pack is fully loaded it just makes it a bit easier to get in and out of the pack. The hip belt pockets are large and easy to access as are the side stretch pockets for your water bottles if that’s what you prefer.

Moving on from the storage, this pack has loads of features that you would expect from a high-end pack. At the base of the pack is an integrated rain cover and removable sleeping pad straps. The standard ‘Stow on the Go’ trekking pole loops so that you can store your poles without too much difficulty as well as ice axe loops.

As far as fit goes you need to purchase the correct size pack based on the length of your torso and this was something that I didn’t really need to think about as I firmly sit in the L-XL size range. From here these is an easy to adjust suspension system that you set up by lengthen or shortening the length of the suspension – easily done with the velcro adjustment system. Once you done this once you really don’t need to adjust it every again unless you loan your pack to someone else. The padded hip belts are the same and you can lengthen the padding section to the correct length for your waist. One thing that was new to me on this pack is that the padding on the shoulder straps is also adjustable. I have never used a pack with so much adjustment before and if there was ever an off-the-shelf pack that was going to provide you with a perfect fit, then this is it.

The material used in this pack is a 210 Denier high-tenacity nylon which is a nice way of saying its tough and durable so will last you for many years even in the toughest conditions. Colour choice is limited to Black, Axe Green and Eclipse Grey which shouldn’t upset anyone’s taste.

Now with all these features on this pack as you would expect one obvious downside is the weight with the 60 litres size in L-XL weighing in at just under 2.7 kg. You will definitely notice the weight when you pick it up for the first time. So why the would you choose this pack? This pack is best described as a workhorse and it is rated to comfortably carry weights of between 14-27 kg. As much as I love my Osprey Atmos 50 pack it does become uncomfortable with loads over approximately 19 kg. The heaviest I have used that pack with 12 days of food was 22 kg and the comfort I normally associated with the Osprey Atmos was definitely missing.

The Aether Plus 60 is a very different pack. My testing on this pack was done over a three month period and I tried this in a range of different range of conditions, carrying loads of between 7-27 kg. The recommendation for this pack is 14-27 kg and that’s about right. This pack, like many other heavy grade packs, doesn’t perform well with small loads. At the other extreme I also loaded my pack up with 27 kg and while my ageing body wasn’t happy with that load, it was very comfortable which wasn’t surprising given all the plush padding integrated into the suspension and harness systems.

Price wise at AUD $599 RRP this pack isn’t cheap but given all the features and that it’s designed to haul big load comfortably it’s good value for money. Having said that you will often find this pack at a much cheaper price so unless you are in rush wait for one of the sales.

While this pack is never going to be my pack of choice for most of my hikes, it will be ready to deploy on the occasions I’m needing to carry large heavy loads and when I’m not willing to sacrifice comfort. If you regularly carry heavy loads then this is defiantly a pack you should consider.

We like

As 60 litre packs go this is a real workhorse with a carrying capacity up to 27 kg
Supremely adjustable to get a perfect fit
As about as full-featured as a pack can get
- Pocket options everywhere
- Removable top lid converts to DayLid daypack – this is a real pack not a pretend pack
- Integrated raincover made with PFC-free DWR and bluesign®-approved materials
- Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment and dual ice axe loops with bungee tie-offs
- Floating top lid with lash points and Integrated Flap
- Jacket cover for lidless use
- Dual front panel zippered pockets for easy-access storage
- Large front panel zip access to main compartment
- Fabric reinforced front shove-it pocket
- Large dual-access stretch mesh side water bottle pockets
- Dual upper/lower side compression straps
- Dual front panel compression straps with StraightJacket compression
- Dual zippered hipbelt pockets
- Zippered sleeping bag compartment with removable divider
- Removable sleeping pad straps
- Internal hydration reservoir sleeve
- Front chest clip whistle

We don't like

The internal water bladder pocket means you need to pretty much unpack all equipment to remove and fill up the bladder if you have a fully loaded pack
This pack is heavy pack at 2.7 kg
Personal preference only but I prefer single main compartment and never use the lower zip opening
Upper end of the pack pricing

Best Uses

Hikers who carry a loads up to 27 kg and want to do so comfortably from day 1 to week 5

Investment

AUD $599.99 RRP – check out the sales so you can purchase at a much cheaper price

Buy One

You can purchase the Osprey Aether Plus 60L Pack online from Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports

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