Osprey Eja 48L Pack (2022)
Pack
Rating
| Rating: | 8.8 / 10 |
| Durability | 1.7 / 2 |
| Versatility | 1.7 / 2 |
| Weight | 1.8 / 2 |
| Comfort | 1.8 / 2 |
| Value for Money | 1.8 / 2 |
Osprey Eja 48L Pack Review
Those who spend time hiking with me know that I have a love-hate relationship with my packs. I love that I can fill them with the essentials you need in life. But I hate having to carry them so I keep my ‘essentials ‘ to the most minimal items.
It helps that packs improve with each new release. Today the fit is better, the materials are high tech, the functionality is practical and the styling is, well, increasingly stylish.
The Osprey Eja 48L is all those things and more. It is without doubt the best pack I have used thus far in my hiking experience. I big claim but definitely true.
Up until a few months back I was a fan of the Osprey Eja 58L Pack that had been my go-to pack – it was lightweight, relatively comfortable and sat ‘squatter’ than other packs which meant I could position the weight in line with my centre of gravity.
The Osprey Eja 48L is also lightweight but it’s much more comfortable given it is a little less ‘minimalist’ in terms of padding particularly on the shoulder harness. It’s also has large pockets on the hip belt – the position of which can be adjusted to your preferred spot.
Despite this pack being a 48L pack, I found there was plenty of room to carry everything I needed for six days on the Great Ocean Walk VIC (105km).
The biggest difference with the 2022 version of the Eja is the pack material. The main body of the pack is 100 Denier High Tenacity Nylon Ripstop made from 100% recycled material. It seems that most of the Osprey range is heading in this direction so recycled materials of this kind are becoming the norm.
The noticeable things here though is that the while there is some ‘give’ in the pack it still maintains a compact profile in terms of overall length and width. This is particularly important for those of us of average or smaller height. traditional packs have an elongated profile which doesn’t work so well for shorter torsos. Also, the Eja 58L tended to ‘expand sideways’ when stuffed full and it made me feel a little like a turtle – the position along my torso was good but the pack expanded back more than I liked.
You can still strip the Eja back by removing features you don’t need such as sleeping pad straps, compression straps and the top lid not that I do that.
This updated Eja still features the Osprey Airspeed Suspension which is a tensioned back panel that keeps the weight in the pack off of your back and provides good airflow so you don’t get too hot a sweaty. This is essential when you need to load up a lightweight pack and still be comfortable.
The hip belt is also more padded than my older Eja 58L and there is good adjustment via the pocket adjustment. The Pack Brain is still removable which could come in handy but I tend to have a lot of things packed into this handy good-sized pocket (including my snacks) so I’m unlikely to remove the brain.
Even though the body of the Eja has a slightly sturdier fabric I still use a Macpac 70 Litre Ultralight Pack Line at all times and a Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Pack Cover 50-70Litre Pack Cover when it’s raining.
Like other Osprey packs there are a number of standard features including:
- A large stretch pocket on the back which is very useful for storing a tent, wet rain gear etc
- ‘Stow on the go’ trekking pole storage which while this feature works well with the telescoping style of tracking
- Internal hydration reservoir sleeve accommodates up to a 3 litre reservoir
- Extra large side pockets that fit water bottles or a number of other pieces of equipment
- Dual ice tool loops
- Removable sleeping pad straps
- A sternum strap with integrated safety whistle.
This pack comes in women’s extra small/small and medium/large sizes with colour choice limited to Cloud Grey and Deep Teal. Make sure you make your selection based on the two colours – particularly if you’re buying online – given the old Eja 48L (characterised by different colours choices) is still available.
The Eja is well priced at AUD $349.95 and is great value for a lightweight but durable women’s back pack.
It’s hard to get excited about a back pack, but the new Eja 48L excites me!
PLEASE NOTE: At the time that this review was released in mid November 2022 the new release Osprey Eja Packs were very hard to find on the Australian Market. keep an eye out, they should be available soonish.
We like
The Eja has a bunch of great features including:
- The Airspeed Suspension that keeps the load off your back and allows air movement to reduce sweaty-ness
- Removable floating lid with top-and under-lid zippered pockets for storing smaller items
- Good compression strap options to tighten this pack as you want
- Very large versatile mesh side pockets
- Removable sleeping pad straps
- Integrated FlapJacket for lidless use to protect your gear from the weather and to further lighten your weight
- Rear stretch mesh pocket which expands to store lightweight bulky items such as your tent, your rain gear etc
- An ice tool attachment loop – just because your ultralight hiking doesn’t mean you have to leave the essentials behind
- ‘Stow on the go’ trekking pole storage that allows you to store your poles when not in use and keep on walking at the same time
- Accessory cord attachment points for external gear storage
- Sternum strap with integrated safety whistle
We don't like
This is a great pack for women no buts!
Best Uses
Women hikers who carry loads up to the 14-18 kg mark but the best comfort is achieved by limiting your pack weight to 14 kg
Investment
AUD$349.95 RRP
Buy One
You can purchase the Osprey Eja 48L Pack online from Wildfire Sports
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If you have used the Osprey Eja 48L Pack or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below
Other Versions
- Osprey Eja 58L Pack
Osprey Eja 58 litre in Cloud Grey colour
Osprey Eja 48 Deep Teal
Osprey Eja 48L showing the extra large stretch side pocket usually used for water bottles but also great for your rain gear
Pack Brain pocket on the Eja is very useful for holding all those little bits and pieces
Osprey Eja Pack Brain also has an internal zip pocket for valuables
Osprey Eja 48 Back suspension fine tuning
Hip belt pocket on Osprey Eja 48 Pack. These pockets are well sized for snacks and other bits and pieces
Internal water bladder pouch
Hydration Bladder hose port on Osprey Eja 48
Stow on the Go trekking Pole loop
Hip belt on Opsrey Eja 48
The Eja 48L rear stretch Pocket
Airspeed Suspension keeps your back from getting overly hot and sweaty
Disclaimer
This review was done with product supplied by the Australian Importer of Osprey Packs