Breathable, lightweight material can be a Godsend on the trail, especially when it comes to backpacks. It can be sweltering and miserable to lug a heavy backpack on the trail, especially one that doesn’t breathe. Outdoor gear companies have made great strides in recent years, though, with packs made from quality materials and smart designs. Today we’ll take a look at the latest line in these backs, the Anti-Gravity series from Osprey, with a specific focus on the Atmos 65 EX.
Osprey’s Anti-Gravity (AG) technology is comprised of newly designed suspension, backpanel, harness, and hipbelt. The suspension is made from a LightWire tensioned, full-peripheral frame and structural load-lifter bars located on the harness. The harness itself offers adjustable, gender-specific suspended mesh with mesh ExoForm padding and an adjustable sternum strap. The AG series’ backpanel features a continuous structure of lightweight, ventilated mesh which contours automatically to your body. Finally, the packs offer gender-specific suspended mesh wrap hipbelts that are fully adjustable.
We’re focusing on the Atmos 65 pack due to its recent award as Backpacker magazine’s 2015 Editor’s Choice. Aside from the revolutionary AG features, the Atmos offers a removable floating lid that contains two zippered pockets to allow you quick access to essential gear. Other storage features include dual stretch-mesh side pockets, zippered hipbelt pockets, and a large front stash pocket, and a back bottom that offers a zippered sleeping bag compartment and removable sleeping pad straps. Finally, the pack;s exterior also features two front panel zip pockets, ice tool loops with bungee tie-offs, and a trekking pole attachment.
You’ll also find upper and lower side compression straps that help reduce bulk and stabilize your loads, providing optimal weight distribution and carrying comfort. There’s also an integrated rain jacket to protect the pack’s contents from bad weather and rain when you use it without the lid. The Atmos also offers an internal hydration sleeve.
The Atmos is available in three different sizes—Small (over 3700 cubic inches), Medium (just under 4000 cubic inches), and Large (over 4100 cubic inches)—and each shares the same $260 price tag, which is a nice bonus. The sizes each weigh under five pounds, even with an internal frame. Finally, the pack comes in two colors—cinnabar red and graphite grey.
Outdoorsmen in the market for a new pack this season would do well to check out Osprey’s revolutionary Anti-Gravity series. There are several packs within the series aside from the Atmos 65, but you could do a lot worse than the 2015 Backpacker magazine Editor’s Choice award winner.
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