Choosing the right backpack is the cornerstone of a successful backpacking trip. It’s the vessel that carries your shelter, sustenance, and sanity for miles on end, making the difference between a grueling slog and a comfortable adventure. With countless options on the market, narrowing down the perfect pack can feel overwhelming. This is where Osprey, a leader in the field, stands out with its commitment to comfort, durability, and innovative design.
For 2025, Osprey continues to refine its popular models while introducing new features that cater to the modern backpacker. Whether you’re a minimalist trekker counting every ounce, a traveler needing a carry-on companion, or someone embarking on a multi-day expedition, there is an Osprey pack engineered for your journey. Our roundup highlights the best Osprey backpacks to help you find the ideal partner for your next outdoor pursuit.
Our Top Osprey Backpack Picks for 2025
- Osprey Farpoint 40L Men’s Travel Backpack
- Osprey Daylite Plus Commuter Backpack
- Osprey Daylite Commuter Backpack
- Osprey Exos 58L Men’s Ultralight Backpacking Backpack
- Osprey Daylite Cinch Backpack
- Osprey Aether Plus 70 Men’s Backpacking Backpack
- Osprey Ariel Plus 65 Women’s Backpacking Backpack
- Osprey Atmos AG 65 Men’s Backpacking Backpack
Osprey Farpoint 40L Men’s Travel Backpack
The Osprey Farpoint 40L is a top choice for travelers who prefer to carry on their luggage. Its clever design uses durable fabrics in high-wear areas, resulting in a pack that is both lightweight and tough enough to handle the rigors of global travel. The stowaway harness and hipbelt system is a key feature, allowing you to securely tuck away the straps when checking your bag or moving through crowded airports, then quickly deploy them for comfortable carrying on any path.
Organization is streamlined for efficiency. A quick-access zippered sleeve safely holds a 16″ laptop and tablet, making it perfect for the working traveler. An external zip toiletry pocket provides easy access to your essentials without having to open the main compartment. This pack masterfully balances capacity with the strict size requirements of most major airlines.
Osprey Daylite Plus Commuter Backpack
For daily adventures and shorter excursions, the Osprey Daylite Plus Commuter Backpack offers premium efficiency in a compact form. This lightweight pack is tuned for everyday use, whether you’re heading to work, school, or out for a day hike. Its thoughtful design helps you make the most of each trip with versatile storage options that keep your gear organized and accessible.
The backpack includes a dedicated laptop sleeve and convenient water bottle pockets, covering all the basics for a commuter or day-tripper. An internal hydration sleeve adds to its versatility, allowing you to easily switch between urban and trail environments. It’s a reliable and adaptable pack for those who need a single bag for multiple aspects of their life.
Osprey Daylite Commuter Backpack
The Osprey Daylite Commuter Backpack is a highly versatile and compact option. Its standout feature is its compatibility; this pack is designed to attach to several larger Osprey travel and backpacking bags, providing additional storage and carry options when you need it most. This makes it an excellent supplement to your primary pack for day tours or as a personal item on travel days.
The main compartment is easy to access with its large panel-loading design. Inside, a multifunctional sleeve can accommodate a hydration reservoir for trail use or securely hold most tablets and laptops up to 14 inches. This blend of features makes the Daylite a smart, scalable solution for a variety of situations.
Osprey Exos 58L Men’s Ultralight Backpacking Backpack
For the backpacker who prioritizes speed and distance, the Osprey Exos 58L is a game-changer. This men’s ultralight pack is built with premium materials and a design philosophy centered on efficiency, allowing you to cover more ground with less weight on your back. Its suspended mesh backpanel provides crucial ventilation, keeping you cool and dry on strenuous climbs.
The storage is intelligently tuned, offering enough capacity for multi-day trips without unnecessary bulk. The lightweight frame still provides essential support and load transfer to the hips, making it comfortable even with a full load. If your goal is to move fast and light on the trail, the Exos is purpose-designed to help you achieve it.
Osprey Daylite Cinch Backpack
The Osprey Daylite Cinch offers a streamlined, no-fuss approach to carrying your essentials. This pack utilizes a simple yet effective cinch-top closure, making it quick and easy to access your gear. Dual side compression straps help stabilize your load and reduce the pack’s profile when it’s not full, providing a secure and comfortable carry.
An internal reservoir sleeve means you can stay hydrated on the go, perfect for a quick hike or a day at the festival. A particularly clever feature is the harness grab handle, which doubles as a luggage pass-thru. This allows you to securely slide the pack over the handle of your rolling suitcase, making it an ideal personal item for air travel.
Osprey Aether Plus 70 Men’s Backpacking Backpack
When your backpacking trips involve extended journeys into the backcountry or require carrying heavy, bulky gear, the Osprey Aether Plus 70 is built for the task. This high-capacity men’s pack is designed for maximum load-hauling comfort and organization. It features a robust suspension system that effectively transfers weight to your hips, reducing strain on your shoulders and back over long miles.
The pack includes multiple access points and a wealth of pockets, allowing for logical and easy organization of all your camping essentials. From a multi-day trek to a technical mountaineering expedition, the Aether Plus provides the space, durability, and support needed to carry substantial loads with confidence and stability.
Osprey Ariel Plus 65 Women’s Backpacking Backpack
The Osprey Ariel Plus 65 is the women-specific counterpart to the Aether, engineered to fit the female form perfectly. It offers the same robust load-carrying capabilities and organizational features, but with a harness and hipbelt sculpted specifically for a woman’s torso and hips. This attention to fit ensures optimal weight distribution and comfort during demanding trips.
With 65 liters of space, it is an excellent volume for week-long adventures or for those who prefer a little extra room. The focus on a precise, comfortable fit for women makes the Ariel Plus a reliable and trusted partner for female backpackers facing challenging terrain and heavy loads.
Osprey Atmos AG 65 Men’s Backpacking Backpack
The Osprey Atmos AG 65 is renowned for its revolutionary Anti-Gravity suspension system, which provides an unparalleled level of comfort. This men’s backpacking pack is designed to feel like an extension of your body, with a suspended mesh harness that contours to your back and offers exceptional ventilation. This system significantly reduces sweat buildup and hot spots.
Ideal for long-distance hikers and those who value comfort above all else, the Atmos AG 65 makes carrying heavy loads feel remarkably manageable. The combination of intelligent storage, durable construction, and its signature suspension makes it a perennial favorite for backpackers who want to minimize fatigue and maximize enjoyment on the trail.
Buying Guide: How to Choose an Osprey Backpack for Your 2025 Trip
Choosing the right backpack is one of the most important decisions you make when planning a backpacking trip. It’s your mobile home, and getting it wrong can turn an adventure into a chore. As someone who has tested a lot of gear, I think Osprey consistently hits the mark with their attention to detail and comfort. So, let’s talk about what you should actually look for when picking from the 8 best Osprey backpacks for backpacking trips in 2025.
First up is capacity, which is all about trip length. For a simple overnight or a weekend trip, a pack in the 40-50 liter range is usually perfect. It forces you to pack light and keeps things manageable. For those longer treks of three to five days, you’ll want to look at the 50-70 liter sweet spot. This gives you enough room for a bear canister, extra food, and a bit more gear. If you’re heading out for a week or more, or need to carry specialized equipment, then a 70+ liter monster is your friend. Just remember, a bigger pack often means a heavier pack, both empty and full.
Next, the fit is non-negotiable. An ill-fitting pack is a pain factory. Osprey’s Anti-Gravity suspension system is legendary for a reason—it makes heavy loads feel significantly lighter and more balanced. The key is to get your torso length measured correctly. This isn’t about your height; it’s the specific distance from your iliac crest (the top of your hip bone) to your C7 vertebra (the bony bump at the base of your neck). Osprey packs come in different sizes based on this measurement. Once you have the right size, you’ll spend time dialing in the hip belt and shoulder straps. The hip belt should sit squarely on your hip bones, taking about 80% of the pack’s weight.
Finally, consider the features that match your style. Do you want a pack with a dedicated hydration sleeve and port? How about a floating lid that can be converted into a slim daypack? Look at the access points—do you prefer just top-loading, or would a front panel or even a bottom zip make your life easier? I also always check the number and placement of external pockets for water bottles and rain gear. Little details like integrated rain covers, ice axe loops, and tool attachments can make a huge difference depending on your environment. Think about where you’ll be going and what you’ll be doing, and match the pack’s features to those needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I properly measure myself for an Osprey backpack?
Getting the right size is the most critical step for comfort. You need to find your torso length, not your overall height. Grab a soft measuring tape and have a friend help. Find the C7 vertebra on your neck; it’s the most prominent bone that sticks out when you tilt your head down. Then, locate the top of your hip bones (your iliac crest). The distance between these two points is your torso length. Once you have this number, you can compare it to Osprey’s specific sizing chart for the model you want. A pack that’s too long or too short will never carry correctly, no matter how much you adjust the straps.
Are Osprey backpacks good for beginners?
Absolutely. In fact, I often recommend them to people just starting out. Osprey’s designs are intuitive, and their fitting systems are some of the best in the business, which helps new backpackers avoid common mistakes. Models like the Atmos AG or the Aura AG (for women) provide exceptional comfort right out of the gate, which builds confidence on the trail. Plus, their All Mighty Guarantee is unbeatable for peace of mind. If anything ever breaks or fails, they will repair it for free, which is a huge benefit when you’re investing in your first serious pack.
What is the difference between men’s and women’s specific Osprey packs?
Osprey doesn’t just color a pack pink and call it a women’s model. The differences are functional and based on common physiological differences. Women’s-specific packs, like those in the Aura or Ariel lines, typically have a shorter torso length range, narrower shoulder straps that are contoured to fit a woman’s chest, and a hip belt that is shaped for a more pronounced pelvis and wider hips. These adjustments help distribute the pack’s weight more effectively and prevent pressure points, making for a much more comfortable carry over long distances.
How do I clean and maintain my Osprey backpack?
Proper care will make your pack last for years. First, always empty all the pockets and shake out any dirt or debris. Use a damp cloth with a small amount of mild soap (like Nikwax Tech Wash) to wipe down the interior and exterior. Never put your backpack in a washing machine or dryer, as this can damage the fabrics, waterproof coatings, and plastic frame. After cleaning, let it air dry completely in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. Before storing it, make sure it’s fully dry to prevent mildew, and keep it in a cool, dry place—not stuffed in its own compression sack.
Can I try an Osprey pack before I buy it?
Yes, and you really should! The best way to know if a pack is right for you is to get your hands on it. Visit a local outdoor retailer where the staff is knowledgeable about fitting. They can measure your torso, help you try on different models, and even add some weight to the pack so you can feel how it carries when loaded. Walking around the store for a few minutes with weight in the pack is the closest you can get to a test drive. This hands-on experience is invaluable for choosing from the 8 best Osprey backpacks for backpacking trips in 2025.