A Traveler's Review: The Osprey Atmos AG 65L Backpack

I spent many years searching for a backpack that looks good while maintaining its functionality, as well as making my life as a long-term traveler a little easier, and I have finally found it!

As I was finishing up my plan for a trip to trek the Everest Base Camp trail in Nepal back in late 2018, I went to a local hiking store, just casually browsing and making sure that I had all the gear I needed.

An hour later, I emerged from that store with a brand new backpack that I did not expect to buy and would later become one of the reasons that made my trek to the Everest Base Camp so much easier.

That backpack is the Osprey Atmos AG backpack, a sizable backpack that is perfect for long backpacking trips. It comes equipped with the Anti-Gravity suspension system, fit-on-the-fly adjustable hip belt, removable floating top, internal hydration reservoir sleeve, and more.

Wondering what these fancy words mean and how they will affect your travel? Let's find out! Here is a traveler's review of the Osprey Atmos AG backpack, the pros and cons of this backpack, my experience using it for a year, and why it is the best backpack for trekking.

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Table of Contents

Summary of the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack
Osprey Atmos AG Specification
What to look for in a hiking/trekking backpack?
Why Osprey Atmos AG is the Best Backpack?
What I Love Most About the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack
The Drawbacks of the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack
- The Compartment is Narrow
Overall, This is Best Backpack For Hikers and Long-Term Travelers
Further Reading for Resources

Summary of the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack

If you are short on time, the list below summarizes what I personally think about the Osprey Atmos AG backpack based on my 1-year experience traveling with it. If you want to know the recent price of the backpack, be sure to check it using the link below.

Pros

The Anti-Gravity Suspension System makes it feel lighter.
A Lifetime Guarantee.
Breathable back with a mesh back panel.
Easy to fit on the fly.
Excellent build quality.
Comes with a raincover.

Cons

The compartment is too narrow.

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Osprey Atmos AG Specification

Let's first begin with a basic overview of the backpack's specifications that will be useful for you to consider before buying this backpack. The Osprey ATMOS series comes in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large, with different volumes and dimensions as follows:

Volume: Small: 62L, Medium: 65L, Large: 68L.
Dimensions: Small: 82H x 39W x 41D CM, Medium: 87H x 39W x 41D CM, Large: 92H x 39W x 41D CM
Weight: Small: 2.03 kg, Medium: 2.07 kg, Large: 2.11 kg.
Highlight Features: The Anti-Gravity suspension, removable floating top, adjustable harness, internal hydration sleeve, dual access side pockets, zippered hip belt pockets, integrated safety whistle, and many more.

I personally bought the Medium size version of the Osprey Atmos AG backpack with a 65L capacity, which is more than enough for me to carry everything I need for trips of any duration, including regular backpacking trips as well as long trekking trips in the Himalayas.

Now that we have all the information we need, let's discuss things we should look for in a backpack for trekking.

What to look for in a hiking/trekking backpack?

Weight Distribution: One of the most important things to look for in a trekking backpack is how it distributes weight on your back, which often includes a good adjustable suspension system that you can adjust to fit your body type.

If the backpack has poor weight distribution, it will hurt your back more as you hike around with it, which is not ideal, especially if you are planning to trek for several days.

The Capacity: This is another important thing to look for. Depending on the hiking trip you are planning to do, you may not need a large backpack. However, since I often travel on long trips that may include multi-day treks, I needed something big enough to carry everything for the duration of my trip, which can range from one month to six months.

Price in Relation to Longevity: Buying a backpack is an investment. It is something you will rely on for all future trips, so it is important that it delivers on all fronts without fail.

In an ideal world, we would get the most expensive backpack and call it a day. However, we are not in that world, and price will play a big role in our decision-making. Therefore, we will have to balance out the price and the longevity the backpack will give us.

In my opinion, these are the three most important factors to consider when buying a backpack that will allow us to go hiking as well as travel for a long period of time, and for me, the Osprey Atmos AG backpack matched all the requirements on paper. How about in practice? Well, let's find out.

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Why Osprey Atmos AG is the Best Backpack?

The Anti-Gravity Suspension is Amazing

The Anti-Gravity Suspension System is the key highlight of this backpack. The lightweight mesh backpanel allows for better weight distribution throughout your back, making the weight you are carrying with the backpack feel lighter than it actually is.

I knew I would get this bag the moment I tried the backpack on. The mesh suspension system allows the back panel to curve in the shape of my back while leaving room for ventilation behind, making it one of the best backpacks for a hiker like me who is always going on long trekking trips.

From the looks of it, the mesh seems quite fragile, and I thought it was bound to break at some point. However, after traveling around with it for the past year in rugged places like Pakistan and Nepal, getting thrown up on the bus in Pakistan, or thrown around every time I flew, the mesh backpanel is still intact without a scratch.

The mesh is actually thicker and more stretchy than it looks in the picture, and although a sharp scissor could have cut into it, the way the backpack curves in on itself while you are not wearing it creates a protective barrier for anything to get stuck in the mesh and break it.

All in all, I have nothing but praise for the Anti-Gravity Suspension system, and it is one of the best features of this backpack that you won't find anywhere else.

Perfect Capacity

For travelers who like to go on trips that are longer than 2 weeks and often include hiking or if you have a lot of camera gear to carry like me, a 65L is the perfect capacity for you, and the Osprey Atmos AG backpack comes in 3 sizes: 65L, as well as 62L and 68L, in case you are looking for one that is slightly smaller/bigger.

May it be a tripod or all of your travel essentials, you can fit almost everything in this backpack. Plus, it comes with a separate sleeping bag compartment at the bottom, which allows for easy access without having to dig through all of your stuff, a great feature for those of us who enjoy camping.

It also comes with a front mesh compartment for you to put any essential things that you might want to be able to access quickly, such as a rain jacket or flip-flops.

The bag is built for multi-function, which is often required for hikers who are always in a fast-changing environment. You will find many more compartments, such as the top lid or the front pockets, that are extremely useful when the situation calls for it.

Removable Top Lid

The Osprey Atmos AG backpack is designed to be extremely versatile in almost all situations, and it reflects in the design choices they made to make the top lid compartment removable.

By removing the top lid, you will have a slightly smaller-sized backpack, but with all the great features that come with the Atmos AG series. This is perfect when you want to take a break from a long trip and go on a shorter adventure.

Perfect Fit with Fit-On-the-Fly Hipbelt

The Osprey Atmos AG backpack comes with an adjustable hipbelt that allows you to shorten and extend the belt to fit your body perfectly. You can easily pull it in and out without having to fiddle with the straps.

As mentioned previously, the backpack comes with a mesh backpanel that extends all the way to the hipbelt, preventing any weird seams from causing unnecessary pressure points on your body. This is extremely important when you have to carry it for long hours every day.

Dual Access Side Pockets

Another little detail added to the Osprey Atmos AG series that makes it one of the best hiking backpacks to buy is the dual-access mesh side pockets that allow you to have access to your water bottles without having to put your bag down.

The mesh side pockets have two access points: one at the top, like most backpacks out there, which is not easy to access when your backpack is on you; and another on the side, which allows you to slide the water bottles in and out easily from the side even when you have your backpack on.

Equipped with Zippered Belt Pockets

The Osprey Atmos AG backpack also comes with 2 front pockets on the hipbelt, giving you access to most of your frequently used essentials, such as a passport, your phone, sunglasses, or snack bars, instantly.

It can be a pain, especially when you are trekking, to take your backpack on and off every time you want to get your sunglasses or snack bars out. However, with the front pockets right on the hipbelt, you no longer have to stop and break your hiking flow just to get your sunglasses out.

Comes With A Rain Cover

The backpack also comes with a free rain cover attached inside its own compartment on the removable top lid, making it extremely easy and fast to cover your bag when the weather suddenly changes.

A Lifetime Guarantee

Last but not least, Osprey offers a lifetime guarantee on all of its backpacks in which they will repair any damage or defect for any reason. If they are unable to repair it, they will replace it for you, free of charge.

Now, that's what I call a brand that cares! By buying a backpack with Osprey, you are essentially investing your money in a backpack that will last you for the rest of your life, making whatever premium you are paying Osprey worth every penny that you might save from buying other brands.

For more information on fixing and replacing parts for Osprey's backpack, check out: Osprey Lifetime Guarantee

What I Love Most About the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack

It Really Does Feel Lighter When Carrying

I am not gonna lie, when the sales clerk was talking about how the Anti-Gravity suspension system would make the backpack feel lighter, it sounded like a snake oil advertisement more than anything, especially when you have the word "Anti-Gravity" in it. But the moment I put it on, I was blown away by how it felt on my back.

It didn't feel like I was carrying a 65L backpack. It feels more like a 50L backpack, and the way the mesh backpanel curves around to fit perfectly with my back allows me greater mobility than any of the previous backpacks I owned.

I spent 15 days trekking the Everest Base Camp with this backpack and every morning before I started hiking, I was always happy to throw the backpack on my back like it's nothing and begin the day, which is something I dreaded with my previous backpack.

Don't get me wrong, 15 days of hiking in the Himalayas with my 15kg backpack on my back for 6 - 8 hours a day did take a toll on my body, but without the Anti-Gravity suspension system, my trip would have been much less comfortable than it was.

If you are looking to go on long treks like the one I did in Nepal and are currently searching for a new backpack, this is hands down the best one you can get.

Great Airflow with the Lightweight Mesh Backpanel

The mesh back panel not only makes the weight lighter, but it also allows airflow to go behind your back, making it much more breathable than any other backpacks I've used.

Since the mesh is stretchy and curves all around your back, the back panel helps cool down your back without having to sacrifice the comfort that comes with a cushioned back panel like in other backpacks, which is another reason why the Osprey Atmos AG backpack is the best backpack out there.

Easy Access to water bottles without putting my bag down

As mentioned previously, the ability to have access to your water bottles or other gear easily from the side without having to take off your backpack to get it is a game-changer for hikers.

I love being able to stay hydrated while hiking without having to stop. With the dual access side pockets, all I have to do is reach out to the side and drink without interrupting my hiking flow, which is something I can't do with my old backpack.

Excellent Build Quality

As I said, I have been traveling with the Osprey Atmos AG backpack for a year, taking it through some of the most demanding environments out there, such as on top of a bus along the dusty roads of the Karakoram Highway, as well as hiking with it for 15 days in Nepal. The backpack came out almost unscratched.

I am certainly on the side of a heavy user here, and it did handle everything the world threw at it surprisingly well. After a year of heavy usage, the mesh back panel is still intact. I have no problem with any of the zippers, and the colors are as fresh as new, although the logo is a bit worn off, but that's to be expected.

The trips I often make require my backpack to be durable enough to last me at least three months of constant traveling, and the Osprey Atmos Ag backpack has yet to fail me once.

The Front Mesh Pocket Is Useful

The Osprey Atmos AG backpack also comes with a front mesh pocket that I found myself using a lot more than I thought I would. I often use the front mesh pocket to quickly store and access my rain jacket and weather-proof pants for when it starts pouring while hiking. It has saved me a ton of times and a lot of trouble of digging through my stuff when I was hiking in Nepal.

The Reassurance of the Lifetime Guarantee

Since the Osprey Atmos AG backpack is not exactly cheap, with the price at around $270 USD, it is good to know that if things break, Osprey will either fix it for me or replace it free of charge. It is that reassurance that makes it worthwhile to spend $270 USD on a backpack that will last me a lifetime.

The Drawbacks of the Osprey Atmos AG Backpack

The Compartment is Narrow

I have only one complaint about the Osprey Atmos AG backpack, and that is that the main compartment is a bit too narrow, probably because of the Anti-Gravity suspension system and the mesh back panel taking up more space than the regular back panel usually does.

This makes it a bit hard to fit a big object horizontally, such as a big sleeping bag or a large packing cube. I often have to go vertical for these objects, which leaves a lot of unused space on the side that I can barely use to fit anything else in.

This is probably a design limitation that comes with the Anti-Gravity Suspension system more than anything, so I wouldn't expect Osprey to fix it in the next version. However, I think it is important to point it out for you so that you can decide whether you mind it or not.

Overall, This is Best Backpack For Hikers and Long-Term Travelers

All in all, I think the Osprey Atmos AG backpack is the perfect backpack for travelers who like to go on long trips, enjoy hiking and camping, and who are looking for a reliable backpack to invest in for the long haul, and don't mind paying $270 for it. Be sure to check if the backpack has been discounted or not with the link below.

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