Osprey Packs

Ariel Plus 85L Backpack - Women's

This pack is up to every challenge

I adore this pack. My mom bought the Ariel 85L for me a few years ago (2021) for my first guiding job, and it has been my companion ever since. The pockets make it easy for me to stay organized and access a variety of gear while on the trail, and the brain turns into a little day pack. The only negative on the day pack feature is that the straps secure with plastic toggles through loops rather than buckles, so they come out when you aren't wearing the pack. This pack is super durable. I have sat on it, accidently thrown it in a beaver pond, checked it at the airport, and much more, and it hasn't ripped or shown much wear yet (knock on wood of course). The water bottle pockets have a holster feature, so you can access your bottles without help and fit notebooks, maps, or fuel bottles in the top part of the pocket. I am a notorious over packer, and I can always fit everything I need and still hike comfortably with this pack. If you like ultra light this might not be your pack, but if you want to hike for a long time while staying organized and comfortable this is a great pack.

Wanted to love it

I have to carry a lot of gear on my trips so I was looking to switch my trusty Aura 65 AG for something larger and better suited for very heavy loads. The new Ariel Plus line was just released and I immediately bought the 85L model. Now that it's been about a year I'm ready to share the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good: - this pack is easy to load - it has lots of pockets and all the features that I loved in my Aura (trekking poles loops, adjustable hipbelt, separate sleeping bag compartment, and external sleeping pad straps) plus features that are specific to the Ariel and are missing on Aura (side access to the main compartment, additional compression straps, the daypack top lid, etc.). It could've been the best pack I've ever owned, I really wanted to like it. The bad: - new sizing. This is my biggest gripe with this pack as there's nothing that can be done to fix this issue. I'm 5'8"" 100 lbs female, with a torso length between the S and M and a very small waist. The old sizing let me buy a pack with the right torso size and swap the interchangeable belt for the size I need, or buy an S/M pack with an adjustable belt and tighten it to the max. Now I have to choose between the XS/S which has the hipbelt that can be tightened enough but the frame is too short for my torso, and the M/L which has the right torso length but the belt is way too large and has me carrying the load on my shoulders instead of my hips. With loads of 50-65 lbs it quickly becomes very, very uncomfortable. - the lumbar panel. It's so protruding that it actually affects my posture, and not in a good way. - I find the padding on the belt and the shoulder straps to be fairly abrasive, but that's a matter of taste. - the back ventilation is not that great - but that's a small detail and I'd have overlooked it if I liked everything else The ugly: - the worst part for me is that Ariel and Aether Plus are the only Osprey packs that are large enough for my purposes aside from switching brands

Great potential marred by design flaws

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

This pack has a lot of good things going for it, but there are some significant design flaws that outweigh the good for me. This pack broke before I even got to use it. The buckle attachments that secure the brain/top lid both broke due to poor design and had to be secured with a knot. The first one broke at orientation for a Rainier climb, the second side broke during the climb. Additionally, when you use the top lid as a daypack, the attachment for the straps makes absolutely no sense and is poorly designed. Also had to secure these with a knot.

Design flaws

This pack has a lot of good things going for it, but there are some significant design flaws that outweigh the good for me. This pack broke before I even got to use it. The buckle attachments that secure the brain/top lid both broke due to poor design and had to be secured with a knot. The first one broke at orientation for a Rainier climb, the second side broke during the climb. Additionally, when you use the top lid as a daypack, the attachment for the straps makes absolutely no sense and is poorly designed. Also had to secure these with a knot.

Truly a fantastic pack!

Osprey really outdid themselves with this one, thinking of every little detail for organization and packing this pack. Additionally, the suspension is great and carrying over 40% of my body weight, I felt the weight, but not the pack! I like my comfort and I do not like to be cold and I carry food for my dogs, while they carry the water, therefore, I need all of this space. The only detail that osprey does on all of their packs is that sleeping bag divider is not fully removable, just ""disconnect-able"" so you still have to carry the divider around with you adding weight and it does get in my way. I have never used it since it prevents me from stuffing every solitary nook and cranny of the bag. Also, when the bag is stuffed, I have never been able to successfully open and then re-close the bottom zipper anyway. Same with the side zippers Osprey has on most of its packs. HOWEVER, they surely did get it right with the front zippers on this pack! You can open the entire front and then re-close it even when fully stuffed! Wonderful!!! Also, the side pockets, unlike other Osprey models, really can be used and things added and taken out even when the pack is fully stuffed. I love the front organization pockets and keep things that I need handy like GPS and maps, etc in one and repellent and netting, or if it is a cold, snowy backpack, gloves and hat, in the other.

Amazing! The Cadillac of packs.

Finally a large woman's specific pack! Thank you Osprey! I have been using men's or unisex packs my whole life until last year. What a difference specificity makes! This pack is so incredibly comfortable you don't really know you have it on. I am certain I will be able to travel more distance without fatigue with this pack. Six pounds for the M/L may seem like a heavier pack, but the infrastructure and material is worth it. This pack will be my only pack for multi day trips! Thank you.