EXOS 58

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

I used this pack for my 2016 Thru-hike of the AT. It was without a doubt the most popular pack on the trail this year. I worried about its durability since it is so light, but I had no problems except some holes in the net pockets. It doesn't absorb water so no rain cover was necessary. I just put everything that had to stay dry in a compression sack and then all of that into a trash compactor bag. This pack loves being between 25 and 30 lbs. but not much over.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

I bought my first Osprey Exos 58 before hiking the Colorado Trail in 2014. Last year I used the pack to hike the Long Trail and John Muir Trail. With some other trips, my total mileage with the pack was about 1,500 miles. When I started planning another long hike, I noticed that the mesh that holds the pack off the back (for ventilation) had started to tear. Rather than repair it myself, under Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee I returned the piece for repair. Rather than repair the pack, Osprey decided to send me a new, updated Exos 58 at no charge.

Since that time, I've taken the new pack on a couple short trips. Like the original, the pack is lightweight, per Osprey, under 2 ½ pounds in a large. The main compartment holds everything I need on a multi-day trip including a tent, bag, pad, extra clothes and even a bear canister when required, without having to attach anything to the outside of the pack. I pack light, but certainly not ultralight. My pack, with four days of food and two liters of water typically weighs a bit under 30 pounds.

The original version handled that weight fairly well, but the update includes a thicker, more comfortable hip belt and shoulder straps. The Airspeed suspension system continues to work like a charm, holding the load steady while keeping a cooling airspace between the load and my back. I'm 6' 2" and the large fits me well.

There were a few other changes to the pack. Perhaps the biggest was removing two large outside pockets from the main compartment. They intruded on the main compartment, so didn't add any capacity, but I was sorry to see them go. In one I kept my water filter, first aid kit and odds and ends like spare batteries and duct tape. In the other was my rain gear and pack's rain cover. These items were handy when needed, but left alone when I set up or broke down camp. How I pack just got a bit more complicated.

Regardless of that issue though, still a great pack.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

This is a superb pack. It carries up to 25-30 pounds easily, and will carry 40 pounds, but less comfortably. I go light, but am not an ultra-minimalist. On a recent 5 day trip starting weight was 24lbs. including bear canister. The pack rides perfectly, with no extraneous moment. The side compression straps look small but are well placed and really pull the load together. I am 5-11 and have the medium size. The back stretch panel will hold a shell and maps, and the zip pockets on the waist belt are perfect for a day's worth of trail snacks. The single main compartment allows for flexible packing options, and I like that there are no zipper pockets on the outside of the pack. The top pocket is less impressive in that it doesn't cinch well to the pack. It is removable however, and there is a top flap that cinches cleanly to the same straps that attach to the top pocket. The inner compression strap and duffel-style cord lock work perfectly. The capacity of this pack is perfect for 3-season usage, and I am thinking about how to carry skis with this as it would work well for shorter winter trips. Osprey has done a great job on this pack, with great attention to detail. Highly recommended!

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

Took the pack out for the first time on a 2 day 20 mile hike at Grayson Highlands/Mt Rogers VA. With food, eater and gear I had the pack weighing in at just under 30lbs. I don't think it could comfortably go much further than that. The pack performed wonderfully. Super cooling on the back area. My other packs have never done it as well as this one. I have now become an osprey convert. -Thank you

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

I bought this pack to replace an older model (the EXOS 58 Ember Orange) that had worn out. This was an awesome pack that I had used on many backpacks, including the John Muir Trail. The new model is also comfortable, light weight and sturdy. However, I only gave it 4 stars because I miss the two side zippered pockets which were great for stashing items that you wanted to get to quickly, like rain gear or hat and gloves.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

An amazing pack with so much going for it minus padding. Everything about this pack is top notch besides that. Best side pocket design I've used, they should definitely modify the atmos packs in this department. I could've done without the internal flap to shave weight rather than removing the usable lid with double zip storage which I find very usable. Hip belt pockets are perfect size and stay out of the way of swinging arms. Back mesh pocket is something I really like in a pack, and the Exos super stretch mesh works out great. The back panel is the most comfortable I've felt, and I've owned a dozen packs. Super breathable and supportive. Comparable comfort to those mesh backed computer chairs.
So the two complaints I have are lack of padding, and the narrow lower frame structure. Basically the mesh is the padding and that is it. I actually sewed padding on both hip belt and shoulder straps. The mesh was a little abrasive too. Second issue was the width of the bottom of the frame. I'm thin, and even then, the frame corners on the bottom pushed into my upper buttocks enough to make them sore. After a week on the trail, the frame issue went away, but with loads over 30lbs, the lack of padding left my hips and shoulders sore.
A surprise to me was that it could carry a BV500 horizontally inside behind my shoulders which seems to ride best while hiking for me. Nice to be able to access food without having to unpack any other gear. It did rub through the hydration sleeve due to the material being sandwiched between the frame and canister, but that was avoided later with placement of my trash compactor bag liner.

All in all, an amazing UL pack. Just wish it had better padding.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

I purchased this pack for hiking the PCT. The overall design and minimal weight makes it the best "big brand" pack available. The side stretch pockets are great for hydration, upright or facing forward. These pockets can carry 4 one liter bottles conveniently. The back stretch pocket is great for maps, trowel, TP, or other quick grab items that don't fit in hip or pant pockets. The main compartment is roomy and the silver (or green if you have a green/black) strips provide passage of some ambient light. The many tightening adjustments allow for tightening the load securely, with minimal weight. The top removable flap pocket is nice, but excess weight for any UL conscious person. The interior pocket for a water bladder is a nice touch, given the demand for water bladders, and might protect the pack contents from a bladder break - but I wouldn't count on it. It's the one thing that could be eliminated to save a little more weight if Osprey wanted to convert this a little more UL.
The hip pockets are a little smaller than some, sufficient for a small camera, a bottle of sanitizer, lip balm, lighter, or a short granola bar. The lack of bulk prevents them from bouncing, so there is a little trade off for small hip pockets. I have a 31" waist and with a medium sized pack I could "almost" pull the waist straps as tight as they would go without discomfort. So there is excess strap left over when tightening for an average trim build (I'm 5'9" 155 lbs with a 31" waist).
The chest straps both have a pocket most convenient for a bar snack as long as it's skinny like a candy bar, or most granola bars (they held my MetRx protein bars great). They wouldn't be good for a wide bar such as Cliff.
There is a handy quick access strap set up for holding hiking poles. While not necessary, it does come in quite handy from time to time. They are also great for keeping your poles with your pack so you don't loose them (like I did once).
Load lifter are adequate, small and light weight.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

Very comfortable, good balance, with 21 pounds (bag included) on the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon. I am 66 and in better than average shape for my age.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

I first bought an Osprey Aether 60 in 2004. I used this pack regularly for 10 years before it started showing some wear.
In 2014 I saw the EXOS 58 and loved the idea of a 2 lb 10 oz full featured pack. I tried it out and the first thing that I noticed was the great fit. The next thing I noticed was how well this pack ventilates the back. I think this is the best feature of the EXOS series. The first trip I carried 35 lbs to test its max capabilities. Normally I would carry this much on a 5 day hike. The packs suspension held up well under this load, but for me this is the maximum I would carry using this model. The thin straps throughout the pack are adequate while decreasing the weight. The shoulder straps and hip belt at first glance appear to have minimal padding. In use the padding is quite comfortable, and the open cell structure of the foam ventilates at the shoulder and hip contact points quite well.
After two seasons of use, the straps on the hip belt, shoulder harness, side load supports, and bottom pad strap are all functioning well with no slippage.
I did tear out a guide loop at the bottom of the pack where it appears this loop was not sewn in completely. I found this to have no effect on how well the pack performs though.
The hood I feel is a bit too large for the pack. I believe if you filled this hood completely, you may end up with a awkward set up where it would crowd your head. By keeping the hood cinched down and not filled too high, I find I have plenty of head room.
I appreciate that the hydration pocket is accessible without removing gear, and that I have a hydration port on each side.
The hip belt pockets are sized perfectly for an energy bar on one side and my GPS on the other. Each shoulder strap also has a pocket.
Lastly, compared to my Aether 60, The EXOS is not built nearly as robustly, however it is quite adequate for the backpacker who wont be doing a lot of bush wacking and scrambling.

Comments about Osprey EXOS 58:

They should call this the helium pack. It is that light, yet is 58 liters! I've had one of these for about 2 years and the pack still looks/functions as new. I worried when I first got it that some of the light components may break, but they haven't. I like this pack so much that I just ordered another one for my son. I use this pack on extended summer hikes when I carry my lighter gear. In the snow I still use my larger Osprey Argon 110.