Meet Rosie.
I purchased the Aura 50 in 2012, so I have the older purple model, but it’s the same basic setup. I’ve used it for small backpacking trips, as well as my 2016 5.5 month thruhike of the AT.
Pros: | Cons: |
50-liter size is perfect for not letting you carry too much weight |
|
Comfy, padded straps and hip belt | With long, sweaty distances, you will always have rubbing (I got packrash, but not the worst case I saw) |
Big stretchy side pockets | They get REALLY tight when your pack is full, so it’s hard to put stuff in them while it’s strapped to your back |
Reservoir holder fits Camelbak, MSR, etc. | Improvement request: external bladder section (like many of my male friends’ packs) so I don’t have to unpack everything when I fill the bladder |
Hip pockets were handy for fitting my SPOT GPS, pocket knife, watch face, etc. | Smaller than other model hip belt pockets (newer Auras do have bigger pockets) |
I put my sleeping bags (winter, then summer) in a compression sack in the bottom of my pack, and secured my sleeping pad on the bottom external straps. This was handy as it made my pack a kind of chairback when I took breaks.
As with any long-distance hike over many months, the pack (especially straps) were SERIOUSLY funky after a while. After multiple washings, it still smells, but all packs will do that.
You can buy this pack and see more specs at Osprey and outdoor retailers.
7 thoughts on “Gear Review: Osprey Aura 50 AG Pack”