Take On the Backcountry with an Osprey Ariel 75

There’s inevitably going to be a love-hate relationship with just about any frame pack on the market. You’re taking it into the backcountry, loaded with stuff, and so you’re spending a lot of time with it on your back. You’ll get to know it intimately, and it’s a given some aspects will be great while others will be found lacking.

Such is the case with Osprey’s Ariel 75 pack, which is on the larger side for frame packs, as it’s designed to hold gear for extended trips of five to 10 days.

Overall, the pack is extremely comfortable, and shops like REI will help make sure you’ve purchased the right size and can mold the hip belt to your frame before you leave the store. The pack has just the right bells and whistles without going overboard: ice axe loops, external hydration compatibility, a front stretch mesh pocket, hip belt pocket and sleeping pad straps.

Another great aspect is the top compartment detaches to become a lumbar pack — a fancy term for a fanny pack. Silly though it may look, this is great for shorter hikes and daytrips from camp, where you don’t want to take the entire pack along.

The major issue with this pack is the outside pockets on the pack’s sides are designed to hold easy-access gear like a water bottle. These pockets are so deep they make it impossible or difficult to pull out whatever is inside without taking the pack off entirely. That’s frustrating if you’re trying to just grab some water on the go without taking the entire pack off — an annoying proposition when you’re carrying 35 or 40 pounds on your back.

Learn more bout the Ariel 75 at ospreypacks.com.