Osprey Aether 60 Pack?

[hikerboy4211]

I am thru hiking the AT in March of 2011 and i was wondering if this would be a good pack or if its too big.

[moytoy]

That depends on what you are going to carry with you. Get all your gear together and then decide which pack to buy.

[Spokes]

My buddy, Recurve, used the Aether 60 on his 2008 thru and loved it. I decided on the Atmos 50. Very comfortable and roomy. Osprey makes good stuff.

[bigcranky]

The Aether 60 is a popular pack, well made, not too heavy. Whether it is "too big" depends entirely on your other gear. If you are carrying traditional backpacking gear (synthetic 20-F bag, double wall 2-person tent, white gas stove, etc.) it might not be big enough. If you are carrying very light or ultralight gear (silnylon tarp or one-person tarptent, high quality down bag, alcohol stove, etc.) it might be too big.

[Jester2000]

I have recently managed to get all of my gear into an Atmos 65, which for me is saying something. Made some change and compromises to my gear along the way.

I agree with what others have said here, except to say that sometimes you want to have a pack and figure out what will fit rather than the other way around -- it's one of the ways you get lighter.

That said, a 60 Liter pack is just fine. You probably want to stay away from things like the Aether 85, because you'll figure out a way to fill it, and that won't be good. And if you don't fill it, it won't ride correctly, which is also bad.

[hikerboy4211]

I'll put it this way i have all the gear that i am goin to take on the trail inside a deuter 50 liter except my bladder, food, and eno hammock

[daddytwosticks]

I have an older model (2004?) Osprey Aether 60. I would take this pack on a thru-hike if I was lucky enough to have the opportunity.....:)

[bigcranky]

I'll put it this way i have all the gear that i am goin to take on the trail inside a deuter 50 liter except my bladder, food, and eno hammock

Is there any room left over for those things? Or is it crammed full with no room for food? (Food is kinda important...)

[hikerboy4211]

Is there any room left over for those things? Or is it crammed full with no room for food? (Food is kinda important...)

My deuter doesnt have any room for food and stuff but its a 50 liter.... Thats why im thinking of getting an osprey aether 60 liter

[bigcranky]

OK, now I understand.

1. Any chance you can take your Deuter and all your stuff down to an outfitter and cram it into an Aether 60? So you can see how much room you have left over? Maybe bring a big stuff sack of food and your water bag, too?

2. What else is in the Deuter? Packing 50 liters with gear might be a lot of gear.

[srestrepo]

i guess without knowing how much gear you have and all that this pretty much worthless. i'm sure you know if you're stuff fits or not and if you need a bigger bag or not. in any case if we're discussing the pack itself, its an awesome pack with more than enough comfort to be had. i'm sure that there are plenty of packs that you can choose aside form this one but if you watch out for it on steep and cheap you can pick one up for absout 130. if not then rei currently has it on sale for about 180 down from 230 bucks.

either way best of luck to you

[Hoop Time]

The 60 is On Steep and Cheap right now for $114

[10-K]

My first pack was an Ather 60 and by the end of the day it killed me to turn my neck and look behind me.

I've hiked a thousand miles since I last used it - it might be different now that I know a bit more about what I'm doing.