Osprey Hornet 46 Pack... [Archive]

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pistol p

01-10-2011, 22:57

I know this pack is just coming out, but I was wondering if any of you have had a chance to check it out? The straps look thin, just like my Exos. I don't know what they are running for suspension. And I think the side pockets are a little odd being so long. I see that they are using the S/M & M/L sizing. I have always hated that. I run a 22" torso and I am willing to bet that this pack won't fit. And we all know that the pack will totally rock, if that is the case.

I am going to check my local REIs and Midwest Mountaineering in the up coming weeks to see if they have one. If no one else has seen it by then, I will post my findings.

Here are some photos I found...
http://www.gearzone.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=249-10513

bigcranky

01-10-2011, 23:47

There is some info on the backpackinglight site in the forums; some of them got test versions if I recall correctly.

Wags

01-10-2011, 23:53

for some reason i thought i heard this pack was being marketed towards climbers as opposed to hikers. i don't know for sure though or even remember where i heard that. outfitter last summer maybe

mstone

01-11-2011, 00:37

No experience with it, but it looks like a great effort by a larger company. Osprey has a great warranty too. Excited to hear what people think when they come out.

hikerinnc

02-07-2011, 00:23

I"m considering this pack with my rei dividend. I have the Golite Pinnacle, but I dont need its big size, and the Hornet (46) is lighter. Now off to sale my golite, which is in good shape if anyoone is interested. Also, I've seen that the lid is removeable and weighs 3oz. I hope there is a way to lash my ridgerest on top of this pack!

STICK

02-07-2011, 01:06

You can check out Hendriks video review of the Hornet 32 on Vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/19608144

Same pack, just the smaller version.

Boothill

02-07-2011, 01:45

Osprey has a great warranty too.

this is true......any pack.....from any era.....for most any reason, and they will fix it.....i know ULA takes of his customers too, not to slight him

boot

FamilyGuy

02-07-2011, 02:00

The Hornet has no dedicated suspension. It is essentially frameless.

Buffalo Skipper

02-08-2011, 10:33

I have been looking at this also. Yes it is a frameless pack. Apparently 10 were sent out to BPL members for testing. Based on that, I would think that Osprey was targeting the UL market rather than climbers. The M/L weighs 1 lb 7 oz--pretty light.

It is also under 3000 ci, which to me is small. Looks like the recomended max weight is 20-30 lbs, but I read a review where someone said it was uncomfortable over 20 lbs. In the pack's defense (not having worked one yet), the reviewer admitted that the pack was a little small for him, which would cause the shoulder straps to dig in as he described.

I will keep my eye on this as I keep looking for my pack, but I am not really thinking about a frameless pack, so this will remain on the fringe of my radar.

For what it's worth, I own 2 other Osprey packs and love them, so I want to like this pack....

skinewmexico

02-08-2011, 11:03

Judging by my Jam2 and ULA Conduit, those packs were about 4 years ahead of their time compared to the Hornet.

FamilyGuy

02-08-2011, 11:09

Most frameless packs are decidedly uncomfortable over 20lbs in comparison to most comparable internal frame packs. The only frameless pack that I have ever tried that surprised me at comfort in the high 20's was the Rivendell Jensen.

Joe - yes, but you can't get ULA in red......; )

bigcranky

02-08-2011, 13:10

I have been looking at this also. Yes it is a frameless pack. Apparently 10 were sent out to BPL members for testing. Based on that, I would think that Osprey was targeting the UL market rather than climbers. The M/L weighs 1 lb 7 oz--pretty light. .

Osprey makes nice packs, we've owned several. Love my Kestrel 32. But the ULA Ohm weighs about the same as the Hornet and has a frame and is comfortable to around 30 pounds on my back.

jeffbfox

02-10-2011, 13:18

Osprey makes nice packs, we've owned several. Love my Kestrel 32. But the ULA Ohm weighs about the same as the Hornet and has a frame and is comfortable to around 30 pounds on my back.

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well. The size comparison is not exactly equivalent either as the Hornet 46 volume is measured using just the main compartment (2760 cubic inches) making it larger than the Ohm's 2100 cubic inch main compartment. Osprey does not include the top pocket, mesh front pocket, hipbelt pockets or side pockets in the volume measurements.

Not saying the ULA isn't a sweet pack, just clearing up the facts on a comparison.

mister krabs

02-10-2011, 14:10

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well. The size comparison is not exactly equivalent either as the Hornet 46 volume is measured using just the main compartment (2760 cubic inches) making it larger than the Ohm's 2100 cubic inch main compartment. Osprey does not include the top pocket, mesh front pocket, hipbelt pockets or side pockets in the volume measurements.

Not saying the ULA isn't a sweet pack, just clearing up the facts on a comparison.

Thanks Jeff.

:welcome I see you are in Dolores, if you work for Osprey, it's probably good to say so. We'd be glad for your expertise.

jeffbfox

02-10-2011, 15:07

Thanks Jeff.

:welcome I see you are in Dolores, if you work for Osprey, it's probably good to say so. We'd be glad for your expertise.

Thanks for the welcome! I do work for Osprey packs and would be happy to clear up any questions that may arise on the WhiteBlaze forums

Boothill

02-10-2011, 15:49

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well. The size comparison is not exactly equivalent either as the Hornet 46 volume is measured using just the main compartment (2760 cubic inches) making it larger than the Ohm's 2100 cubic inch main compartment. Osprey does not include the top pocket, mesh front pocket, hipbelt pockets or side pockets in the volume measurements.

Thanks for the welcome! I do work for Osprey packs and would be happy to clear up any questions that may arise on the WhiteBlaze forums

is this just for the hornet? i emailed osprey a couple of weeks ago with the specific question about volume measurement for the atmos 50 and the reply i got was that the main body and the lid were used to get their volume measurements

boot

bigcranky

02-10-2011, 16:33

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well.

Sweet, thanks. None of the early reviews I've seen mentioned the delrin rods. Appreciate the info.

jeffbfox

02-10-2011, 19:14

[/B]

is this just for the hornet? i emailed osprey a couple of weeks ago with the specific question about volume measurement for the atmos 50 and the reply i got was that the main body and the lid were used to get their volume measurements

boot

I stand corrected. The main body and the lid are used in the volume measurements. Any external pockets such as front pockets side pockets or hipbelt pockets are not included. Apologies for any confusion (I generally work with the bike packs where top pockets are not even a consideration)

FamilyGuy

02-10-2011, 20:01

That's strange. The packs that were sent as prototypes to some members of BPL.com were frameless.

skinewmexico

02-11-2011, 02:04

Thanks for the welcome! I do work for Osprey packs and would be happy to clear up any questions that may arise on the WhiteBlaze forums

When are you going to put a functional, swappable hip belt on the Exos?

Buffalo Skipper

02-11-2011, 10:32

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well.

jeffbfox, can you tell me more about this suspension? And prehaps how it compares to other Osprey suspensions?

Singletrack

02-13-2011, 11:51

Thanks for the welcome! I do work for Osprey packs and would be happy to clear up any questions that may arise on the WhiteBlaze forums

Thanks Jeff, I once had the Exos 34. It was a size medium. It fit well. I am confused about what size would fit me in the Osprey Hornet 46. I have a 19.5 inch torso. If I were to decide to order, should I order the M/L? By the way, I found the Exos 34 volume, a little bit too tight for my gear.

jeffbfox

02-14-2011, 16:50

When are you going to put a functional, swappable hip belt on the Exos?

No plans for a swappable hipbelt on the Exos as it is designed to be really lightweight, minimalist pack. Look for a swappable hipbelt on the Atmos/Aura series which shares the same Airspeed suspension as the Exos in 2012.

FamilyGuy

02-14-2011, 18:34

Jeff - can you tell us about the suspension because my discussions with some of the testers of the prototype models indicate no suspension. However, you mention that it has two vertical rods. Thanks,

sandylwes

02-14-2011, 23:17

Jeff- How about the mesh hip pockets, any chance they will change those? Too much dirt and weather gets into them to be useful...
thanks
sandy

jeffbfox

02-15-2011, 13:36

Thanks Jeff, I once had the Exos 34. It was a size medium. It fit well. I am confused about what size would fit me in the Osprey Hornet 46. I have a 19.5 inch torso. If I were to decide to order, should I order the M/L? By the way, I found the Exos 34 volume, a little bit too tight for my gear.

With a 19.5" torso, I would recommend the M/L size in the Hornet 46. In general the packs that are sized as S/M and M/L come with a recommendation of S/M for torsos under 19" and M/L for torsos over 19". We do always recommend trying one on at an Osprey dealer to confirm which one is most comfortable for you.

jeffbfox

02-15-2011, 13:37

Jeff- How about the mesh hip pockets, any chance they will change those? Too much dirt and weather gets into them to be useful...
thanks
sandy

No planned changes for the mesh hip pockets at this time.

mister krabs

02-15-2011, 13:51

Thanks Jeff for your answers, I know a lot of people including myself are pretty exited over this new pack. I'll be looking into the 26 as a replacement for my 15 year old simplex, a great pack that has served well.

FamilyGuy

02-15-2011, 15:12

jeffbfox

02-15-2011, 16:52

Well Jeff was wrong with respect to a suspension. There isn't one.

Here is the e-mail I received from Osprey directly:

"The Hornet has a "spacer mesh backpanel". Which consists of a "super light spacer mesh vented backpanel with a removable foam pad." So, there is not a frame. I have attached a link to the Hornet from our website that has some good photos for you to use as reference as well"

Makes me wonder if Jeff is correct on the other claims....

The Hornet 46 does indeed have internal, vertical delrin side rods that provide a suspension to carry larger loads as I stated in my original post ("The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well."). I have one in my hands right now and can confirm this to be true. The Hornet 24 and Hornet 36 do not have the Delrin rods. That may be the cause of some of the confusion here. To confirm this please click on the "Owners Manual" link on the Hornet page and read about the Suspension under unique features of the Hornet 46:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/detail.php?productID=220&colorCode=356&tab=specifications

I have deferred from answering the questions on details of how this compares to other suspensions until I hear a response from our product design team. I do know that the Delrin rods offer support and act as the suspension on this pack but want to make sure that I am fully informed before replying to that question.

FamilyGuy

02-15-2011, 17:30

Well color me confused. I received that e-mail from your customer service just this morning. Perhaps he / she was mistaken as to what version has what?

Thanks for the link.

Buffalo Skipper

02-15-2011, 18:22

I have deferred from answering the questions on details of how this compares to other suspensions until I hear a response from our product design team. I do know that the Delrin rods offer support and act as the suspension on this pack but want to make sure that I am fully informed before replying to that question.

Thanks for touching base on this Jeff. Though a technical and detailed answer is welcome, I was really just looking for some generalizations about the differences. Though I have several packs, I have as of yet paid little attention to the structure and design of the suspensions. I will take them out and take a genuine closer look. Again thanks and I am looking forward to your reply... :cool:

jeffbfox

02-16-2011, 12:15

Jeff - can you tell us about the suspension because my discussions with some of the testers of the prototype models indicate no suspension. However, you mention that it has two vertical rods. Thanks,

The delrin rods keep the bag from sagging in the middle area. With a load in the pack and no rods the bag will begin to collapse with the pull upwards on the lower shoulder straps – the delrin helps to keep the bags shape and prevent this sagging.

Singletrack

02-18-2011, 16:19

Yesterday I recieved the Osprey Hornet 46 that I ordered from REI. If for some reason I decide not to keep it, I can return it to one of their stores for a refund.
When I first opened the box, it looked smaller than the Exos 34, but it was not. I ordered the M/L, and it appears the size of 2760 seems about right, including the pack bag, and top pocket. It is very well built, and many ways similiar to the Exos. Weight 24.6 ounces.
There is a rod, about half the size of a pencil, inside a sleeve running from the top of the back pad, all the way down, and appears to be connected, to the hip belt. The back pad is a nice mesh with a 1/4" hard foam pad. The pad can be removed. But, I think it is necessary for the suspension. Behind the pad is a pocket for a water bladder.
The short wing hip belt, is made of mesh, with zip pockets on both wings. Mesh is only on the inside, where it touches the hips, and silnylon on the front where the zippers are.
The pack bag is roomy, with full length side mesh pockets. Both have a slit about half way down to place a water bottle. There is also a mesh front pocket, similar to the Exos.
By the way, the color is red and black.
I loaded up the Hornet with my base weight gear for summer. Immediately I could tell that the size seemed a bit small. I have a 19 1/2" torso, and a M/L is what is recommeded for my size. The mesh hipbelt felt like it was digging into my hips and sides. There is no foam at all in the hipbelt. Personally, I would of liked to have seen a foam hipbelt and no hipbelt pockets.
I drew a pattern for the inside of the two hipbelt pockets, and cut out two foam inserts to put inside the two hipbelt pockets. The inserts I made, were cut from remnants of an old Walmart convoluted foam pad.
This time I loaded the Hornet up with 19lbs., twice as much as before. This was the fix that was needed, and she hugged my hips, and transfered weight to the hips, like you would expect any good pack to do. No more mesh cutting into the hips and sides. The two foam inserts added 3 tenths of an ounce. Something I wish Osprey had done.
After playing around with the pack, I have gotten it fit better. But, if you have a 21 or larger torso, it may not fit.
I am beginning to like the Hornet, more everyday. I will probably keep it, replacing a Granite Gear Virga, I've had now since they came out. The hip belt on the Hornet, now with the foam I made for the pockets, is far better than the Virga hipbelt. Otherwise the shoulder straps and carrying capacity of the Virga is better.

Singletrack

03-02-2011, 07:37

I returned the Hornet 46 back to REI for a refund. The fit of the pack was too small (M/L) I never felt really comfortable, as I did with the Exos 34. Other than that, I really liked the pack.

bigcranky

03-02-2011, 09:07

I tried the Hornet 46 in M/L at my local outfitter. It's a well designed pack, very nicely built, and the right size for an ultralight backpacker. But the length is FAR too short for me. (I have an Opsrey Kestrel in M/L size, and it fits fine. Odd.)

skinewmexico

03-02-2011, 11:11

MedicineMan

03-18-2011, 01:24

I'm going to gamble on this pack thinking it will be too short as well, if only because of the elongated side pockets. On my ULA the lack of long side pockets is/has been its only detractor and ULA is too busy to mod an existing or make one from new-that's good for ULA but bad for the cf fly pole I carry or the Tenkara rod.
Thanks for the tip on adding some padding to the hip belt pockets-will do.

Singletrack

12-26-2011, 16:39

Big Dawg

12-28-2011, 05:29

I have heard that Osprey were listening to the complaints, about the too small sizing of the Hornet 46. And will come out in 2012 with the Hornet in a new sizing, just like the Exos series. Anyone have any information about this?

An Osprey rep told me back in September of the same new sizing in 2012, but didn't give an exact date.