To be honest I haven't had the pack that long, only about 4 months but it seems to be holding up pretty well so far, the foam on the back is still springy and hasn't degraded in the slightest. However in the longer term I cant really, say but if the foam did start to degrade the effectiveness of the system would decrease.

As for putting the bladder on the side and stability, I see what you mean but with a little careful packing I dont really find it a problem. 

The astonishing comfort of the Mountain Mover's hipbelt under load brings a tear to my eye.

Tiso got an exclusive special edition MM. It's slightly larger in capacity, 65+15 I think and I seem to remember the back system being a bit longer as well.

The MM is actually the largest capacity sack I have these days.

"Try before you buy"?

One way is to get them all mail-order, spend a day or two with them at home, trying all your own gear in to see how it fits and how they feel, then simply return the ones that you decide against. It costs you the return postage, but against that you can balance the cost in time and petrol of going round to enough retailers to try to find them all in the flesh.

Plus you get to try them all in the comfort of your own home without the attentions of a sales assistant who may or may not know their stuff but would certainly like to sell you something that they have in stock! 

Matt C wrote (see)

"Try before you buy"?

One way is to get them all mail-order, spend a day or two with them at home, trying all your own gear in to see how it fits and how they feel, then simply return the ones that you decide against. It costs you the return postage, but against that you can balance the cost in time and petrol of going round to enough retailers to try to find them all in the flesh.

Plus you get to try them all in the comfort of your own home without the attentions of a sales assistant who may or may not know their stuff but would certainly like to sell you something that they have in stock! 

I was thinking about doing that with the Atmos 50. I could pick one up today from Cotswold and I've got 30 days to play with it and take it back.

Even then you can only test it to a certain extent, you can't use if for a proper weekend's walking and see just how well the ventilation works, or how comfortable it is after 8 hours...

I'm coming into London tomorrow to try the Super Dru again over proper walking gear rather than a shirt and tie so I'll zip round the Covent Garden stores to see who has what.

No comments so far on the Gregory packs....

Just a note of support for the Atmos 50:

1) Convex back: It is awkward to stuff, say, a large sleeping bag in through that shape. However, I line the sack with an exped drysack and cram the sleeping bag loose into  every inch of the bottom of the bag - this works well and makes maximun use of the size provided.

2) Hydration sleeve: Yes with a well packed sack you will not get yout platy in or out without unpacking something. However the sack has a zipper top in the back which allows you to hang the platy (with attachments proveded) on the outside directly behind the mesh back. This works well and saves packing space in the sack.

3) Outer pockets: they do their job - the crampon flappy pocket is pretty useless I find - but that is because I like a sack to look like a rucksack not a hunchback. The two side pockets work well but you need to stow kit in them once the sack is packed as stuff will migrate to the bottoms of these pockets.

4) Comfort: Very!!!! Very!!! and the sack stays glued to your back

5) Load capability: The sack has dealt with everything I have asked of it.

.

I find the design very fussy though, too many bits and bobs (all of which work) but a bit "techy" for me.

So I have now bought a Crux AK47 - straight up and down with a lid on top. I am waiting to see how this pans out.

.

All in all the Osprey Atmos 50, I would say, is an excellent sack, but just a bit 'showy' for me. If I wear a drab unassuming sack (like the Crux) I would hope peoples expectations of me are less. Unless they know the sack of course .

It seems much of the outdoor kit environment is plagued with "techy shite" to meet the ever increasing demands of the consumer. My advice would be - Dont fall in to that trap, write down what YOU want from your sack, and buy the one that meets YOUR specification.

.

I hope that helps in some way

Thanks Fossil, useful insight into life with the Atmos.

Regarding requirements mine are relatively simple:

• Ability to carry 15Kg in comfort
• Ability to lash my tripod onto the side
• Breathable back system (I get very hot)

As I've mentioned, I really like the option for stowing your bladder in the air space on the Osprey.

The Crux packs are very similar in design to my old TNF 40 litre bag. Long, thin top enty with no other bells and whistles, other than a criss-cross of bungee down the front and gear loops on the hip belt... 

ChiefSilverback wrote (see)

No comments so far on the Gregory packs....

Hike Lite have the Z55, Mountain Mover and Atmos 50 in stock so I might take a day off next week to shoot down and have a looksee.... He said he could also order in a Kestrel 48.

i'm one of those people who find the atmos 50 uncomfortable. try all of them with just a t shirt on and loaded up.

the atmos hip belt/base lumbar bit (techy explanation) digs into my hips and the side clips dig into my back when i turn my torso.

the z55 has more straps than you can shake a stick at but once on it cinches down it becomes a part of you.

I found I needed a L size Parky. The medium (I assume standard) rode far too high but the Large sits very well.

It must be my athletic torso  (not)

Fossil Bluff wrote (see)

I found I needed a Lardy size Parky. The medium (I assume standard) rode far too high but the Lardy sits very well.

It must be my athletic torso  (not)

lol fb. curiously i found the medium, my usual size, very uncomforable and the large merely unfortable.

i am just a weird shape i guess. omm 32, g-pack and continuum are all "medium" and all are extremly comfortable. or the osprey is a weird shape???

Well I took some time yesterday to trial pack using the packs I already own.

Obviously my 90+ litre TNF is big enough, but it's also far too bigand cumbersome, I might actually look to sell it...

The Osprey Stratos 32 did a fair job of swallowing the load but it was pretty much full to bursting with no food and water loaded. If I got rid of the camera gear then it would be fine as the tent could strap to the outside... Also it's actually my girlfriend's in a medium back so possible slightly the wrong size for me? 

I didn't try my Deuter Futura 32 as it feels smaller than the Stratos and that left me with my trusty 40ish litre TNF (can't remember the model).  To my surprise it swallowed the lot with room for food/water.

I can now spend a bit more time finding the bag that's right for me knowing that I've got a servicable option at home.