American pack specialists Osprey are going to bring in their range
of larger capacity packs to the UK early next year after changes in
their manufacturing base cut prices to a more realistic level for the
UK.
Previously making packs in the States meant that complex big load
luggers like the Crescent packs - sized in 75-, 90- and a monstrous
110-litre capacities - would have had an asking price of close to
£500. Now that production has moved to the Far East, prices are
still steep, but at least somewhere near to planet earth at between
£180 and £260 retail.
Okay, that's still not cheap, but these are top quality,
innovative sacs with some very neat features. We had a look over the
range in the Osprey showroom, and the Crescents should be on your
list if you're after a serious big pack.
For starters, like other Osprey packs, the design is completely
modular in terms of fit. That means not only can you choose from
three different pack sizes, but also different harness sizes to suit
plus hip-belts in small, medium and large sizes. Oh, and women
specific fits too with the same options.
Osprey's fitting system incorporates a neat template so that
fitters can work out the definitive sizing simply and quickly.
The rest of the pack's pretty neat too with some great details -
the Crescents all use a curved Delrin rod to give what Osprey calls
ReCurve suspension and soften loads, the lid houses the hydration
pack - easier to re-fill up there plus you get gravity-aided flow -
and also converts to a 'fanny pack', American for bum-bag. Then
there's a neat easy access opening to the sleeping bag compartment -
the flap over the zipper is Spandura, so you don't get that awful
hard-to-reach zip experience when the pack's full - plus you can
mount a small daypack on the back of the main compartment for extra
capacity and extended options.
The latter also gets compressed by the pack's main compression
system. What else, aluminium staves link directly into hip-belt,
there's a molded head-cup which compresses with the top compressor
strap for cranial freedom etc, etc. Oh, and the hip belt has a hole
over the hip bones to allow the use of a really effective, stiff,
outer load spreader. Phew...
Also interesting if you've been looking at the ultra-lightweight
Aether 60 but figure you need more capacity, is the Aether 75. Same
principles, but more capacity. Also very neat are a range of
'Transporter' big kit bag/duffles, which incorporate the excellent
Straitjacket compression fins so you can pack them down for
convenience. We've got our name on one of those already...
For more details on Osprey packs see the Osprey
web site.
baga smartypants
