Stratos Series
The Stratos comes in no fewer than five sizes - 12, 18, 24,
32 and 34-litres - and is a ventilated pack that looks great and
clearly borrows a lot from the brilliant Atmos. It's significantly
cheaper though, with prices ranging from £50 to
£84 depending on size. The Stratos 24 - below - is
£60 compared to £80 for an Atmos 25 by the way.
Like the Atmos, the Stratos uses a ventilated AirCore back
system, but it's slightly simpler and uses a sprung composite frame to support the load
rather than the original's expensive aluminium and titanium construction. It
still flexes nicely though and a stiff back panel stops the cavity
becoming compressed. You can hang a hydration pack in there as well,
if it takes your fancy, though there's also a reservoir pocket
inside.
Other details are pure Osprey with dual-density shoulder strap
seams rolled over onto the front to protect the stitching from
abrasion, neat compression straps, a stretchy back pocket and
hip-pockets for easy-access storage.
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You also get a choice of three back lengths, which is unusual for
a day pack and neat 330D double rip-stop fabric. The hip belt and
straps don't use the Atmos's showy perforated waffle-pattern foam,
but then for general use, you shouldn't need it anyway.
The Stratos 24 is a panel-loader, while the 32-litre
version - that's it just up there - which Osprey reckon will be
the most popular choice, is a more conventional top-loader. Both look
neat though and we reckon the Stratos looks like a serious contender
in the general day sac market.
Aether / Aerial
The Aether is the male version of the pack and the Aerial the
women's-specific incarnation. There are two sizes available, a 70 (65
in the Aerial) and a 60 (55), so good all-round backpacking sacs.
The two details that really jump out at you are the weights - 2.07
kilos and 1.79 kilos respectively - which are very competive and the
suggested prices of £130 and £120 which make the new packs
vastly more affordable than the £200 plus Crescent / Luna
series.
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As with the Stratos, you're still getting Osprey build quality and
detailing. The back system uses a central alloy stave along with twin
rods feeding directly into the hip-belt and there's an interesting
AirScape 'nubbed foam back panel' - think egg box texture in stiff
foam.
Like the Crescent, the hip-belt is heat-mouldable at the shop, so
it fits your hips better, the shoulder straps are dual-density foam
and the lid can be detached and used as a bum-bag / lumbar pack. It
even gets its own little nubbed foam pad for comfort. As with the
Crescent, one of Osprey's neat little accessory packs will cliip
straight on as well. You also get a stretch pocket with welded
construction lifted straight off the Atmos.
Osprey say that the Aether won't handle the really heavy loads
that the Crescent can cope with, but should still be very capable.
You can also upgrade by fitting the Crescent hip-belt with its
heavier construction and increased support and padding.
Again it's unmistakably an Osprey and the more affordable price
level should make it a viable option for anyone who balked at
Crescent prices. Interesting stuff.
More information at www.ospreypacks.com
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Last
year we were blown away by the excellent new Atmos pack and the
larger Crescent has also impressed is in the past. The two new models
we have carry over a lot of features and build quality from those
models, but what's really interesting is that while they're not
exactly cheap, they're now competing at the same sort of price level
as packs from, say, Berghaus or Lowe Alpine.
