Osprey Atmos 35 - First Look
Is this the ultimate daysac? We've been using Osprey's brand spanking new Atmos 35 pack and so far it's one of the best thought out and most effective sacs we've tested...
Posted: 24 January 2005
by Jon
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Osprey Atmos 50 - First
Look
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Price: £90.00
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Weight: 1050 grammes
(medium)
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Features: Airspeed
suspension system, full length, dual-zipper panel loading
pack, front slash pocket, stretch woven side pockets,
hydration cavity behind mesh panel with hydration tubing
portholes, thermoformed and perforated waffle pattern
shoulder straps and hip-belt, zippered mesh pockets on the
hip-belt, ErgoPull hip straps, Daisy chain with removable
shockcord clips, removable sleeping pad straps, small,
medium and large torso sizes. Also available in 25-litre and
50-litre versions.
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Spot on comfort and fit, design, weight, pretty much
everything.
Not cheap.
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The Concept We've never been particularly impressed with
ventred back systems - you know, the things that look like
trampolenes, sure they keep your back ventilated and minimise the
cold, damp back syndrome we all know and love, but they also carry
the load too far away from your centre of gravity and seem, well,
uninspiring. Even with moderate loads you can feel them levering away
from your back. Not lovely.
Osprey's AirSpeed system is a new take on the concept, It's
designed to be part of a lightweight, allround day or lightpacking
sac, that will both keep your back and other regions cool in hot
conditions, but also provide a combination of comfort and support
even with relatively heavy loads plus be easy to use with enough
pockets, straps and features to accommodate everything you want to
throw in or onto it.
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Features Osprey packs are some of the most carefully designed
on the market. When we used a Crescent backpacking sac in Nepal a
year or so back, we were struck at just how well thought out the pack
was. Plently of gimmicky-looking ideas that, in use, turned out to be
a godsend, so you won't be surprised to learn that the Atmos is in
the same mould.
 Fundamental
to the whole things is the AirSpeed suspension system. It's based
around a simple 6005-T6 alloy frame that holds the pack away from
your back but is also shaped to flex with your back as you move - you
can grab the top corner, for example and bend it forwards in the same
plane as your shoulder might move. It's hard to describe, but the
pics should make it a tad clearer.A mesh panel rests against the back
and the mesh panel is under tension like a drum to maximise
support.
 So
if you've made a vented back system, why no make the straps vented as
well rather than just using breathable foam like most manufacturers?
So the Atmos gets perforated shoulder straps and hip-belt to up
overall breathability.
The rest of the pack is more conventional but again very carefully
thought out. The sac is panel-opening so you can zip down the entire
back for rapid access to the contents, there are stretch stuff
pockets at the side and central back area and a miscellaneous key /
wallet / chocolate poclet that you can open from either inside or
outside the sac. You get a standard hydration system pocket with
centra opening but it's backed up with the option to hang your
bladder in the back cavity using two straps. That gives you the
option either of freeing up more space in the main body of your pack
or even, in really hot conditions, of carrying two full bladders and
switching between them.
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In Action So far, admittedly only a few days, the Atmos has
been absolutely bloody brilliant. It's one of those sacs that feels
spot on as soon as your put it on your back and snug up the
adjusters. It does that neat trick of feeling like it weighs less
once you're wearing it, than when it does when you're holding it in
your hands.
 We've
used it for mountain biking and walking so far along with some
impromptu bouldering and it's body-hugging and non-restrictive with
the low bulk, dense perforated foam straps staying nice and
unobtrusive. The flexible frame may or may not be moving, the point
is that whatever its doing, you're not really aware of the sac, which
is what it's all about.
Even in cold weather, we reckon the vented back works well with
notably less back dampness apparent at the end of the day. The sides
aren't open, so it'll never channel the breeze like some systems, but
then again, that makes it more comfortable on colder days. Again we
didn't notice the perforated straps, which is the way we like it.
We have no complains over useability either. The mesh hip-belt
pockets allow you to stash things like snacks, compasses and compact
cameras for rapid access and the big back opening made it simple to
get at the contents of the main compartment and the stuff pockets are
handy too. We like the big, easy to use zip-pull attachments that
make fiddly unzipping - oooh, er - a thing of the past.
Even the guides for the hydration system tube have been carefully
placed and angled to present the tube in just the right place.
Something you don't notice till you go back to a different sac.
Complaints? Not really. Okay, the alloy back frame creaks if you
flex it in the office environment, though we've not noticed it on the
hill. That's it really, though maybe more problems will become
apparent with extended use. Watch this space.
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What a great bit of kit. You've probably guessed by now that we're
very impressed by the Atmos 35. It's comfortable, light, stable and
 carries
better than it has any right to making it a really nice allround day
sac that would also take an lightweight overnight-packing load
without problems.
The excellent air-venting system is a bonus and promises to mak
the pack more useable is seriously sultry conditions. The 35-litre
seems like a good general use size and compression straps mean it can
be cinched down for smaller loads. Quite simply it feels more 'part
of you' than any other small capacity sac we've used. It's not cheap, but it's very, very good.
Also in the range though is a 25-litre fast-movers option plus the
Atmos 50, a large capacity variant aimed squarely at 'fastpackers',
or ultralightweight backpackers to you. The 25 weighs a claimed 880
grammes, while the biggy tips the scales at 1270 grammes, which is
pretty light for the capacity. If it carries as well as the 35, it
should be a cracker.
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Discuss this story
Hi Janine, welcome to OM! I've got the 'old' style pack without the pole stick things, so can't comment on that. I've got the Aura, which is the female version of the Atmos. As for waterproof - you'd be hard pressed to find a waterproof rucksack unless it was a drybag type, and my Aura's certainly not waterproof. Best thing is to use a waterproof rucksack liner (you can buy them, or use a rubble sack), or pack your gear in smaller drybags. Which one you choose comes down to personal preference and how you like to organise your pack.
Posted: 23/02/2010 at 10:41
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