Osprey Exos 34 Backpack

www.ospreypacks.com, 2 pounds, 3 ounces
When backpacking, comfort is king—and comfort often comes down to two things: weight and fit.  And the Exos 34 wears the crown as one of the best packs on the market. The innovative trampoline back plays a big part in this regal distinction. It employs twin support poles that run on either side of the pack, creating a massive gap of air between the pack and your back. As a result the thing breathes better than a marathon runner, adds a bit of bounce to the overall feel, and won’t chaff if you happen to load the pack over the bag’s recommended capacity.   The pack’s featherweight two pound, three ounces belies its 2,197 cubic inches of storage (in its largest of three sizes)—space enough to top-load gear for a long weekend, or even a full week or more if you’re a frugal packer.  The Exos also has enough add-ons to satiate the most OCD trekker, including an easy-to-use anchor for your trekking poles, compression side straps that can customize to your needs, a detachable top pocket, easy-access external side zippers to the bag interior, sleeping bag straps, and agronomic, no-pinch sternum and waist straps.  The lack of other distractions typical to backpacking (burdensome weight, pinching straps, awkward fit) are forgotten while wearing the Exos, so you’ll also notice other details, like the sewn-in hydration sleeve, zip pockets at the waist for easy access to your camera, external storage options for ice tools, and a generous, stretchy external kangaroo pouch. One die-hard ultralight-obsessed tester (the kind of guy who makes his stove out of cat food cans and saws off the handle of his toothbrush to save a few ounces) was shocked that a frame-constructed pack could be so light, so versatile. The rest of us are just happy this pack exists.