MUST READ: Osprey Exos 58 REVIEW (2020)

 

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This article will help you get to know the Osprey Exos 58 liter backpack in all of its glory while teaching you what this awesome backpack can bring to your worldwide adventures!

Let’s go for a ride into the world of backpack exploration!

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Every backpacker has different tastes, true, but after I met the Osprey Exos 58, I knew I just had to spread the good word. The truly versatile and lightweight Osprey Exos 58 might just be the backpack unicorn you have been after.

I bring you the ultimate Osprey Exos 58 review!

 

Table of Contents

• Is the Osprey Exos 58 for YOU?
• Quick Backpack Facts
• Why Osprey? The All Mighty Guarantee!
• Osprey Exos 58 Review: Key pack features
• Osprey Exos 58 Best Backpack for Traveling?
• Responsible Backpacking and Eco Travel

Is the Osprey Exos 58 for YOU?

• The Osprey Exos 58 is perfect for hikers and travelers – the best of both worlds!
• But if you want a more modern/tech savvy bag – our favorite is the Nomatic Travel Bag
• If you less into hiking and want something smaller – go with the Osprey Farpoint 40

 

Quick Backpack Facts

• Pack model: Osprey Exos 58 liter
• Best uses: Ultralight backpacking and minimalist travel
• Maximum carry capacity: 40 pounds
• Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Jump to:  Key pack features for Osprey Exos 58

behold the Glory of the Exos 58

I have personally owned several Osprey backpacks and I have always been extremely pleased by their performance. As a person who has beaten the hell out of my backpacks throughout my traveling career, I can attest to the quality of both the packs and the Osprey company itself. Having hiked more than 3,000 miles over the years with an Osprey backpack, I can tell you that they are built for the long haul.

Let’s jump right in and take an in-depth look at one of my favorite Osprey backpacks on the planet!

 

Why Osprey? The All Mighty Guarantee!

The first thing that must be said about Osprey when buying one of their packs is the famous All Mighty Guarantee. In short, this means that your Osprey backpack and all of its components have lifetime protection against damage. If only my other gear had the same guarantee!

Buying an Osprey backpack is a solid investment that you know you can use for years-on-end. Few companies out there will fix your pack for free in a relatively short amount of time. If you are a person that tends to abuse your gear, the All Mighty Guarantee is a blessing!

Osprey offers a wide selection of backpacks for just about every type of travel or outdoor activity. A backpacker needs a pack that serves many different purposes and is capable of traveling to all of the far-flung destinations as smoothly as its owner.

The All Mighty Guarantee has got you covered.

 

Osprey Exos 58 weight (ultralight = ultra-awesome)

What does ultralight mean? You might want to confuse the word “ultralight” with ultra weak. Ultralight backpacking is an increasingly popular style of hiking or traveling where keeping the total packed weight and bulk of your backpack down to the lowest it can be is the general goal.

Exos 58 features ultralight design materials plus the ability to strip weight by removing sleeping pad straps, compression straps and the top lid.

The ultralight design of this pack is one of the major selling points of this pack for me. If you have ever had a large pack that weighs 4-5 pounds when empty you will know what I mean.

I have found that the Osprey Exos 58 has plenty of room for everything I need to pack, even on long distance hiking trips. They don’t call the Osprey Exos 58 the “ultimate thru-hikers backpack” for nothing. With plenty of innovative design features built into this Osprey backpack, it is no wonder that the Exos 58 is becoming a favorite among backpackers and long distance hikers alike.

Osprey makes the same ultralight backpack for female backpackers as well. The Osprey Eja 58 is the exact same backpack, just with the sizing designed specifically for ladies.

 

Why Osprey Airspeed Kicks So Much Ass

A Tensioned back panel keeps the weight in the pack off of your back, enabling highly ventilated carrying comfort. This brilliant weight-support upgrade makes carrying big loads much more comfortable.

Some ultralight backpacks are notorious for having weak (or absent) suspension.  Osprey has managed to create an excellent system here, ensuring balance and comfort for long periods of time.

View on Osprey    View on REI

 

The Flapjacket – A Bit of Extra Convenience

Unclip the removable floating lid and replace with the fixed FlapJacket to protect your gear from the elements and minimize weight. This is pretty cool if you are wanting to remove your top lid all together in order to make the pack lighter or smaller.

Exos 58 with the top lid removed and the flap jacket in its place.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Review: Key pack features

Exos 58 Weight

The lightness of the Osprey Exos 58 is probably my favorite feature of the pack. Weighing in at just 1.2 kg (2.7 pounds), the Exos 58 offers the perfect combination of comfort and toughness without carrying any extra weight. Osprey has done a bang up job getting the Exos 58 weight down so low.

Many backpackers think that they need a large backpack. I’m talking 70-80 liters. While that size might be very appropriate for some, in general, it is too large for the average backpacker. With a bigger backpack, it is easy to fill it with stuff you don’t actually need.

When traveling or hiking, one should never carry heaps of useless items anyway. I understand that some folks want lots of extra space for the trinkets or clothing they pick up along the way. Also, long, multi-day trips in cold weather require more warm clothing and gear to be packed and require a decent amount of space, but the Exos 58 is not an absolute minimalist backpack by any means.

You still have room for both necessities and extra trinkets, including cold weather gear. Let it be noted that this particular Osprey backpack would not be my first choice for an extended winter hiking trip.

If you plan on backpacking in places like South East Asia or South America, you will find the Osprey Exos 58 to be more than enough for your needs. Because you will carting around your backpack just about every day, you want your base weight to be as low as possible.

The Exos 58 weighs next to nothing but still can hold lots of gear.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Carry On Ready?

This pack is slightly over the limit with regards to being an airline acceptable carry on bag. However, with the top lid removed it could be possible to get it small enough to be accepted (maybe). Always check what your airline allows before showing up at the airport!

Carry on travel backpacks are great if you plan to take loads of budget flights. A travel backpack that is too small for your needs, but is an acceptable carry on size does not do you much good in the end.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Weight Capacity and Carrying Comfort

The Osprey Exos 58 was built with comfort in mind.  What is the point of an ultralight backpack that destroys you back and shoulders?

The light wire alloy frame offers great support even when carrying loads up to 40 pounds. It is still possible to carry more than that of course, but that is where the comfort zone limit is. You might say, “Well I want to be able to carry 50 or 60 pounds!” Unless you are doing some serious mountaineering, there is simply no need for you to carry that much!

I also really enjoy the thick padding on the shoulder straps. I have never had a problem with them digging into my shoulders or chaffing my back.

Dialing in your pack to what feels comfortable for you is very important. Luckily, the Osprey Exos 58 makes it easy to make adjustments. Like most packs, you will have three main points of adjustment: the shoulder straps, the sternum straps, and the hip-belt. Once you have the bag on, you can make these adjustments in a few seconds and be on your way to custom comfort in no time!

 

Exos 58 Backpack Durability and Toughness

If you are looking to pack massive loads, then this backpack isn’t for you. Not that a 40 pound load isn’t fairly big, but if you’re the kind of person that wants to pack everything including the kitchen sink, then I recommend checking out some of Osprey’s heavier duty models.

In general, I think the modern backpacker doesn’t require as much pack-load as they might think. It would be a mistake to think less size and bulk automatically equals less durable. Choosing a pack all comes down to what you will be using your backpack for most.

That said, the Osprey Exos 58 is pretty damn tough when it comes to long-term wear and tear. If you are looking for a pack that you can rely on in a huge variety of situations, the Exos 58 will meet all of your expectations and then some.

The Exos 58 is built to survive mountains, jungle, or the desert!

 

Osprey Airspeed Breathability

Constantly feel like your old pack is creating a back swamp under your shirt? I hate the feeling of a backpack not allowing any fresh air into areas that need it the most: your back and shoulders!

Enter the Airspeed ventilation system. The name of the ventilation system for the Osprey Exos 58 sounds like the design of a futuristic rocket ship part. However, we are not sold on fancy names alone!  The system actually works like a charm.

The AirSpeed 3-D tensioned mesh back panel was designed with the purpose of meeting all of your free flowing air needs. There is solid 5 inches of air space between where your back sits and the frame of the pack!

Of course, if you are putting in long hours crushing some trail miles, you are bound to sweat. Having a good ventilation system in place allows you to stay as cool and dry as possible, even when you are working hard.

Ever experienced the feeling of being in a sticky, humid tropical country? Maybe waiting for a bus in the sun with your backpack on your back? The Osprey Exos 58 was built to do battle, even in the sweatiest circumstances.

Fight the back swamp blues with the Exos 58 ventilation system!

 

Exos 58 Organization and Pack Access

The main inner belly of the pack is just one big compartment. This leaves the general backpack organizing up to your creativity. Over the years, one thing I have found to be very helpful with organization is the use of dry bags. You can buy dry bags in all sizes.

I keep my sleeping bag. for example, in a 20 liter dry bag. If I am going on a backpacking trip, I will always have at least 3 separate dry bags: one for clothes, one for food/misc. gear, and one for the sleeping bag.

 

Backpack Compression Straps and Pockets

On the side of the backpack, you have dual access stretch mesh side pockets for storing water bottles and other gear with compression straps. At the bottom of the Exos 58, you can attach your sleeping pad or tent using more compression straps. These straps are removable in case you are really counting ounces.

There are two zip storage pockets located on either side of the lid or “brain” of the backpack. These pockets are super handy for storing all of your bits and pieces including your headlamp or snacks.

The front stretch mesh pocket is a good place to store your flip-flops, rain jacket, swim shorts, or anything else that you want easy access to.

If you want to attach any additional items to the outside of the pack, the top lid has loop attachment points for external gear storage. Along both sides of the outer mesh pocket, there are 4 attachment loops per side! You have plenty of options if you are looking to secure bigger items to the outside of your backpack.

 

Osprey Trekking Pole Attachment

One cool new feature Osprey seems to be employing on all their new packs is the spot for trekking pole storage. The Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment allows you to stow your poles in steep terrain or whenever you need your hands free.

I would like to take this moment to stress the importance of trekking poles if you do lots of hiking. Rumor has it that using them will add 20 years of life to your knees. If you plan on being active well after your middle age, I suggest picking some up.

Stash your trekking poles quickly when you need your hands free.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Sizing and Fit:

Osprey backpacks come in multiple sizes (small, medium, and large) based on your torso frame. The shoulder straps can be adjusted based on your height. You can also adjust how close the backpack sits on your upper back and shoulders.

 

What Size Osprey Pack Do I Need?

I am 5 10″ and about 170 pounds, and the medium size fits me perfectly. Osprey has quite a bit of information available on its website about how best to determine your size. The Osprey size comparison tables outline all the measurements for each backpack.

Newly released in 2018, the women’s specific Osprey Eja 58 liter is the female version of the Exos 58 pack.  The Eja has received recent upgrades to its systems as well, including a tweak in both suspension and hip-belt designs for improved fit, carrying comfort, and load distribution.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Price

The brand new 2018 Osprey Exos 58 model runs $220 as of February 2018. Backpacks aren’t the cheapest pieces of travel gear, but they are the most important. They are an investment for many years to come. There is no better feeling then having the right piece of gear for the right application.

If you are in the market for an ultralight backpack, look no further than the Exos 58. Often in the world of outdoor gear, the more something is labeled ultralight, the more expensive it is. This is not the case with the Exos 58! When compared to other ultralight backpacks out there, the Exos 58 is a leader in its class for both quality and affordability.

Top Tip: If you don’t mind getting your hands on last season’s model, you can usually buy the backpack cheaper. I recommend buying the pack online where you can usually find the best price. I’ve seen this pack on Amazon for as low as $150 USD for last years models.  You can always bring it to one of Osprey’s many distributors to attain the perfect fit, if need be, through heat molding.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Colors

 

 

Osprey Rain Cover

My only major gripe with this pack is that it does not come with a rain cover (most Osprey packs don’t). You need to purchase the rain cover separately from the backpack itself, and this costs about $30. In my opinion, having a rain cover for your backpack is just as important as having a rain jacket for yourself, if not more so. When you need to keep your sleeping bag or spare clothing dry, you’ll need to invest in a rain cover, pure and simple.

Let us be clear here about the necessity of the rain cover. The average traveler might not need a rain cover. If you are not planning to do any serious hiking trips, then you could go without the Osprey rain cover.  Personally, whether I am hiking or not, I like to always have a rain cover.

I have protected the contents of my pack on countless occasions whilst hitchhiking or crossing town in the rain by having a rain cover for my backpack. The choice is yours.

Top Tip: If you keep your stuff compartmentalized in different dry sacks and have a rain cover on your pack, the combination guarantees you will keep your stuff dry even in the most heinous of weather down pours.

Keep your gear dry with the Osprey rain cover!

 

Sleeping Bag Compartment

Like most ultralight hiking packs, the Osprey Exos 58 design does not feature a special compartment for your sleeping bag. For me, this took some getting used to, as I was so accustomed to having my sleeping bag zone separate from my main pack belly.

In the end, my sleeping bag still lives in the same location in my Exos 58, the only difference being that I don’t have direct access to that area from the outside of the pack. To be honest this is not really a big deal. You don’t need quick access to your sleeping bag under normal circumstances.

 

Osprey Hydration Reservoir

Nearly all of Osprey backpacks offer an internal sleeve into which you can slip a hydration reservoir plus 1 or 2 “hose portals” through, which you can slip the sip tube. The Osprey Exos 58 has a hydration reservoir pocket underneath the top lid of the pack.

I am a big fan of this feature as it makes it easy to drink your water (it would be a mistake to put beer in your reservoir) during the hike. Because the reservoir is tucked into the top lid just behind your head, you never have to worry about the reservoir pouch itself becoming punctured by sharp trees or rocks during a hike.

 

Osprey Exos 58 Best Backpack for Traveling?

What kind of backpack are you? This is the main question you have to ask yourself when the time comes to invest in some new gear. You must be honest with yourself about what you expect from any given backpack.

If you are interested in a lightweight, durable, comfortable pack with a generous amount of space for the ultralight category, then the Osprey Exos 58 is for you.

This is technically a minimalist backpack. However, I would say it is on the larger side of the spectrum for the category. It does not have all of the bells and whistles of a pack that weighs 2 or 3 times its size.  Evaluate your needs and choose accordingly.

Luckily for you, the Osprey Exos 58 should have most of them covered. It is all about using the right tool for the job, right? Now go forth and unleash your adventures with this ultimate traveling backpack!

If you are looking for a larger pack with more features and more carrying capacity, take a look at this review of the Exos 58’s big brother: the Osprey Aether AG 70 liter backpack. The Aether AG 70 liter is one of my favorite packs I have ever owned, hands down.

View on Osprey    View on REI

 

Responsible Backpacking and Eco Travel

Where ever your Osprey Exos 58 liter backpack takes you in the world it is very important to remember to be mindful of your impact on that place.

Whenever hiking or backpacking, always use leave-no-trace-principles. You should aim to leave the place you camped or visited as you found them. Always pack out all rubbish with you. Respect all wildlife.  They were there long before you and (hopefully) they will be there long after you are gone.

Humans are destroying the world faster than it can heal itself. Don’t be one of them! If you love exploring wild places, do your part to keep that place beautiful and thriving!

With all that in mind, bring along a quality pack like the Osprey Exos 58 and you will be sure to enjoy all of the adventures this planet has to offer.

The Osprey Exos 58 is truly an amazing travel backpack! Adventure tested. Backpacker approved.

 

Yay for transparency! The links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you buy anything, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to stuff I’ve actually used and never endorse crap. Your support helps me keep the site going.

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