Kit review: Osprey Ariel 65 litre extended fit pack
Reviewed by Steph
I’m pretty well placed to do this review - the original Osprey Ariel 65 litre rucksack has been my go-to pack for adventures for the last 5 years, taking me wild camping on Dartmoor, on the South Downs Way and two weeks of solo hiking/camping in Norway.
So the fact that there is now an extended fit version is pretty exciting!
Firstly I’ll cover the pack itself - it’s a really well designed pack, perfect for camping and longer adventures. There’s a separate compartment for sleeping gear at the bottom with its own zip access, an inbuilt rain cover, ventilated back system, roomy lid pocket for quick access items, a big stuff pocket on the front and two big side pockets. Plus, as with most Osprey packs, a plethora of straps that you can tighten and attach things with. It’s not the lightest pack at 2.2kg, but for longer trips I prefer a pack with a good structure so the weight stays where it’s supposed to.
Now for the extended fit edits - the most obvious is the mucccccch longer hipbelt. Looking at the comparison between the extended fit (grey) and the regular fit (red) pack, you can see the difference in how the pack sits properly on my hips and hugs them, rather than perching on the back of my hips. The straps are also reaaaaaally long (the pack is designed for up to 70 inch hips). The sternum strap is longer too, and the pockets have been repositioned. Drum roll - I can use the hip pockets!
I took this pack with me for a recent trip to New Zealand and the biggest difference for me is having the weight sit properly on my hips, and not having the straps dig into my belly - something I just thought was normal with packs until I tried this bag.
This kind of pack for me is an investment - my previous one I’ve had for more than 5 years and it’s still going strong (and will now be passed on to someone else for future adventures) - but having a well fitting pack makes hiking/camping trips so much more comfortable and kind on my body.
RRP £235
