OspreyAriel Plus 60 Women's Backpacking Backpack - Prior Season

It was a great backpack, buy way too big for me. It recommended you get fitted for the backpack before buying one online. Osprey is a great product

Love how the pack fits on my hips and is very comfortable when carrying 30lbs.

At first thought it was going to be too big. I ordered the x-small/small; and the pack fits like a glove. Highly recommend this brand. So many pockets to store things and the quality is unmatched.

I put this pack on my 13 year old niece for her first series of backpacking trips this summer. She started out with a 3 mi/day overnight, then graduated to a 45+ mile 8 day backcountry trip in the high Sierra.Obviously I can't personally evaluate the fit of the tailored-for-women Ariel line of packs from Osprey, but my outspoken niece was a great help in that arena. She's on the smaller end of the size chart for the Medium/Large variant, but we were able to adjust the shoulder and hip harnesses to about the middle of their ranges to achieve a very good fit.Starting with performance: our big trip included a couple of strenuous days boulder-hopping, and this pack stuck to her frame like glue. The series of support straps, while complex-looking at first, is well engineered to stabilize the load - this is critical for an internal-frame pack.- The internal red strap keeps the top of the pack near the drawstring opening stable- The four side straps pull the load close to the back- The two 'straitjacket' straps keep the extra back pockets (the difference between the 55L and this 60L) secure- The two straps over the bottom zipper snug up the load in the base of the pack if not used for external loads- The two straps for the top flap, along with the elastic along the top cap, keep the top load snug.My niece felt very stable even while doing some climbing in this pack, and felt her balance was in the right place (of course proper packing is key to this). There is plenty of adjustment range in the harness straps, including the load lifter straps at the top, to ensure a snug and comfortable connection to the back and hips.Features:The Ariel line is basically identical in feature set to the Aether line, with the latter being sized for men's proportions. The "Plus" differs from the standard in the following basic ways:- The top flap is removable and converts to a day pack. I have the Aether 85 Plus and have used this day pack comfortably for 4-6 mile ascents with about 10 lbs in it; the pack seems to be the same size on all models.- The back zippered flap has two extra zippered compartments that bulge out of the back of the pack. I find these really useful for vest, swimwear, rain wear, water pump, and toilet kit as they're accessible without opening the main compartment and much larger than the top flap compartment.- The integral rain cover is moved to a separate compartment beneath the main compartment to make more space on the top pack- There are two additional load-securing cinch straps on the sides of the pack to stabilize the main compartment load- There is a set of loops to hold your trekking poles cross-body for easy access while hiking. The top loop is on one shoulder strap and has a cinch for security, and the bottom loop is on the side of the pack. Poles end up sitting just above the hips and below the arm, though my arm rests on them a little and they stick out to the side if not retracted.- The shell fabric appears to be a little thicker and more robust in wear zones along the sides and bottom.All this adds a little weight, but compared to carrying a separate day pack, the increase is minimal.The "Plus" shares features with the standard line. I am fortunate enough to have an Ariel 55 around for a direct comparison:- The main compartment is the same as far as I can tell, as is the harness and internal frame- Each can fit up to a 3L hydration bladder, and the sip tube can go on either shoulder strap- Osprey's attention to detail on closures is really well appreciated, with thumb rings on every zipper and a clever one-handed cinch on the top opening (oft imitated, never duplicated)- Rain-shedding flaps over all main zippers, and an additional cover for the top cinch when the day pack is removed.- Waterproof coating on the top opening gaiter and bottom to prevent moisture incursion- Foam-wrapped shoulder straps with no seams contacting the body (so no rubbing in the shoulders or armpits)I'm deliberately not focusing on the features that are well-documented in the manufacturer's description, as these are generally accurate and need no additional elaboration. What's truly important is that this pack provides a comfortable, reliable experience for all manner of back-country adventuring, from overnights through to multi-week thru-hikes. I saw hundreds of Osprey packs on the John Muir Trail this summer, and that's evidence for their quality and comfort. While if you're just doing overnights or 2-3 day trips, you could make do with a smaller, lighter pack, if you're looking to get one pack that does it all, this is the one to get.One final note - take the time to adjust ALL the parts of the harness system before you go out, and plan to make minor adjustments as you go (and your body and the pack conform to each other). The system is designed - and intended - to be adjusted regularly as things change, and they definitely do, even on a daily basis some times (pack gets lighter, body loosens up, etc.). This will ensure the most comfortable and enjoyable experience.I hope you find this review helpful - if so let me know. Most importantly - HAPPY TRAILS, GET OUT THERE, AND HAVE FUN IN THE WILD!

As with any Osprey, the construction quality is excellent. You have all the features one would expect at this price point - sturdy dividers that are removable, high quality zippers, front panel access, rain jacket, and very spacious compartment for sleeping bag. The biggest risk you will take by buying without trying is the comfort based on your torso - for a couple of lengths, Osprey recommends either of the two sizes - and it is really a function of how comfortable you will feel with the strap lengths, and the tightness of the hip belts. For a 5'9" teenager (slim), this was a bit of a hassle, for an average sized 5'11" the fit and comfort was excellent. The mesh side pockets were enough for carrying bottles - didn't try to use any type of water reservoirs. The removable daypack/lumbar is a wonderful feature as well. Also very easy to store hiking rods with easy access and not obstructing arm movement or knocking the fellow hikers off-trail.A note on pricing - at various times, models with slight changes (sometimes just the color) and higher capacity seem to be priced cheaper than this one (unsure why). It may make be helpful to look at 3-4 different models before investing in one of them. It is definitely something that's built to last. (dark green is a better description of night blue)

I have used Osprey packs in the past for hiking in national parks and I’ve never been disappointed! The material is durable and although it will show signs of wear if you love it well, they are made to last and I love ospreys lifetime guarantee that they will repair or replace your bag if needed for any reason. (Definitely makes the price seem more justified)- I was able to test the 70 liter pack as well, and I much preferred the way this 60 felt on my back. The 60 felt way more natural/comfortable for long days, and the top portion wasn’t against and over the back of my head like the 70 was. It felt like all of the extra space on the 70 was all behind my head. If you don’t absolutely need the extra space, I’d quickly recommend the 60 as a more manageable size.One other thing to note is that at 5’7”, I was near the end of the upper/useable range for the torso adjustment. I had to move it as far as I could to get the hip belt to sit in the correct position. If you are much taller, you may need to consider the men’s pack.This is a beautiful pack that is ready for adventure. It has ample pockets and compartments for all of your gear, and the straps are easily adjusted to get a comfortable, close to body fit.