OspreyStratos 24L Men's Hiking Backpack, Cetacean BlueBluesignBluesignBluesign

This is the best of hiking backpacks. I was worried 34L was too big but it is only 0.4 pounds (120 g) more weight than the 24L. It has an expandable 10L section to the inside bottom of it that can be collapsed and not use or expanded and filled with more gear. So the same size as a 24L not used. I am 6’3” and I needed an extra inch or two in the frame to fit perfectly according to website. The 34L accommodated a longer vertical frame setting if needed but still offered all the same frame settings as the 24L. So more space if needed or don’t use extra space and same size as 24L. Ventilated back is essential and this frame has great ventilation and strength.

I have herniated discs in my neck (C6/7, C5/6) and a bad lower back but love to hike. I went to reddit for advice and Osprey was the only consensus answer I saw. I tried several ones on before a big trip to Europe where we averaged about 25k steps per day hiking and walking everywhere. It's by a long shot the best backpack I've ever worn, the adjustability of everything makes it a no brainer for anyone. I'm going to need neck surgery but you never would have known it after wearing this with ~30lbs in it every day for a week on those long days.This is the type of item that you get excited about during the day and you can't remember why. It makes me want to hike when I'm at work. I feel like a little kid who got an action figure he can't wait to go home to play with. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Very well constructed and designed.

Perfect volume for extended day walks. Used this for the first time walking Hadrian’s Wall in September and I could easily fit my weather gear, packed lunch, first aid kit, camera, and other bits and pieces. It was very comfortable and provided plenty of adjustments to fit my contours. The included rain cover was very convenient and could be pulled out in a hurry as needed in the rather variable English weather - everything stayed completely dry. Very happy with this superior quality day bag.

I've bought this pack four times - 5 times: 3 24L, 2 36 (two sizes for me, the other three were gifts). It is perfect for hiking and finding what you want quickly, without pulling everything out due to all the compartments YET is very light weight. Keeps your back from sweating. Holds both the osprey and platypus bladders. I strongly prefer the platypus. The 2L Platypus sticks up a little bit but I don't care. To be honest I hate bladders, but for longer hikes they are a necessity and much easier to manage with this pack then bottles. The 36L is BARELY heavier than the 24L if your are trying to decide between the two and off and empty appear the same size, but you can put more in the 36L.

first off, as of 03-04-2024, this listing says "Stratos 24" but the pictures are of the women's version "Sirrus 24." What I received was the correct item as listed (Men's Gray Stratos 24).I had the older version of this pack. It got very little use. It mostly hung in my closet for 7 years or so. I pulled it out last weekend to find that the interior was shedding. I guess it's the waterproofing backing and this is referred to as "delamination." If it happens under warranty, Osprey will replace it. Unfortunately I had 3 other smaller packs from several brands that were also falling apart inside. These hiking packs are made with a cheap, lightweight material that is NOT intended to last.If you are going to USE this pack as intended, then it's probably the best hiking pack in this size you will find. The reason I hadn't used it for so long is that I was willing to compromise and just take my every day pack on day hikes, rather than keep two fully stocked packs, or move all my relevant gear between two packs. And this Stratos 24 is NOT a good EDC pack. The non-removable massive hip strap makes it useless as an EDC pack but great as a hiking specific pack.The few changes that were made since the previous version are mostly all for the better. The only question for me is the outside of the pack feels more plastic compared to the old pack that was more fabric feeling. The new pack is definitely more crinkly and not only because it's not broken in yet. It's probably a recycled material but feels cheaper. The other small changes like larger front pocket and updated simple yoke adjustments, make it better though. The only other major change is the size of the frame is larger. It's much taller, and possibly wider. I guess the pack is not as deep compared to the old pack (I'm not sure, but if it's still 24 liters then it must be). I don't love the larger size frame since it was already a very large pack for day hikes. I suppose it's more of an overnight pack, so most people would probably see the larger frame as a positive. I had a Talon I had bought for day hikes, but it's also delaminating and I wasn't going to replace them both.If you buy this pack expecting it to last 5-7 years then it's amazing. If you expect it to last the rest of your life, then keep looking for a more durable long term material (500d Cordura, etc), or research how to store backpacks to prevent delamination. Probably a humidity thing if I had to guess.

Top feature is the incredible weight distribution of this pack. It essentially hugs your hips and the light frame carries all the load of the pack into the hip belt, so that your legs do the work, not your shoulders or spine. The pack essentially tilts against your shoulders, suspended away from your back by Osprey's fantastic mesh system. I literally felt like I had a small air conditioner on my back because the breeze was continuously able to reach my back while wearing the pack.I carry a 3 to 5 pound mirrorless camera and lens on a clip on one of the shoulder straps and I can barely notice it's there because the weight is all transferred through the pack to the hip belt.The zippers and materials are all high quality. The only tiny drawback on the zippers was the small pouches on the hip pack, though well designed to protrude from the hip belt, I could not close the zippers one handed.It's expensive, but that's because you're buying quality.