Osprey Packs is a well-known manufacturer of backpacks and travel gear and has been around since 1974. Osprey Packs had introduced breathable mesh in its backpacks way back in 1976. Anyone who is familiar with Osprey backpacks is probably aware that the company produces many high quality products.
The Osprey Atmos 65 backpack has a lightweight frame with an adjustable foam harness that can be moved 3 inches up or down. The adjustable harness means that the backpack is usable by people of different heights and body frames.
The Atmos 65 comes in 3 sizes: the smaller one has a capacity of 62 litres and weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces (1.53 kg); the medium one has a capacity of 65 litres and weighs 3 pounds 9 ounces (1.62 kg) while the largest one has a capacity of 68 litres and weighs 3 pounds 10 ounces (1.64 kg). The backpack is available in 3 different colours: glacier blue, oxide red and graphite grey. The image below is the glacier blue version of the backpack.
The Atmos 65 has an adjustable hip belt which permits one to customize it while wearing the pack. This backpack has a removable sleeping bag compartment and a top pocket which is also removable. Also included are two vertical zips as well as straps for attaching any tools, trekking poles or ice axes. A useful addition is self-repairing zippers (if a zipper comes apart it is usually a question of unzipping and zipping it again in order to fix it).
Osprey offers lifetime warranty on all the packs it produces and the Atmos 65 is no exception. The company states that it only provides warranty for defects in the material and any construction defects. However Osprey usually does more than this as it is known to repair or replace backpacks that have been torn or damaged through accident or as a result of normal wear and tear.
Many Positive Customer Reviews
The average user rating on Amazon.com for the Atmos 65 is an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars. Some reviewers wrote that the shoulder padding is great and so are the zippers. Many reviewers also wrote that Osprey’s customer service is great.
One customer wrote that all his gear was destroyed by a black bear that invaded their camp. The guy said that his Osprey Atmos 65 backpack was the only thing that survived, except for a few holes in the pack. However he said that he sent the backpack back to Osprey and they repaired the backpack for free.
Another man wrote that he has lots of backpacks and this is one of the best he owns. He said that Osprey’s customer service is impressive as he broke the hip belt and Osprey replaced it for him without asking any questions.
Apart from the customer service provided by Osprey Packs, other reviewers agreed that this pack is a cut above cheaper options from other manufacturers. One reviewer wrote that he originally purchased a cheaper backpack from another company, but after trying his friend’s Osprey Atmos 65, he realized that it was a much superior backpack and he ended buying one himself.
Another Amazon customer stated that he went from a cheap backpack to this one. The man said that this is the best backpack he ever had and he would not go back to any other brand if it is not Osprey.
Owners of the Atmos 65 also lauded the backpack for being so light. In the view of one particular reviewer, the suspension system on the Atmos 65 is better than that of any other backpack manufacturer. He said that once the backpack is adjusted according to the person’s height, one does not really feel the weight of the backpack.
Another wrote that he was going to quit backpacking since he was growing older and was finding the gear to be too heavy to carry. However he said that he bought the Atmos 65 backpack and was pleasantly surprised to see that a fully loaded Atmos 65 did not feel much heavier that his previous backpack was when empty.
Atmos 65 owners also indicated that the pack is perfectly suited for tall and short people alike given the customization options. One guy wrote that he is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 metres) tall and weighs 230 pounds (104 kg) and this pack serves him great. Another user said that he is 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 metres) tall and weighs 130 pounds (1.59 meters) and the smaller (62 litres) Atmos 65 model fits him perfectly.
Flaws of the Osprey Atmos 65
One particular flaw of the Atmos 65 is the fact the side pockets are not reachable unless one removes the pack from his or her back. Some Amazon customers also indicated that the hip pocket is a bit too small and a 5 inch or larger phone might not fit in it. One reviewer also stated that the compartment for the water bottle is fairly small.
Another reviewer stated that this backpack is not designed for heavy backpacking. After days of carrying the Atmos 65, it started to sag below the hip belt while digging into the hips. One also wrote that there is not enough padding on the shoulders and this caused parts of the frame to dig in to his back while wearing the backpack for some time.
A couple of users indicated that being lighter, the materials on the Atmos 65 are not as durable as the material on some other backpacks. Also, one particular reviewer wrote that the zippers gave out when he fully loaded his Osprey Atmos 65.