Last Autumn I took up the Hadrian’s Wall challenge – a 135km (84mile) backpacking hike across UK. For the purpose I purchased the Osprey Ariel 65 AG bag and put it through trial by fire via this 8 day adventure. This is an honest review of how this bag stands up to its hype and I will be going into detail about the design elements and practical usability. Hopefully this will help those of you still looking and trying to figure out if this is the right bag for you. If you do decide to get one for, please consider using one of the affiliate links at the bottom of the article. That way you can support this page and it doesn’t cost anything extra to you.
Designed for long journey backpacking and trekking Osprey Ariel 65 AG bag promises to ease the experience of carrying heavy loads on multi day journeys.With improved women’s fit and patented back support Osprey is proud of their design of award winning bags. But lets see if Ariel 65 AG follows through on the promise.
Key features:
- Women’s design
- Price ~ £200
- Life time warranty
- Weight ~ 2.21 kg
- Volume ~ 65L
- Two back length sizes: S – 40cm-48cm and M – 46cm – 53cm
- Dimensions ~ 85cm x 39cm x 32cm
- Bonus: Rain cover (For Europe) / Day Bag (For North America)
- Load Range 15kg-27kg
Price tag
Averaging around £200 this bag is pricy, however it is made from high quality materials and accompanied with a lifetime warranty.
Specialised women’s design
Osprey has already established itself as a provider for a range of bags created for women’s fit. Right of the bat lets focus on the three main concerns – shoulder straps + chest strap and the hip belt. On initial fitting the first big ‘YES’ was the immediate realisation that the upper body was in perfect comfort. To this moment this is the most comfortable chest strap + shoulder straps I have ever worn. There is no pulling, crushing or rubbing. The adjustment range and a long strap allows you to set it just right for you and the fit is so seamless that without having tried other bags you wouldn’t even know that it can also be done wrong.
The hip belt is another story. It is supposed to be placed with your hipbone centred and should mould to your body shape, however it appears to need wearing in, like a pair of boots and I can tell you on day one of the trip I thought I had made a big big mistake and just wanted to abandon it. This was largely due to the strong support in the hip belt. Whilst it keeps the belt from turning into a mushy rope, even the slightest misplacement meant that the base edge was cutting into my upper thighs. Therefore strongly advise to try it on before buying.
Dimensions
The 65l volume will be sufficient for most backpackers. The horizontal ‘dual straight jacket compression straps’ and the sleeping pad straps create the option for attaching your compact tent and sleeping matt to the outside of the bag. The bottom sleeping bag compartment easily fit my rather large sleeping bag and opens wide enough for easy access.
Two available sizes help to further customisation for a better fit.
Loading range and back support
The AG stands for Anti Gravity system this bag uses for its back support. At 15kg I could not quite tell if it was helping or not, but it definitely balanced the weight from the shoulders to the hips. The special breathable mesh in contact areas definitely works, no sweaty back.
Design features
The Top is removable and an integrated flapjack doubles as a cover, the changing is very simple and ads some flexibility.
A waterproof cover is provided with the European models. It is big enough to cover the bag and a sleeping mat attached to the outside. Tested in gale winds and heavy rain, definitely works well.
‘Dual Access Side Mesh Stretch Pockets’ require some getting used to, but work well.
Hip belt pockets may seem obvious, but many makers still don’t add these. Quite sizeable, will fit a large phone and an external charger easily.
The bag also features upper and lower pairs of compression straps. Special feature being the inside out function of the lower strap. All of these work appropriately and I did not have to think about them much.
I was not able to test the following three features of the bag. Your comments an experiences are very welcome.
- Stow on the go trekking pole attachment
- Water Reservoir sleeve
- Dual Ice Tools Attachment
Conclusion
A top level bag with an abundance of features with a price that reflects the quality and the lifetime warranty. The best features include the back support and the chest and shoulder straps. All in all once you have found the right fitting dimensions a good choice for those wanting to invest in a single bag that’s just right.
Anta Azure 