>>1962366>Exos 48I bought what I think is the second generation of Exos packs in 2014 (I think). There where a few features that drew me to it.
>trapeze suspensionThat’s the generic name for the Osprey Airspeed and Antifravity suspensions. Nothing can touch that type of suspension as far as comfort goes. The ventilation is a huge factor for me (I’m in the south).
>metal stays instead of a plastic sheetIt forms a type of internal frame that’s somewhat visible from the outside in places (hence the name). It’s extremely rigid. As such, the pack rides slightly higher on the wearer, with more weight suspended slightly above the hip belt rather than even with it. The rigid ness and higher design keeps the load more in line with the wearers center of gravity.
>weight to comfort ratioIt was Ospreys lightest pack at the time. It startled the ground between truly ultralight packs and “traditional” internal frames, but the ratio of load carrying ability and comfort to weight wasn’t matched anywhere.
>removable brain/top lid with pocketI don’t know why more packs don’t do this.
>minor details found on most packsIt has every small option I want;correct size, hip belt pockets, shoulder strap pockets, side compression straps that run under the side pockets (some companies still put them over the pockets; retarded)... even the “stow and go” trekking pole thing is pretty handy and gets used way more than you’d think.
It ones of the best packs ever made. I did most of the Pinhoti trail, hundreds of miles on the AT, the Vermont Longtrail, a 200 mile section of the FL trail, a Grand Canyon R2R hike, a few small summits in Oregon and Washington, and of course dozens of two and three day hikes in the South.
Of course the third generation of the pack (the one that came out in 2018, I think) is a total abortion. They removed the hip belt pockets and decreased the padding in the shoulder straps to save like 1oz.
