For a multi-day walk where you need the kitchen sink, this is your pack. The AG stands for ‘anti-gravity’ and relates to the back system, which is designed to lift the load right away from your torso.
The pack hovers a good four inches away from my back and I rarely feel its presence at all, even though it’s nudging 2kg when empty. And despite the concave back panel, there’s very little loss of storage space.
The hip-fins are so stiff that you have to prise them apart like lobster claws to put it on, and I find they then put slightly too much pressure on my hip-bones, so make sure you try the two sizes (medium and large) to make sure you get the perfect back length.
You get plenty of pockets and a basement for wet stuff, with a divider that can be unhooked if you just want to pile everything in the main section. And if you don’t need quite so much stuff, you can remove the lid and use a hidden extra flap to cover the load. For really big walks, it’s very hard to beat this. Target Price £150.
Related: Best Backpacks
SPECIFICATION
Weight: 1994g
Capacity: 50L
Pockets: 5 (2x lid, 2x side, front)
Back system: Osprey AG (suspended)
Contact: 01202 946444, www.ospreyeurope.com
VERDICT
PROS: Fully featured, supports huge loads easily, firm support.
CONS: Hip-fins may apply excessive pressure on hips.
Comfort: 4/5
Stability: 5/5
Features: 4/5
Ventilation: 5/5
Best for: Multi-day walks when you need a washbag and changes of clothes.
Review from Country Walking magazine.