Osprey Men's Stratos 50 Ventilated Hiking Pack

Product Information

Earlier this year I spent 17 days walking the length of the Cambrian Way, a high-level route from Conwy in north Wales, to Cardiff in the south. Before I set off I spent a lot of time thinking about my gear choices as I knew that even the smallest of details could make a big difference when taking on 23,800m of total ascent over just 300 miles. On the bottom you have removable compression straps which run across the bottom zipper, visible in the picture above. They are very useful to have here, to attach a sleeping pad, tent poles, or a whole tent.

So you attach your trekking poles temporarily to have free hands for any activity, like eating, taking a photo, or scrambling.

Women's sizing

You in fact also have the third access through the bottom zippered entrance, but it leads to the sleeping bag compartment which is completely separated from the main compartment.

So, below the removable lid, you have the usual collar with a cinch cord and a toggle. The front entrance is through a long U-shaped zipper. It isn't just the comfort and support that we love about the Stratos 50, we also love the attention to detail and the number of clever, and unique, features.The shoulder straps also feature die-cut foam for comfort, support and ventilation and flex beautifully around your body to increase comfort. You also get an adjustable sternum strap (with built-in whistle) to help spread the load. The hip belt is reinforced with a die-cut foam to produce stability and control whilst allowing that ventilation theme to continue. It’s a well-padded hip belt that’s capable of dealing with the weight in the suggested load range of 12-18kg. It does an excellent job of transferring the loads to your hips and away from your shoulders. Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility. The shoulder harness is with perforated breathable EVA foam covered with spacer mesh. The same structure is in the hip belt wings. These features are partly visible in the picture.