Osprey Packs Stratos 36 Hiking Backpack

I used this pack for a week of day hiking through the Swiss alps, and I'm very pleased with the pack. It has plenty of storage space and compartments for a day hike (could probably be used for a light overnight weekend hike as well). The two pockets on the top of the pack (one accessible from the inside, one from the outside) are convenient for phones, keys, etc. The large main storage area is accessible from both the top and the side. There's also an external pouch on the back of the pack that's good for holding a first aid kit or other miscellaneous items. I absolutely love the trampoline-style back - it kept the pack off my shirt/skin, which made for very comfortable hiking. The strap points for trekking poles were very useful. I got caught out in the rain one day, and the built-on rain fly worked well. I only have a few minor complaints. The water bottle pockets are not easy to reach while wearing the pack. It took some contortion to reach my water bottles without taking off the pack. Of course a water bladder (the pack has a compartment for one) would have solved this. The pack will not sit upright if you place it on the ground - it will roll on its back, so be sure not to keep anything fragile in the back outer pocket. Finally, the pouches along the waist strap could be larger. They're too small to hold most cell phones, but I used them for my wallet, keys, hand sanitizer, etc. Overall this is a very good pack!

This is an excellent, reliable, incredibly light backpack for hiking, camping, traveling, etc. for anyone! The Osprey Stratos 36 sm/med backpack is only a few pounds. Which for all the features and spaces to pack away items, this is a huge plus. After having this for several years and using the backpack for hiking (rain and shine), canoeing, filling it to its max and overnight camping, this is a very well-made, quality pack. There isn't a tear anywhere as you can see in our pictures. All of the straps are easy to adjust while the pack is empty or full. Hiking/walking with the pack you can adjust the straps with ease and they stay in place. The top lid of the pack has two different compartments, one inside and out. You can reach the outer one when you have the pack on. Also, if you have it on there's a zipper that opens the main compartment of your pack, this is on the left side. This is nice to have when you need to get something quick and do not want to unpack your bag. The main inner part has a large pocket that is against the back. We've found this to be a perfect spot for our CamelBak 2L reservoir. Fits it perfectly. The compression, hip and sternum straps are great as they all play a part in adjusting the backpack comfortably to you. The hip belt pockets are convenient to have for those smaller items you need quick access to. SO MANY compartments and features on this backpack that make your trip easier. Buy it, highly recommend!

This is my new favorite pack! I really enjoy using all the features this pack offers. Super comfortable carry, thanks to the Osprey AG (anti-gravity) suspension and vented panels. I've used this pack on several overnight and weekend hikes into the back-country and it has been a great performer. I normally pack my tent, sleeping bag and pad, cook system, rain jacket, food for 3 days, a few extra clothing items, some electronics, and first aid items, toiletries, and water purification items, and 3 liters of water. Total weight is 26-28lbs and this pack carries the load with ease, and very comfortably, for long distances. I've carried lighter loads with other packs not nearly as comfortable. This pack is a premium product. As with ANY pack, you MUST choose the right size for your torso length, and adjust the pack to properly fit you once loaded. Other than that, this pack makes me look forward to my next adventure! I know that pack will handle the weight, and take the abuse I generally dish out. Get one!

This bag is confused about what it is. It's almost big enough to be a backpacking bag, but it would be tight unless your kit is pretty minimal (at which point maybe you should get an ultralight bag!). It's also somewhat heavy for the amount of space. This is basically a rucksack version of the Stratos 34 with a brain added. For me the added storage and the trade off of the narrow top opening was not really all that worth it. I think you can fit much more in this bag than the 34, but at a certain point you need to ask yourself what this bag is really for. I personally ended up with the 34. For me, and I think a lot of people, I mostly need a day pack and a backpacking pack (separate pieces of gear), not really anything in between. If you do lots of winter excursions, this may be a good bag for you because of the extra space and lashing options. If you need a bag for climbing gear approaches, this may work well. Besides some specialize uses, I find this bag to be an odd size and weight that doesn't really fit well into my outdoors kit. Your mileage may vary of course. It's a well made and comfortable backpack for sure, but definitely consider the balance of size and weight and if it works for you!

This pack is great for extended dayhiking and small backpacking trips. I haven't yet used it for much more yet, but I wouldn't backpack with it for more than a few days, as space is limited. The internal frame is great for making this pack comfortable to wear for long periods of time and distributing weight, but it negatively impacts available space a bit. Quality seems to be top notch all around thus far.

This is my third different bag I've tried for backpacking and this is by far the best. This pack puts most of the weight in your hips rather than shoulders/upper back, which really makes it easier to carry more weight for long distances. I also love the additional side zipper to access the main compartment, which makes it easy to pack and quickly grab things out of the bag. I used this bag as a carry on and made sure not to pack anything in the top compartments to stay within the max height. I had no issue on the international flights, but on the way back I had put a few things in the top compartment and an AA agent did make me remove a little bit of stuff on a domestic flight to fit it within max measurements. I used this on a 5 day/4 day 80+ mile hike in Patagonia. I did not have to carry a bladder due to the availability of water in streams and I also didn't have to carry food. But I was able to carry my sleeping bag, several layers/changes of clothes, plus various camping necessities. Also, I should mention I'm a female. I decided to go with the men's bag for a few extra liters. I believe it's just important to measure yourself to make sure you buy the right size bag for comfort. The included rain cover was easy to use and withstood 50+ mile hour winds.

This pack seems to be very high quality. It is nice and light and very comfortable to wear. It holds plenty of gear for any day hike, up to an overnight. The pocket for the hydration pack fits perfectly for the 3L bottle.

This bag is the best. I immediately bought another for my wife. We just hiked the north rim of the grand canyon and not once did my back hurt. No issues whatsoever with this purchase. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good hiking bag.