Tested in Sweden: the Osprey Atmos AG 50 review

Tested at Kungsleden Trail in Sweden: Osprey Atmos AG 50 backpack for men

All of a sudden the summer holidays are here, and I start to realize that my current, worn out backpack is over twelve years old and not really up to the task anymore. What to do? Well, my girlfriend is running around with a very fancy looking Osprey backpack for ladies and I would love to have a crack at it too. No better place for me than Kungsleden, Sweden to test a new backpack and lucky for me Osprey is willing to let me test the Osprey Atmos AG 50 pack. So here’s my review of this wonderful piece of kit.
 

Finding the right size of the Atmos AG 50

Due to the easy to use Osprey packsizer 2.0 app I have determined my packsize within minutes by taking a picture and fitting it in the app: Medium, well no surprises there one might think, considering my height. But in the past I have been walking around with a ladiesfit backpack for two years, two years of backache and too much tension on the shoulder straps before someone told me it was a ladysized pack, so I’m not planning to make the same mistake again.
 

The Osprey Atmos AG 50l put to use at Kungsleden Trail

Although my backpack has suffered a lot during this trip, not just from carrying it around and dumping it on the often rocky surface during breaks, it has seen thorny bushes, pointy rocks and the occasional Swedish thunderstorm, it still shows no signs of deterioration, in fact it still stands as if it came straight of the shelve. Which to me is very impressive!
 
The included ultralight raincover works like a charm, every night before going to sleep I put my backpack in it to keep my dry set of clothes as dry as possible. It never failed me during a combined duration of 12 days. Even when rain completely flooded the living of our tent, the bag and thus my clothes stayed dry.
 
This backpack really stands out when being put to the test of what it is originally made for: heavy duty hiking. And I did just that, for the first stretch I overloaded the pack with an amount of 25 kilograms not really considering Osprey’s max. load weight of 18kg. And still, even being seriously overweight, the hip straps just take it and convert it into a doable amount of pressure on the hips. The most comfortable hip straps I’ve ever had and no stretchmarks on my hipbones at all.
 
Of course fitting it back on after a break is kind of hellish, but once it settles in it feels like as if there’s almost no backpack at all, that’s certainly quality in my book! Osprey is the first manufacturer in the world who managed to fit a complete mesh-backpart on their pack, this mesh-material even runs through the shoulder straps and the larger hip straps. The abbreviation AG of this infamous backpart is derived from the name AntiGravityTM 3D.
 

At Kungsleden Trail II

During the second Kungsleden stretch I’m carrying about 19 kilos of gear on my back. Which is still one kilo over the maximum weight but it feels like walking around with a daypack! It doesn’t get much more comfortable than this on a multi day hike, and frankly it doesn’t have to, because the weight of carrying all your kit is part of the experience for me. Needles to say I am very impressed by the performance of the Osprey Atmos AG 50 backpack. Then there’s the different pockets, the removable top pocket for instance has enough space to carry all my none urgent but important stuff. The side pockets mounted on the hip straps are of a very useful size so they, for instance, fitted my daily portion of trail mix, sunglasses, pocketknife, classic compass, cell phone, mosquito repellent and anti-blister aid.
 
When hiking with walking sticks Osprey has fitted this pack with stow-on-the-go straps to easily tuck them away or swiftly take them out. I didn’t use any this time round though. The very easy to adjust BioStretchTM- shoulder straps easily do the trick, even when overloaded by a margin they protect your shoulders with a soft padding so you won’t get sore shoulders. And the straps and load lifters are very user friendly.
 
My only remark about this backpack is that it hasn’t got any large, side pockets that can be closed off. I usually put my Camelbak on one side and use the other one for my daily rations. So if I need anything to eat or refill my water it can be done in a jiffy. Spoiler alert, this was the only remark I could come up with and it even feels a bit like nit-picking because I’ve grown to love this reliable hiking companion that much. So this Osprey backpack doesn’t just look good after two weeks of abuse, the material is sustainable and rugged for real!
 

Conclusion: of the Osprey Atmos AG 50 review

During this trip I overstretched the possibilities of this backpack and I am super impressed by its performance. For me a backpack serves best when it isn’t bothering me at all during heavy parts of the hikes, like serious ascending or descending over rocky paths. My stuff needs to be protected and has to arrive dry and well at the place of destination. Plus, if possible, it just needs to look good positioned upright against a rock. It does all that, and therefore I was not amazed by the fact that 9 out of 10 hikers we met at Kungsleden Trail carried an Osprey backpack.
 
Also read: the best daypacks for women who hike!
 

 

Became enthusiastic?

Awesome! Check all technical details, further information and prices for the Osprey Atmos 50 here.
 
[This Osprey Atmos AG 50 test was made possible by Osprey Europe as we received it for reviewing. All opinions given are of course entirely our own. In this blog you will find affiliate links. If you decide to buy something through this link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.]  
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