Our Osprey Exos 48 review – an impressive lightweight backpacking rucksack perfect for multi-day trips. One of the top packs in the Osprey line-up, now new and improved for 2022.
We’ve always liked the Osprey Exos 48 – it’s a good-sized lightweight backpack that’s great for backpacking and wild camping.
The Exos is designed with multi-day trips in mind, offering 48L of space in a pack that’s full of great features. A focus on lightweight materials means this pack weighs in at just 1.3kg.
Ultimately, the Exos 48 offers an impressive combination of comfort, stability, and durability. You might have also noticed it has a whole new look for 2022 – we’ve gone through the pack’s improvements in the article below.
Important note – female hikers and backpackers may prefer the Osprey Eja – this has all the same Exos features but uses a harness that’s made to fit the female frame.
The Osprey Exos 48 is a great-looking technical and lightweight-focused bag.
Starting with the harness, you can secure the pack using a durable hipbelt and sternum strap. The harness has thick padding allowing you to comfortably wear the pack for hours at a time.
The harness is complemented with a refined AirSpeed™ ventilated trampoline suspended mesh back panel. This is great for preventing moisture build-up on the back and keeping you nice and cool – there’s nothing worse than a sweaty back after wearing a pack all day.
Alongside the sturdy and impressive harness, there’s a range of other external features that we’re pleased to see on the pack. A single ice axe loop, cord tie-off points, removable sleeping pad straps, compression straps, a trekking pole attachment and stretch mesh side pockets leave no stone unturned, optimising every possible inch of external space.
The inside of the Osprey Exos is arguably even more impressive than its outer shell.
One of the most interesting features of the pack is its integrated FlapJacket cover which allows lidless use of the pack. This essentially gives the pack a haircut, removing the top and moving the centre of mass down a little lower for the most ergonomic carrying position.
Technical aspects aside, we also love the stretchy pocket on the front of this pack – this is a great place to stash wet gear or shoes for separation from the rest of the pack.
The Exos 48 is also compatible with Hydraulics Reservoirs – we recommend the Osprey Hydraulics 2.5L pouch available on Amazon.
The materials used in this pack have changed over the last year, but still focus on being as lightweight as possible.
The bulk of the rucksack is made with 100D high tenacity nylon, a durable and lightweight material that is perfect for backpacking. This is now all recycled material to fit with Osprey’s new sustainability goals.
You will also find top-quality components from YKK, ensuring that all hardware functions exactly as you’d like it to.
The Osprey Exos 48 is available in just two colours, Blaze Black and Tunnel Green – adding a pop of colour to the otherwise dark hiking and backpacking packs.
Ultimately, we’re really impressed with the Osprey Exos 48 and think that it would make a great companion for most adventurers looking to complete a multi-day trip.
The lightweight construction combined with a sturdy and comfortable harness makes the pack one of the best for carting around gear when covering ground when backpacking.
Have a question that you’re searching for the answer to about the Osprey Exos 48? Check out our FAQ below and we might just have the answer for you!
The size of the pack depends on what you intend to use it for, but we would typically recommend the middle of the ground 48L Exos for the bulk of trips.
All three options have a load range between 7 and 18 kg – the only difference is the claimed volume. You will always need less than you first think – we’d always go “too small” over “too large”.
Yes, we recommend purchasing a rain cover to work with your Exos 48, as a cover is not included with the pack.
We would recommend the Osprey Ultralight Raincover – suitable for Osprey packs between 30L and 50L in size.
For a good alternative to the Exos 48, we would recommend the Osprey Farpoint Trek 55 for a stylish, capable trekking backpack.
Need more information on the Osprey Exos 48 backpack? Head over to our social accounts or send us an email and we’ll be sure to help out!
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