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Osprey Exos 58 Backpack Review

Exos 58 Backpack Review

The Osprey Exos 58 Backpack is one of the most popular backpacks used by thru-hikers and lightweight backpackers because it combines the organizational layout of a top-lid backpack, lightweight materials, and a rigid internal frame capable of hauling heavy loads.

Osprey came out with a new version of the Exos 58 backpack in 2022. Click here to read our gear review and see what’s changed. https://sectionhiker.com/osprey-exos-58-backpack-review-adjustable/

The most notable change in the Exos 58 (last updated by Osprey in 2018) preserves those characteristics but eliminates the hip belt pockets and shoulder strap storage which many backpackers count on to store snacks, insect repellent, and electronics. Time will tell how backpackers will respond to the lack of these accessory pockets, but the Exos remains one of the few mainstream “ultralight class” backpacks available with a true frame and back ventilation, which are must-have features for a large percentage of backpackers.

Specs at a Glance

  • Volume: 58L, also available in 48L and 38L
  • Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz. (size medium, tested)
    • Optional removable top lid: 5.4 ounces
  • Torso: M: 18 – 21 inches
  • Hip Belt: M: 27 – 48 inches
  • Bear canister compatible: yes
  • Maximum recommended load: 30-35 lbs.

Organization and Storage

The Osprey Exos 58 is very different from most ultralight backpacks because it’s configured with a floating top lid instead of a dry-bag style roll top. With two zippered pockets (one pocket on top and one inside), the floating lid lets you sandwich extra gear between the lid and the top of the pack’s main compartment so you can carry extra technical equipment or supplies that won’t fit inside your pack. Top lids are a great feature, especially when you need to carry bulky gear like rope coils or tent bodies that won’t fit into the main compartment of your pack. The extra top pockets also provide handy access to hats, gloves, snacks, and navigation gear.

If you don’t need the top lid on the Exos, you can remove it to save gear weight. This reduces the weight of a medium-sized Exos 58 by 5.4 ounces bringing it down to a very respectable 2 pounds 4.6 ounces.

The Exos 58 has a deeply curver ventilated gap behind the shoulder straps that helps prevent perspiration buildup
The Exos 58 has a deeply curved, ventilated gap behind the shoulder straps that helps prevent perspiration buildup.

There’s a nylon flap under the top lid that is permanently attached to the pack, what Osprey calls a FlapJacket, that covers the drawstring opening of the main compartment. When you remove the top lid, the FlapJacket is used to protect the main compartment from the rain in its stead. The rear of the FlapJacket also clips into the same rear straps and buckles used by the top lid so you’re not left with any extra straps or buckles to get in the way.

While the Exos 58, also has good open storage in the form of side and front mesh pockets, the main compartment is where the bulk of this pack’s capacity is. With close to 3500 cubic inches of room, you can put a ton of gear and food inside. Being a mainstream manufacturer, Osprey computes the volume of their packs using industry norms and only counts covered and zippered storage when they calculate backpack volume. If you are comparing the volume of the Exos 58 with a pack from a cottage backpack maker, be aware that they often add in open and closed pocket volumes so the Exos 58 may feel quite a bit larger.

The main compartment curves sharply inward to accommodate the shape of the ventilated frame but can make it difficult to locate gear because you need to reach around the curve to get to it. When packing the Exos 58, you also need to position that the heaviest items as close to your back as possible, otherwise the pack has a tendency to pull you backward and off-balance. This is a common issue with ventilated backpacks, and while pulling the Exos’ load lifters forward can help reduce the back-tilt, the backward pull is quite noticeable when the pack is heavily loaded.

The Exos 58 has side water bottle with front holes that make it easy to pul lout and replace water bottles when on the move
The Exos 58 has side water bottle with front holes that make it easy to pull out and replace water bottles when on the move.

With the exception of a hydration pocket, hang loop, and top compression strap, there’s nothing inside the Exos 58 main compartment like a sleeping bag compartment or interior pockets to break up the seemingly cavernous space. Still, it’s easy to see inside the main compartment because lightly colored fabric panels help channel light to the pack’s interior.

In addition to the main compartment, the Exos 58 has two stretch side mesh pockets which can be used to store water bottles. The mesh is not strong enough for off-trail travel and I would recommend you stay on trails with this pack in order to keep the pockets from tearing. Each pocket is reinforced with solid fabric on the bottom for better durability and has a holster-style opening cut in front, which lets you position bottles sideways so you can pull them out and replace them when on the move. I’d just caution against using tall bottles or packing small items in the side pockets because they fall out of the holster sized water bottle holes.

There is also a front mesh shovel pocket on the back of the pack which is useful for carrying items that you want easy access to, without requiring that you stop and open your backpack. I can’t live without a mesh pocket like this and use it to stuff light layers and snacks that I want easily accessible during the day.

External Attachment Points and Compression System

The Osprey Exos 58 has one Z-style side compression strap on each side of the pack. The strap can be threaded in front of or through the side water bottle pocket, which is handy because they won’t get in the way if you run them outside the pocket. Still, I’m not a huge fan of the Z-style threading pattern because I think it makes it difficult to strap bulky gear like snowshoes to the side of a pack.

Osprey added additional gear loops around the perimeter of the front mesh pocket, so you can attach bulky items like snowshoes to the back of the pack with webbing straps or cord.
Osprey added additional gear loops around the perimeter of the front mesh pocket, so you can attach bulky items like snowshoes to the back of the pack with webbing straps or cord.

But don’t let the Z-style straps deter you from rigging up two horizontal compression straps instead. One of the great things about the Exos 58 is the distribution of gear loops around the perimeter pockets, the pack bag seams, and even the top lid, making it easy to rig up your own custom compression system with an extra cord lock and some guyline or a piece of webbing.

The other key attachment point on the Exos 58 is the sleeping pad strap on the bottom of the pack, a feature which has largely disappeared from the lightweight backpacking market. While the strap is optional and can be removed, it’s super handy to have if you’re a thru-hiker, hammock camper or winter camper and carry a bulky foam pad to sleep on at night.

Backpack Frame and Suspension

The Osprey Exos 58 is a ventilated “trampoline-style” backpack. Breathable mesh is suspended in front of the back panel creating a ventilated space behind your back that’s designed to evaporate sweat before it can soak your shirt. The mesh is tightly stretched across the aluminum frame, hence the name trampoline, which also serves to anchor the hip belt and load lifters.

The 2018 Exos doesn't have hip belt pockets anymore.
The 2018 Exos doesn’t have hip belt pockets anymore or “gel” pockets on the shoulder straps anymore.

The aluminum frame on the Exos 58 is the secret sauce that “makes” this pack. It’s super lightweight and stiff, providing great load transfer to the hips, so you can really load up this pack and still get a very comfortable carry. The nice thing about an aluminum frame is that the torso won’t collapse, causing the torso length to shorten when you load the pack to capacity, which can be an issue with other lightweight packs.

The shoulder straps and hip belt are both covered with a stretchy mesh fabric that is soft and helps wick moisture to prevent rubbing and chafing. While they’re both well padded so they conform to the shape of your collarbone, shoulders, and hips and don’t slip.

While ventilated backpacks provide good airflow behind your back, they can pull you backwards and off balance unless you pack heavy items as close to your back as possible.
While ventilated backpacks provide good airflow behind your back (note air gap above), they can pull you backward and off-balance unless you pack heavy items as close to your back as possible.

But there’s one thing about the Exos 58 that I don’t particularly like and that’s the length of the hip belt, which I think is too short. There is simply no way that the size medium Exos 58 fits someone with a 27-48″ waist. I think a maximum of 38″ is a more realistic upper limit.

If you buy an Exos 58 and the hip belt padding only wraps around the back of your hips, which happens when the hip belt is too short, you won’t be as comfortable or get the load transfer you should expect. This isn’t just a sizing issue with the Exos 58, but a sizing issue that I repeatedly encounter with Osprey Packs that don’t have adjustable hip belts. If the front padded portion of the Exos hip belt doesn’t wrap around the front of your hip bones (see How should a Hip Belt Fit?), get a larger size. If that still doesn’t fit, buy a different backpack.

Likes

  • Lightweight and high-capacity (58 L)
  • Easy to remove top lid w/ lightweight replacement lid
  • Optional sleeping pad straps on the bottom of the pack
  • Lightweight perimeter frame provides great load transfer and control
  • Lightly colored fabric strips improve main compartment visibility
  • Lots of external attachment points all around the pack

Dislikes

  • The hip belt is not adjustable
  • No hip belt or shoulder strap pockets
  • Holster-style cutouts in the side mesh pockets are less secure for storing small items
  • Single Z-style side compression strap can be awkward to use

Comparable Backpacks

Make / ModelWeight (oz)Type
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 6030.5Speed flap
Granite Gear Crown 3 - 60L36.7Roll top, Top lid
Granite Gear Blaze 6048Roll top, Top lid
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 5532Roll top
Osprey Exos 5843Top lid, speed flap
Gregory Focal 5841Top lid, speed flap
Zpacks Arc Blast 5521Roll top
Mountain Laurel Designs Exodus 5718Roll top
Mountainsmith Scream 5545Roll top
Seek Outside Gila 3500 (57L)47Roll top, side zipper
Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor41.2Top lid
Elemental Horizons Kalais37Roll top

Recommendation

The Osprey Packs Exos 58 Backpack is a top-loading backpack that’s easy to configure for many different kinds of hiking and backpacking trips. Weighing just 2 pounds 11 ounces, it boasts a stiff aluminum frame and ventilated suspension that provides excellent comfort and control for loads up to 30-35 pounds. If you want a large but lightweight (58L) backpack with a real frame and a top lid, the Exos 58 is a great choice. Sizing can be a little tricky however since the hip belt lengths available are tied to the torso length of the pack. If the Exos 58 fits you, great. It’s an excellent backpack. If it doesn’t fit, give it a pass.

For complete specs, I suggest you visit the Exos 58 product page at REI since the Osprey Packs Sizing Guide at OspreyPacks.com can be difficult to understand.

Disclosure: The author owns this product and purchased it using their own funds.

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4 comments

  1. I have the woman’s version of this pack, the Eja 58 in size Small, and I must say that I love it… except for the lack of hipbelt pockets! I usually store my snacks in them and without them I had to resort to using a slightly painful fanny pack system for my chow. (I need my food easy access, otherwise I WILL starve all day rather than take my pack off to access food. I don’t even remove my pack when I am watering a bush; it pretty much never comes off at all until I reach camp.) The fanny pack system works great, because it is still on me after I remove my pack (keeping my camera, cellphone, snacks and swiss army knife with its critical tick-smiting tweezers close at hand,) BUT the stretchy 2″ Arcade belt which I use for it tends to roll which can get a bit painful on the kidney(s? My mom only has one, yelp.) I hope that in the next iteration of the Exos/Eja they bring back the hipbelt pockets; they were a dumb thing to take away. I personally never understood the weird shoulder pockets, so I’m fine if those never return, personally.

    Honestly you can put a fanny pack pouch on ANY hipbelt – like the sweet looking Thrupack fanny pouch or the one I use, the Osprey UL Washbag Zip, which I think is called something different in North America (I am currently in Scotland so of course the interwebz are only letting me look at the silly European site.) It has two straps on the back which you can thread a hipbelt (or any other belt, I picked an Arcade belt because it looked comfy and I got it for free) but I personally find having to remember to catch the pouch every time I take my backpack off very annoying. (And dangerous considering that my pouch is where my passport lives, among other things!) I feel that it’s better to just have a seperate fanny pack set up then thread something on the hipbelt, although my kidney(s?) would probably appreciate it if I did just put the pouch (and camera case, and InReach,) on the hipbelt. (I had the InReach on my shoulder strap until it whacked me in the head as I was leaping down an embankment during training for my thruhike. I’d rather not get a concussion from my personal locater beacon, thanks haha.)

  2. Like many above, puzzled by lack of hip pockets (and the shoulder strap pockets), great for stashing food and camera, gps. I was thinking of upgrading from the 48ltr to 58ltr, but defintely a dealbreaker for me too.

    The shoulder strap pockets also handy, I keep small ultrapod (tripod) in one, and more energy bars in them. I’ll see if these return in a new model, but otherwise will look elsewhere

    • I have been debating between this pack and the Crown2 60. I think I figured out why they felt like they could get rid of the belt pockets. Anything I would put in the belt pockets is just as reachable in the side pocket.

  3. The question I was wondering about this pack has apparently been answered. You can add hip belt pockets to this pack! Here’s someone who added the Zpacks add-on pockets to the women’s version of this pack. Superior Wilderness Designs also makes this type of pocket but has not one but two straps on the back to slide the hip belt through. The SWD pockets come in either Dyneema or X-PAC.

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