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Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 Backpack Review

The Atmos AG anti-gravity suspension system hugs your back an hips as one unit, providing exceptional load transfer that makes your pack feel lighter because it's working as it should.
The Atmos AG anti-gravity suspension system hugs your back an hips as one unit, providing exceptional load transfer that makes your pack feel lighter because it’s working as it should.

The Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 might just be the most comfortable backpack you’ll ever wear. Featuring the new Anti-Gravity ventilated suspension system, this backpack wraps around your upper torso, positioning itself properly on your hips for maximum load transfer and comfort. It’s even adjustable, so you can dial in the torso length and hip belt for a custom fit. The first time I put on the Atmos AG 50, I turned to my wife and said, “this might be the most comfortable backpack ever made.”

Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50

Comfort
Weight
Suspension
Features
Adjustability
Sizing
Durability

Super Comfortable

The Atmos AG 50 is an exceptionally comfortable multi-day backpack with a unique ventilated frame that hugs your back and hips. An adjustable torso length and hip belt that provides a near custom fit, while numerous pockets make it easy to pack your gear and stay organized.

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The Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 Backpack features a new ventilated adjustable suspension system that wraps itself around your torso and hips providing an exceptional fit.
The Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 Backpack has a ventilated back panel that is suspended from the loop frame. The rear mesh flows from the back panel into the hip belt so it behaves like one integrated unit instead of two separate components that move independently from one another.

Backpack Suspension and Frame

AG stands for anti-gravity, an apt moniker for the new suspension system in Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 backpack which is so effective at transferring loads to the big muscles of your hips that it feels like you backpack is lighter weight than it actually is. It’s pretty incredible actually. The pack feels great when it’s loaded up with 30 pounds of gear and water, enough to make you question whether a four pound pack with the Anti-Gravity suspension is more comfortable to carry than a 1.5 pound ultralight backpack with a less sophisticated shoulder harness and hip belt system.

The key design innovation in this revolutionary new suspension system is the fusion of the shoulder harness and the hip belt into single unit that wraps around your torso and waist, molding to your body shape like a bear hug. Throw in an adjustable torso length and hip belt, and there’s no reason why you can’t achieve a perfect fit with this backpack, one that gets the weight off your shoulders and onto your hips.

The ventilated rear mesh of the Atmos AG runs down the back of the pack and into the hip belt, adapting to your specific body shape and ensuring proper hip belt alignment.
The ventilated rear mesh of the Atmos AG runs down the back of the pack and into the hip belt, adapting to your specific body shape and ensuring proper hip belt alignment.

The Atmos AG 50 has a wireframe that runs around the top, bottom, and sides of the pack, including a horizontal reinforcement bar halfway down the back. The frame is tensioned to create a concave cavity behind the wearer’s back for ventilation and airflow, and then covered with mesh to preserve the air pocket and allow your clothes to dry when you sweat.

The shoulder harness on the Atmos AG 50 slides up or down to fit your torso length.
The shoulder harness on the Atmos AG 50 slides up or down to fit your torso length.

The shoulder harness is attached to a pair of webbing straps that run behind the mesh, enabling simple adjustment of the torso length of the pack by moving the back of the shoulder harness up or down to match your torso length. However, if there’s one quibble I have with this pack, it’s that Osprey hasn’t printed torso lengths indicators on the torso length adjustment, so there’s no way of knowing, other than by feel, if you’ve repositioned the shoulder harness so it matches your torso length.

If there’s one thing that hikers consistently get wrong, it’s buying packs that are to short or too long to match their torso length. If Osprey had printed torso length indicators on the adjustable harness, or even documented it in the product manual, they could have solved hiker fit issues once and for all. It’s a missed opportunity to put an end to ill-fitting packs and one that is still so easy to correct if Osprey revises the Atmos AG’s product documentation.

Fit on the Fly hipbelt extenders
Fit on the Fly hip belt extenders enable you to lengthen the hip belt if you have a few extra inches on your hips.

The pre-curved hip belt is also adjustable using Osprey’s Fit on the Fly system which has velcroed extensions built into the hip belt that you can pull out to lengthen it.

Internal Storage and Organization

The Atmos AG is a  top-loading, alpine style backpack with a floating top lid, main compartment, rear shovel pocket, and two side water bottle pockets. In addition, the hip belt has two zippered pockets with a solid face fabric that are large enough to store snacks and other odds and ends you want frequent access to.

Floating Top lid

The top lid on the Atmos AG 50 has two zippered pockets. The bottom pocket is larger than the top one and good for storing extra gloves, hat, or snow goggles. The top pocket is smaller and good for storing a map, personal locator beacon, compass, or GPS. The top lid is considered floating because you can raise it up above the main compartment by lengthening the webbing straps that connect it to the top of the pack. You’d do this if you need to wedge more gear between the top lid and the main compartment such as a rope or a bulky sleeping pad (see External Attachment Guide.)

The top lid can be removed and a simple fabric flap can be used to prevent rain from entering the main compartment.
The top lid can be removed and a simple fabric flap can be used to prevent rain from entering the main compartment.

The top lid can also be completely removed on the Atmos AG 50, reducing the pack weight by 5.5 ounces. Osprey provides an alternative fast packing top, called a Flap Jacket, which is a flap of fabric that covers the top of the main compartment to prevent rain entry but does not have any pockets. It’s permanently sewn to the pack and folds under the top lid when not in use. It has two plastic buckles that attach to the vertical webbing straps that are normally used by the top lid. These two buckles are tucked away in corner keeper pockets when the Flap Jacket is not in use.

The Atmos AG 50 has a very conventional organization with a top lid, main compartment, side pockets, and optional sleeping bag compartment.
The Atmos AG 50 has a very conventional organization with a top lid, main compartment, side pockets, and optional sleeping bag compartment.

Main compartment

The main compartment has an internal hydration pocket and hang loop, along with a central hydration port that comes out at the top of the pack between your shoulder blades.

There’s also an optional fabric shelf that you can deploy if you want to create a separate sleeping bag compartment at the base of the back as well as an external zipper that lets you access the compartment’s content. The shelf can be attached to webbing loops inside the pack or folds back when not in use, if you want to use the main compartment as one big storage space.

Shovel Pocket

The Atmos AG 50 has a mesh shovel pocket on the rear of the pack that’s open at the top but secured with a buckle. This pocket is good for storing a climbing helmet, wet items, such as a water filter, or extra layers that you want quick access to without opening the main compartment of your pack.

Side Pockets

The side water bottle pockets on the Atmos AG are made out of mesh and have a top opening and a side opening, if you want to be able to access them holster style. When wearing the Atmos AG 50, I can only grab a water bottle and replace it, if it’s holstered sideways, but not if it’s positioned vertically.

Water bottle can be stored vertically or sideways in an easy to access holstered style.
Water bottle can be stored vertically or sideways in an easy to access holstered style.

Compression System and External Attachment Points

The Atmos AG 50 has two tiers of compression straps, a back and forth strap along the bottom of the pack that runs over the side pockets and a single top strap. While these straps provide good compression, they’re not that great for attaching or securing bulky gear to the side of the pack, like a tent or snowshoes. While using the back and forth bottom strap to lash great to the outside of the pack is awkward at best, the curvature of the frame makes it difficult to attach bulkier gear to the sides of the pack since they are far from rectangular in shape.

While the Atmos AG 50 has dual ice axe loops including shaft holders, it doesn’t have any external lashpoints for rigging your own compression/external attachment system using shock cord on around the perimeter of the shovel pocket, on the bottom of the main compartment, or on the top lid.

If there’s one area of weakness on the Atmos AG 50, it’s the external attachment system. Still it’s not a big deal if you use the pack for day hiking or moderate backpacking trips, but it does limit its utility for winter and more challenging expedition-style hiking. Incidentally, the Osprey Packs Atmos AG 65 does come with optional add-on straps that let you attach additional gear to the back of the pack, so check that backpack out if strapping a bulky sleeping pad, tent, or additional winter gear to the rear of your pack is a priority.

The Atmos AG 50 may be the most comfortable and best fitting backpack ever made. Will Osprey starting using it in all of their backpacks?
The Atmos AG 50 may be the most comfortable and best fitting backpack ever made. Will Osprey starting using it in all of their backpacks?

Comparable Backpacks

Make and ModelWeightAccess
Gregory Baltoro 654 lbs 14.4. ozTop, front, bottom
Gregory Baltoro 754 lbs 15.7 ozTop, front, bottom
Gregory Katmai 654 lbs 11.8 ozTop, bottom, side
Gregory Paragon 683 lbs 11 ozTop, bottom, side
Mountain Hardwear AMG 754 lbs 15.4 ozTop
Osprey Aether 654 lbs 14.7 ozTop, front, bottom
Osprey Aether Plus 705 lbs 8 ozTop, front, bottom
Osprey Aether Pro 703 lbs 15 ozTop
Osprey Atmos AG 654 lb. 9 ozTop, bottom, 2 sides
REI Trailbreak 603 lbs 13 ozTop, bottom

Recommendation

Most backpacks have separate hip belts and shoulder harness systems that complement one another but don’t work together as a single unit. That’s why the new Anti-Gravity suspension system used by Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50 is so revolutionary. By integrating these two components into one uniform system that molds to your body shape, with an adjustable torso and hip belt, hikers need never suffer a poor-fitting pack again. While the Atmos AG 50 is a bit heavy at 4 pounds 2 ounces, it’s hard to argue with the comfort that this back provides.  If your current overnight backpack doesn’t fit you well or is uncomfortable, I’d encourage you to try on an Osprey Packs Atmos AG 50. It may be the last backpack you ever buy.

Likes

  • Adjustable torso length and hip belt size
  • Superb load to hip transfer
  • Integrated frame and hip belt system – unique
  • Hip belt pockets are large enough to be useful
  • Lidless weight-saving option

Dislikes

  • Heavy. Weighs over 4 pounds
  • Cluttered with all kinds of zippers and straps
  • Difficult to attach bulky gear to the sides or rear of the pack
  • Mesh side pockets are prone to ripping

Manufacturer Specs

  • Weight (size large, tested): 4 pounds 2 ounces
  • Volume: 53L (in a size large)/3234 cubic inches
  • Maximum recommended load: 40 pounds
  • Material: 100-denier x 630-denier nylon dobby/420HD nylon packcloth

Disclosure: The author bought the backpack reviewed here with his own funds.

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6 comments

  1. Bill in Roswell, GA

    A few things not mentioned on Philip’s review of this pack that he often points out on other pack reviews of similar size are:
    – sleeping bag compartment zipper is pointless if you are using a waterproof pack liner bag
    – original version (one tested) did not have bottom straps for a sleeping pad/tent; the newer 2018 version does have such straps
    – like most Osprey packs this one has trekking pole stow-on-the-go keeper loops, very handy when stowing a pole while on the move
    – on-the-fly hip belt adjustment is a nice feature to have, but in order to adjust the super grip velcro you have to take the pack off, lay it down and force your fingers between the fabric layers to open up the velcro to adjust the length

    The Atmos are indeed very comfortable packs!

    Cheers,
    Bill in Roswell, GA

  2. Just bought my son the Atmos AG 65 for Philmont. The removable Head could be used as a daypack if there were some small shoulder straps which I’d be glad to pay extra for. I’d make my own if I could get the correct clips, but looks like they are only available from Osprey if the original broke and it is self replaceable. Unfortunate missed opportunity seems like. Anyone know if I can get matching Head clips?

  3. First off, thank you, Phillip, so much for your detailed reviews! It’s been 25 years or so since I’ve been in the backpacking game, and without a lot of inventory locally in our sizes to test fit, I’m relying on reviews here to make an informed purchase. My, how packs have changed!! I’ve been studying your reviews to figure out which ventilated, lightweight packs to outfit my 18-yo son and myself with for a bit of section hiking later this spring. We’re both relatively slim (both 6’3″, him 150, me 225.)

    I’ve settled on the Atmos AG 50 or the Zulu 55, but I’m finding some conflicting info here… your overall rating for the Atmos is positively glowing because of the fit and adjustability, but you gripe about the awkward compression setup and lack of external attachment possibilties. In your Zulu 55 review only a month earlier, in the comments, you said you preferred the Zulu’s suspension system to several others, including the Atmos, but the overall rating isn’t near as glowing, despite lots of positive comments about the external stowage/attachment/compression setup, and an overall 9-ounce advantage. I’ve picked the Zulu to try first based on the better stowage, more flexible access options, and included rain cover, but I have to ask: If pressed to pick between the Zulu and Atmos, which would you pick and why?

    • I like the Zulu better. It’s a more nimble backpack that won’t throw you off balance as much.

      • I think i know what you mean; I was able to try on an Atmos today at REI (in a too-small size, but wanted to check out the adjustable hip belt)… loaded down, it definitely felt stiffer than the Zulu that just arrived yesterday. Thanks for all the note back!

        Interesting to note as well: Sometime this week, all the Atmos AG 50s went on sale 25% off everywhere. True to the REI staffer’s guess, Osprey has just announced a new, updated model. This one looks like a twin of the 65, facbric-wise, comes in two sizes, costs $40 more ($280 list), weighs about 10oz/300g more, comes with a rain cover, and is is rated to carry 5 lbs less (35 down from 40). Note sure how any of that is an improvement unless they put bigger pockets on the hip belt; the compression setup and other features look the same.

  4. Do you feel like there is meaningful difference among your top 10 ranked items? Or, once you’re shopping among the top 10, objective issues balance and you’re mostly looking at personal preference at that point?

    (I am struck the exos pro is toward the middle of your lists)

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