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The suspension system Exos 38 suspension system with the trampoline style tensioned mesh and great ventilation. Everything in the design of the Osprey Exos 38 seems to be oriented towards its two main important features: ventilation, and (the absence of) weight.
With my Western Mountaineering AlpinLite, Big Agnes FlyCreek2, self inflating torso ground pad, UL chair (yep, I'm old and it's worth it), LifeStraw, Nalgene, possibles bag, clothes, food and water, it was full and weighed 22 lbs.It is something in between the two. Something that you can take with you for a camping trip that is not lasting longer than a week. What it is perfect for is one-day epic hikes, when you need a lot of gear or fear that you may need to sleep out there. It is for the weekend and the overnight trip, and also for trips up for a week. During our product testing, we discovered that it features a side loophole mount, also known as “stow-on-the-go,” for attaching trekking poles. I personally found this feature to be quite handy. This system is used in the complete Exos series and in some other Osprey’s series as well, like the Stratos series.
If you’re tossing up between the 38 and and the Osprey Exos 48 in most cases I recommend going with the 48. Especially if you envision being at or near capacity most of the time. Additional features include dual strippable side compression straps, removable sleeping pad straps, dual ice axe loops with bungee tie-off, trekking pole attachment, and a sternum strap with integrated safety whistle. The Exos is equipped with several attachment points for various types of gear, so let’s go over them one by one. As a hiker, there may be many instances where you need to venture through tight spaces or jagged terrain.If you’re starting to look at ultralight gear but don’t have all your kit dialed in, get the 48 now and get something lighter in this volume range later. Osprey Exos 38 vs Kestrel 38 As a consequence, the larger and more wide Exos 38 may make travel around these areas more challenging. When out camping I use a very compact 1 man tunnel tent, with no gear porch. So I have to sleep with my kit inside my tent, which considering I often have valuables in my bag, is no big issue. On previous trips when lugging around my 70 litre osprey, my space inside the tent would be severely compromised by the sheer bulk of the bag and its stiff, heavily padded waist straps. With the Exos 48 there was no such issue. The lightweight nylon compresses well and the super flexible hip straps can easily be compacted flat against the bag, meaning it really didn’t intrude too much on my space at all.
The build and the materials feel very sturdy. It feels very good overall. Better yet is that Osprey has a great insurance policy called “ All Mighty Guarantee”. If this text has been useful to you, please share it with others. It will be great to hear from you, there is a comment box below. Thank you and have a wonderful day. The separate sleeping bag compartment is big enough, and the sleeping pad straps are strong enough so it doesn’t hang annoyingly when you walk. It’s not sewn to the bag and can be detached if needed, so you can take it out and dry separated from the bag. Or if you just want to use the pouch for other stuff.
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Minimalists and thru-hikers may find it over-featured, with extra compression straps and features like a trekking pole attachment loop on the shoulder strap. However, what the Kestrel 38 has over the Exos 38 is its slimmer and more environmentally conscious design. Whereas the Stratos 36 tends to compress gear when you’re making certain motions or carrying certain types of items, the Kestrel 38 does not. Overall, I would recommend the Kestrel 38 over the Stratos 36 due to its versatility in various hiking situations. Osprey Kestrel 38 Pros & Cons You can always compress things down as you reduce your load but its impossible to expand the material passed its max capacity. The shoulder harness and hip belt are with very pleasant and breathable Osprey’s ExoForm spacer mesh, and they are reasonably well padded. The sternum strap is with an emergency whistle.
Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge on your Osprey Kestrel 38, or replace it if repairs are unlikely. That is to show how much they believe in their bags. However, when compared to the Osprey Exos 38, you will find that the Kestrel 38 suffers from some disadvantages, such as being much more weighty and having a slightly dated harness system.The Exos 38 claims to hold 38L of gear. In reality you can still load up about that much after removing the 6 odd litre lid. The front mesh panel also holds a ridiculous amount carry your rain gear, your lunch, your tent fly and whatever other little odds and ends you like. This is also bolstered by the fact that the Exos 38 is more expensive and provides less weather protection, making the Kestrel 38 the ideal choice for hiking conditions of all types. Osprey Kestrel 38 vs Osprey Stratos 36 When we reviewed Stratos 36, we found it excels in ventilation and comfort, but compared to the Kestrel 38, it performs poorly in terms of convenience and gear capacity.
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