I have an 85l Aether that I used on Rainier. Great pack, comfortable and lightweight. I don't know about the Argon but I think it's the direct replacement for the Aether (which is no longer in production).

I also have an 85L Aether I used on Rainer, it worked great. Its almost identical to the Argon, except its a lighter weight pack. The Argon is designed for more brutal usage. Its made from heavier and thicker material to ensure more durability, but that comes at a higher price, and a higher weight. Good to hear your looking at Osprey!

Here's a review I did on my pack.

http://www.spgear.org/reviews/6046/Aether-85.html

I have the Aether 70 and have used it on Rainier and Shasta, great pack, very comfy.It works very well as a ski pack also. I am looking at buying the 85 for Denali. Scott

What did you like about the Argon over the Aether ? I see the Argon is almost 2 #s heavier. I am in a purchasing dilema myself for a 5500ci +/- pack for Denali.

ScottyP wrote:I have the Aether 70 and have used it on Rainier and Shasta, great pack, very comfy.It works very well as a ski pack also. I am looking at buying the 85 for Denali. Scott

You can get by with a 70. Are you going to use the 85 for anything else? Just a thought.

I likely could get by with the 70l (Guide services all reccd 90l) But I think the 85l will also make the family backpacking trips (where DAD carries more than his share) a bit easier! Thanks, Scott[/quote]

I traded in my Gregory Palisade (7.5 #s!!) for the Aether 70 and loved it. Now I am stepping up in size to the 85l. I love the fit, feel and weight savings of the Aether series.

Which ever pack you get, have them fit it to you. I have the Argon and would like to have the aluminum bars bent to my back. You can't go wrong with either. I do like the external pockets on the Argon. They are great stashes for jackets and weather gear and quick access stuff. I have streamlined my setup and can carry all my gear within the pack, including a large bear canister. It is on the heavy side these days as everyone goes ultralight. I do think the plush suspension offsets the extra weight of these packs.

Osprey all the way regardless. if you can try them both on side by side, do it.

Hotoven wrote:I also have an 85L Aether I used on Rainer, it worked great. Its almost identical to the Argon, except its a lighter weight pack. The Argon is designed for more brutal usage. Its made from heavier and thicker material to ensure more durability, but that comes at a higher price, and a higher weight. Good to hear your looking at Osprey!

Here's a review I did on my pack.

http://www.spgear.org/reviews/6046/Aether-85.html

Pretty sure the Aether is still in production... They have just changed colors for the new product year.

The Argon is a full-featured bells/whistles pack that weighs over 6 lbs in the 85L size range. It has a comfortable suspension but that suspension weighs a lot.

My Aether 85 weighs almost 2lbs less and has only the main compartment and three stretch pockets along with the removable lid.

I do have one complaint though with the Aether. They don't have a good ice axe retention thingy up high... you are left just to tuck the end of the axe under the lid strap. I have thought of sewing something on to solve this, but I am basically content to just deal with it. I would have definitely traded the extra "airscape padding" on the brain (that allows it to be used as a waist pack) for a good ice axe retainer.

nhluhr wrote:I do have one complaint though with the Aether. They don't have a good ice axe retention thingy up high... you are left just to tuck the end of the axe under the lid strap. I have thought of sewing something on to solve this, but I am basically content to just deal with it. I would have definitely traded the extra "airscape padding" on the brain (that allows it to be used as a waist pack) for a good ice axe retainer.

An old tradition (now lost?) with backcountry gear has been to modify it and tailor it to your own unique specifications. All you need is a needle and thread, after all.

The first changes I will make to my Aether 85 will be to sew on little attachment points for clips above the elastic side pockets that will allow me to secure the water bottles I keep there. I don't trust that elastic to last more than a few seasons, but with something to clip the water bottles in to make sure they don't fall out accidentally I think it will be fine.

Your suggestion for an upper mounting point for an ice axe is a good one. At first I thought using the "straightjacket" compression straps was fine, but this last weekend I saw the limitation of that approach with my Stratus 24: when you have a lot of gear you want to secure to the back with the straps, the ice axe gets in the way. So thanks to that experience, and your suggestion, that's another alteration I'll be making to the pack.

I have never been interested in the removable fanny pack notion. Everyone I have seen do it has had to fumble around to get the damn thing on or off. Instead, I have an Osprey Daylite pack that can be clipped to the back of my Aether 85:



The clip-on arrangement is a bit of a gimmick, since an empty day pack doesn't take up much room inside the pack, but one could potentially increase pack capacity by clipping a full Daylite onto the back of a mother pack.

Howdy all,

I have an Argon 85. I had to make my decision based on reviews and the Osprey website cuz of where I live. While I believe you'd get a great pack with either choice I went with the Argon because it has all the extra pockets and straps and is built for heavier loads.

Fast and light go with the aether. I'm usually solo and when I get out I like to stay as long as possile so I take it all. With the Argon you can carry as much as your legs can bear and you won't notice anything from the waist up. I think the bottom line is:

Fast and light...Aether
Slow, heavy and out for a week by your lonesome...Argon

Cheers-E