I have an Osprey Aether 85 and an Exposure 66. They fit me well even though I'm on the bubble between their medium and large. I bought the 85 to replace my older Dana Terraplane and find it carries heavy loads as well or better even though it's over 2 pounds lighter. I have no experience with the other packs.

crackers wrote:

rixco99 wrote:Crackers, thanks for the very knowledgable and objective information on the construction of your competitors' packs! It's very admirable for you to comment on the positive aspects of the other packs. (O.K. the doors open, tell us a little more about the Cilogear packs)

Thanks rick, but the OP is looking for multiple compartments in his packs, and we don't make packs like that yet. The closest we have is the semi-mythical (that's for you UncleBob!) 75L which has a large sleeping bag compartment. However, we won't have that in stock till January, so ...

Yes, thanks for the objective comments regarding your competitors packs. Out of curiosity are people looking for multiple compartments in their packs? I've owned a few with the sleeping bag divider and have never used it because I felt it prevented me from filling the pack efficiently.

Brad Marshall wrote: Out of curiosity are people looking for multiple compartments in their packs? I've owned a few with the sleeping bag divider and have never used it because I felt it prevented me from filling the pack efficiently.

I don't care if the main compartment is segmented or not, but I really like packs that have a pocket on the underside of the lid as well as the main lid compartment. That comes in very handy. Some of my Deuters have that, which I like. My older Gregory packs (Shasta, Wind River, Etc.) don't, and I miss it.

hatidua wrote:...I really like packs that have a pocket on the underside of the lid...

I agree. My old Terraplane had one and it was a great place to store my money and passport without worrying about it falling out somewhere.

I thought I needed top pockets too. I bought a Granite Gear pack five years ago and it doesn't even have any top flap. Love it! It's been to Nepal and many summer and winter trips in the Sierra. I just use a small zip "purse" for all that small stuff. That way it can all go in the summit pack or the twenty feet away from camp to watch the sun set.

Fletch wrote:UPDATED FOR 2010:

I am stuck on the same three packs... any suggestions? Apparently Gregory hip belts have a problem, but im not sure if they're fixed... any thoughts?

Thanks!

I have had the gregory palisade for about 2 years and the hipbelt is good. I almost didn't buy the pack for that same reason.

My girlfriend had issues with the sizing of a gregory pack and switched to an osprey. Her pack even fits me well and we have a very different body type. I am very impressed witht the osprey's...but I don't own one.

On my cilogear pack, i found the crampon pocket, a very useful pocket. It fit my OR insulated sleeve over a Nalgene very nicely

divnamite wrote:Osprey has always been amazing to me. I don't think you can go wrong with it.

+1

Their molded hip belt is the best!

Fletch wrote:

norco17 wrote:I have had the gregory palisade for about 2 years and the hipbelt is good. I almost didn't buy the pack for that same reason.

Thanks Norco... went with the Palisade because the pack fits me a little better (im built like a gorilla - relatively short legs, big torso and shoulders). Going to try it out this weekend and see if it performs as expected... wish me luck...

Fit is all that matters. Good luck.