Osprey Men's Exos 38 Backpack Trekking Backpack Hiking Backpack

Product Information

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. 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”. You can tell the Osprey Kestrel 38 was made with the weekend hiker and camper in mind, with a feature-rich design for outdoor use. 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 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. 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. 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. This system is used in the complete Exos series and in some other Osprey’s series as well, like the Stratos series. The Exos is equipped with several attachment points for various types of gear, so let’s go over them one by one.

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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 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. You can adjust the sternum strap too, just slide it up or down and get it the height you want. The hip belt is wide enough and adjustable, which is always nice. 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

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. Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility. Big bump in sustainability with the latest model: PFC-free DWR coating and recycled and bluesign-approved materials. 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. 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.

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The Osprey Kestrel 38 has side zippers so it is easier for you to reach your stuff in the main compartment. Speaking of the main compartment, you can access using the sleeping bag compartment as well, which is very convenient. 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. 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.