Osprey Exos 58 Backpack Review
Updated:
Jan 20, 2025The Osprey Exos 58 ($285) is a thoroughly modern backpacking pack that we recommend for a wide variety of users. Its design splits the difference between the ultralight and traditional backpack categories, offering a Goldilocks level of support and padding for loads up to 35 pounds, simple fit adjustments, and enough storage options for all but the pickiest packers. The Exos’s nylon material won’t hold up to heavy use as well as Dyneema, but the pack’s reasonable price and weight hit a sweet spot, making it an approachable pick for everything from weekend trips to extended thru-hikes.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
2 lb. 13.4 oz.
Stated Load Limit
35 lb.
Fabric(s)
100D & 400D nylon
Adjustable Torso
Yes
# of Pockets
6
Access
Top
Capacities
38, 48, 58L
Included rain cover
No
Pros
Cons
Osprey Exos 58
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks.
The last Osprey pack I used was from the 2010s, and the Exos 58 impressed me with how far the company has advanced since then. Simply put, it provides a level of carrying comfort unparalleled in any other lightweight backpacking pack I’ve tried. A lot of ultralight packs have a simple foam backpanel, but the Exos’ trampoline-style mesh backpanel and streamlined yet padded hipbelt really up the comfort game and offer great lower back support. Tack on the added rigidity of the lightweight metal perimeter frame, and the Exos made carrying loads up to 35 pounds a breeze.
I tested the Osprey Exos 58 on several short backpacking trips, including outings in Norway’s Lofoten Islands and Spain’s Picos de Europa mountains. I appreciated how the pack's suspended mesh backpanel completely isolated my back from the pack’s contents—especially helpful when I maxed out the Exos’s carrying capacity with 15 extra pounds of camera gear. The mesh construction also promoted airflow, helping my back stay relatively sweat-free. The shoulder straps were a final highlight: My collarbone tends to form a bump while carrying a heavy pack, but the Exos’ ample padding eliminated this issue altogether. Overall, this pack handles multi-day backpacking loads superbly, and I’d recommend it for all but the most gear-intensive trips.
Despite its relatively low weight, the Osprey Exos 58 boasts plenty of pockets for organizing gear of various sizes. The main compartment is spacious and easy to load from the top thanks to a wide opening with a one-handed drawstring cinch. I fit a two-person tent, 15-degree sleeping bag, and sleeping pad in the base of the Exos’s main compartment and still had ample room for food, layers, and personal items for our three-day trip in shoulder-season conditions. The pack also features a removable top lid with two separate zipped compartments, one internal and one external. I used the external pocket for my headlamp, toiletry bag, and snacks, and kept maps, my med kit, and car keys in the internal pocket (it contains a small key carabiner).
The Exos features two large, stretchy water bottle pockets—one on each side. I easily fit a 1.5-liter soft flask in one pocket and my camera tripod in the other, and was able to quickly access my water while I was moving on the trail. There’s also a spacious mesh pocket on the front of the pack, ideal for stashing my rain gear and dirty clothes. Finally, the Exos has an internal water-reservoir sleeve, which is standard issue in a backpacking pack these days, but nonetheless another user-friendly feature.
The Osprey Exos 58 lands in the middle of the weight spectrum for backpacking backpacks. A 2 pounds 13.4 ounces, it’s heavier than true ultralight models, which hover around two pounds but have inferior load-bearing capacity, less comfort and storage, and often (but not always) compromised durability. For example, the REI Co-op Flash Air 50 weighs 1 pound 14 ounces but is rated for 25 pounds (less than the 35 lb. we comfortably carried in the Exos) and lacks a breathable suspended-mesh backpanel.
Conversely, heavier packs—such as the classic Gregory Baltoro (4 lb. 14.4 oz. for the 65L) and Osprey’s standard Atmos AG (4 lb. 5 oz. for the 50L)—are built with burlier fabrics and allow users to schlep bulkier loads comfortably. However, the increased weight of the packs themselves is something you’ll notice as the miles add up, and not everyone needs the plethora of storage and padding that these packs offer. Given the performance tradeoffs in both directions weight-wise, the Exos is a jack-of-all-trades for most backpackers, as long as you’re not aiming for an uber-minimalist thru-hike or a multi-week expedition requiring a ton of gear.
As I mentioned above, the Osprey Exos 58 sacrifices a bit of durability to keep weight—and cost—down. Its 100-denier nylon material (with 400D reinforcements on the bottom) is relatively lightweight, but far from tissue paper thin. After my week-long testing period, I didn’t notice any signs of wear except for a few snags on the water bottle pockets, which (along with the front stash pocket) are made of mesh and are naturally less durable than solid nylon.
The rest of the Exos’s materials and components, including the straps, buckles, and seams, feel high-quality, which is on par with what we’ve come to expect from Osprey. A Dyneema pack like the Hyperlite Southwest will certainly hold up better to heavy use (and is effectively waterproof), but will also cost significantly more (the 55L Southwest is $379). For a more budget-friendly option that will still get the job done throughout multiple seasons, the Exos is a solid choice.
Unfortunately, the Exos does not come with an included rain cover, a puzzling choice given how many other Osprey models include this feature (including the Atmos AG LT 50). Sure, this saves a tiny bit of weight, but I’d rather not have to buy a rain cover separately, which I had to do given that the Exos’s thin nylon fabric is prone to soaking through in anything more than a short drizzle (especially if you don’t keep the PFAS-free DWR clean of dirt). We recommend investing in dry bags or a pack cover if you’re heading into wet weather with the Exos and want your gear to stay dry.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Tester: 6’2” 175 lb.; 18.5” torso length
Size tested: Men’s L/XL
The Osprey Exos (men’s version) comes in S/M and L/XL sizes, while the women's Eja is available in XS/S and M/L. My torso length of 18.5 inches put me between the men’s sizes, and I decided to size up, which was the right call. An adjustable torso-length system on the backpanel helped me dial in the fit I needed, and although the hipbelt isn’t adjustable, the Exos molded perfectly to my body.
Gregory Focal 58 ($270): The Lookalike
If you removed their logos and colorways, at first glance, you might think the Gregory Focal 58 was the same pack as the Exos. The Focal also has a trampoline-style backpanel with airy mesh that extends through the hipbelt, in addition to oversized water bottle pockets, a mesh dorsal pocket, and a removable top lid. At 2 pounds 10.4 ounces, it’s a little lighter than the Exos and costs $10 less. Overall, these backpacking packs are pretty evenly matched, but we give the Exos the slight edge, given its thicker foam shoulder straps and adjustable torso length. But while it’s not as adjustable, the Focal comes in three size options compared to the Exos’ two.
Granite Gear Crown3 60 ($260): More Customizable
The Granite Gear Crown3 60 is lighter than the Exos while offering more storage space. This pack is aimed more squarely at thru-hikers and is more customizable than the Exos—you can remove its top lid, hipbelt, and plastic frame sheet (or add an aluminum stay), or turn the top lid into a waist pack in combination with the hipbelt. The newest Crown3 is also more durable, with 100-denier Robic nylon and 210D accents (Robic nylon is considered significantly stronger and more tear-resistant than standard nylon), and its large water bottle pockets are solid nylon, not mesh. However, its foam straps are much less cushy than those of the Exos, and it has a solid backpanel instead of the Exos’ more breathable trampoline-style version. The Crown3 is a more versatile pack for those who love to tweak their gear, but in terms of comfort and quality, the Exos comes out on top.
Splitting the difference between minimalist UL models and fully featured haulers, the Exos (women's Eja) is one of the best options for those curious about lightening their load. However, it’s not as durable or lightweight as many true-blue ultralight packs.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
The Crown3 is a ’tweener backpack that incorporates highlights from both ultralight packs and fully featured models. Its padding isn’t very plush and the materials could be more durable, but the customizable build makes it a functional, do-it-all option.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Osprey's “classic” backpacking pack, the well-rounded Atmos (women’s Aura) prioritizes comfort and user-friendliness, highlighted by a trampoline-style mesh backpanel and copious pockets. The weight and steep price are hard to ignore, though.
Comfort
Organization
Weight
Durability
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Is the Osprey Exos 58 for You?
The vast majority of backpackers are looking for one pack that will work on a wide variety of trips. If that sounds like your goal, it’s hard to go wrong with the Osprey Exos 58. Light but not too minimalist, comfortable but not overbuilt, this pack offers an ideal combination of weight, features, and price. Aside from chasing FKTs or mountaineering objectives, we’d happily wear this backpacking pack on just about any type of trip. Its relatively thin nylon fabric may not hold up as well as some other top-of-the-line light packs, but the Exos will certainly last long enough to make it a worthwhile investment.
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