Are you searching for the best hiking backpacks for women? Look no further! A sturdy, reliable backpack is one of the most important items in your gear. It keeps you comfortable on the trail while housing all of the essential backpack items you will need to carry with you. There are several features to consider when selecting a durable, high quality backpack. This article reviews the Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack.
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Contents:
– Volume
– Weight
– Frame
– Design
– Price
– Uses
– Summary
Volume
When searching for a backpack that is suitable for an overnight or multi-day hike, volume capacity is very important. The Osprey Aura AG 50 has a 44-50 liter capacity, depending on torso size. The extra small holds 44L, small 47 liters, and the medium holds the full 50 liters. It provides the perfect amount of room to easily house your essential items plus overnight or multi-day backpacking gear (tent, sleeping bag, cooking stove, etc.). The light anti gravity frame of the bag and generous volume come together to create an amazing heavy duty capacity bag. There are several hiking backpacks for women out on the market, but you can carry lots of volume and weight comfortably with the Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack.
Weight
It is important to minimize the amount of weight you are carrying on your back. This is especially true if you plan on setting out on a long overnight or multi-day hike. Doing so will make for an easier, more pleasant hiking experience. The Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack ranges from 4 to 4.18 pounds, depending on torso size. This is not the lightest pack, and there are lots of ultralight backpack options out there. However, they tend to be less durable and do not carry as much weight. Although this backpack is slightly heavier than others, I still prefer it to lighter options. What it lacks in the weight category, it makes up for in durability. The Osprey Aura AG 50 is built to last, and can comfortably sustain loads of up to 45 pounds.
Frame
The frame of your backpack is designed to support and distribute weight, and acts like the skeleton of your body. The Osprey Aura AG 50 hiking backpack for women has a very light internal frame. It has an “Anti-Gravity” suspension, which makes it feel like you are carrying less weight. The thin wire frame adds rigidity while remaining lightweight. Furthermore, the frame is separated from your back with tightly stretched mesh. This back panel is continuous from upper back to hips, and stays in constant contact with your body. It promotes airflow and wicks water to prevent a sweaty back. This results in a more pleasant hiking experience. The Osprey Aura AG 50 strikes a perfect balance to provide lightweight, comfortable support.
Design
There are three main factors when assessing the layout of a backpack: pockets, accessibility, and comfort. Ideal hiking backpacks for women are both comfortable to wear and promote organization of your items.
Pockets
Designers struggle to add enough pockets and straps, yet maintain a streamlined feel to the hiking backpack. It is a fine balance. Personally, I love backpacks with lots of pockets. I can’t get enough of them!
Two Hip Belt Pockets
The Osprey Aura AG 50 has two large hip belt pockets. Hip belt pockets are very accessible and convenient. You can place your keys, phone, camera, headphones, sunscreen, lip balm, and snacks in these pockets. It is also a good place to keep your mask and hand sanitizer handy.
Bottom Separate Compartment
The lower compartment is large enough to store your sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Alternatively, you can place shoes or dirty clothes in the separate bottom pocket if you are using this bag as a travel backpack. If you prefer to have one large inner compartment, you can also remove the barrier sleeve.
Stash Pocket
A stash pocket on the front of the bag is a staple in well designed hiking backpacks for women. The stash pocket on the Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack is large and equipped with a drain hole. The design is clever because it makes this an ideal place to stick items that can continue to drip and dry while in your bag (quick dry towel, flip flops, etc.). I also like to load it up with snacks, a paper map, layers of clothing, and an extra pair of socks.
Hydration Bladder Pocket
The Osprey Aura AG 50 is designed to accommodate a 3 liter hydration bladder. The pocket is located against the back wall inside the bag. You can then snake the tubing through a small opening in the back and secure it to either shoulder strap. Although I carry both to distribute water volume, I personally prefer bottles over bladders. If you only carry water bottles, use this pocket to pack small items you will only need in case of an emergency (filter straw, signal mirror, etc.).
Two Side Pockets
This backpack has two large side pockets. Although they are large, they are not very deep. Additionally, they have two openings – one at the top of the pocket, and another at the side. I don’t really understand the purpose of the large side opening. It seems like your items will fall right out! If any of you know the logic behind these side openings, please let me know in the comments below. You can use these pockets to carry large water bottles, but smaller ones may fall through.
Top Lid Pocket
The top lid creates additional height and volume. It actually consists of two pockets. One pocket contains a hanging loop. This is a good place to hang your keys, as it is easy for small keys to get lost in a large pack. The top lid is also a great place to store your rain cover. I like to stick my rain coat in the same pocket. Unfortunately, a rain cover is not included when you purchase this backpack. The second pocket on the lid is very large. You can use it to store any items you’ll want within reach (first aid kit, headlamp, snacks, etc.).
Main Compartment
The Osprey Aura AG 50 is a large top loading backpack. Unfortunately, when the top lid is on, there is no way to access the core easily. Instead, you have to unhook the top lid and open up the top of the bag. As a girl that loves pockets, sleek design and organization, I really wish this backpack had a way to easily access the middle section of the bag. If you don’t need the full capacity, you can remove the top lid completely, which is a nice feature. There is a separate flap on the main bag to protect its contents.
Accessibility
Ease of accessibility and organization are important considerations when evaluating hiking backpacks for women. The Osprey Aura AG 50 helps you stay organized. There are a lot of small and large items you need to carry on multi-day hikes, and it is a huge bonus when you can access your items quickly and easily. The lid, hip, side, and stash pockets add much in the way of accessibility. My biggest issue with this backpack is that there is no front pocket. A front pocket can save you a lot of time and frustration. Instead of having to remove the top lid and dig through the entire contents of your bag from the top, you would easily be able access the core section to get what you need. However, if you do not plan on pulling items out multiple times during your hike, this bag is just what you need!
The storage of items is also made easy because of the many loops and straps on this pack. For example, the straps at the bottom of the pack are perfect for securing your tent. You can also use the loops on the shoulder straps to keep your bear spray, knife, or sunglasses handy. A “stow and go” loop is located on the left hip belt. You can easily thread your hiking poles through this loop as you continue on the trail. Some of the other straps are used for compression, to cinch the bag tightly. The chest strap even has an integrated whistle, so you can easily signal for help in an emergency. These straps, loops, and useful pockets make the Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack one of the most accessible hiking backpacks for women.
Comfort
Comfort is an important factor to consider when choosing a backpack. This is true whether you are planning on a short hike or a multi-day one. Two main features determine the overall comfort of hiking backpacks for women: padding and fit.
Padding
The Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack has all the right padding in all the right places! As a result, it is one of the most comfortable heavy duty hiking backpacks I have ever owned. The material of the padding is a combination of thick foam and mesh. This serves two purposes: comfort and breathability. Additionally, the location of the padding is well thought out. Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of the pack between the shoulders and the hips. The thick padding on the shoulder and hip belts, combined with the anti-gravity technology, makes this one of the most comfortable hiking backpacks for women.
Fit
Even if you have the most comfortable, most durable, and well designed backpack, it all means nothing if the fit is not correct. Take the time to learn how to fit your backpack correctly. First, determine the correct size you need based on your torso length. After that, the Osprey Aura AG 50 women’s backpack has three points of adjustment. Customize the pack to fit your body by adjusting the torso length, hip straps, and shoulder straps. These modifications distribute the weight evenly and make it easier for you to carry your backpack.
Price
The Osprey Aura AG 50 is considered a heavy duty capacity, high end women’s backpack. This is definitely not the cheapest backpack. However, I am generally okay with spending a little extra money on very high quality products. This backpack is incredibly durable, comfortable, and will serve you well for several years and miles down the road.
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Uses
Hiking backpacks of this size and caliber are best used for overnight or short multi-day hikes. The large volume capacity of the Osprey Aura AG 50, combined with ultra comfort and durability, makes this one of the best hiking backpacks for women. Alternatively, you can also use this backpack as a convenient travel bag. However, be aware that the XS/S frame measures 28.3 inches in height. If you don’t need the full capacity, you can remove the top lid and cut it down to 21 inches. This falls within the 22 inch height limit, and you should be able to carry this bag onto your flight.
If you are still in search of the perfect multi-day hiking backpack for women, you can also check out my review of the Osprey Ariel 65.
Summary
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*Disclosure: I only recommend products that I personally own and love! All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that help me earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
