In early 2015, Osprey announced the men’s Atmos AG 50, along with the Aura AG counterpart for women.
A solid backpack can make the difference between a good trek outdoors and a grueling one. Confidence in your backpack’s ability to survive wear and tear for days on end while keeping you comfortable is paramount.
For $240 (check this listing for the latest live prices), the Atmos AG 50’s sturdy build quality and excellent design provide that assurance.
And although its weight and carrying capacity are admittable concerns for longer trips, Osprey’s new Anti-Gravity suspension system offers unparalleled weight distribution that more than compensates for its minor drawbacks.
Less is more with the Atmos AG LT 50, delivering our extraordinary, ventilated and comfortable AntiGravity suspension in a more streamlined silhouette for technical backpackers.
Table of Contents
Osprey Atmos 50 Weight
Pack weight is an important consideration when choosing a backpack, especially if you’ll be using it in high-elevation, heavy-mileage trips where every pound you shed means a little more comfort.
A common criticism of this pack is that its heavy weight (4 pounds*), may be too much for the maximum load its designed for (40 pounds). Heavier packs certainly exist, but they also typically have a greater carrying capacity. The Gregory Baltoro 65L and the Mountain Smith Circuit 3.0 are good examples of this.
Thankfully, the pack’s saving grace is its Anti-Gravity suspension system, which makes the pack feel practically weightless, even when it’s fully loaded. This calls into question the longstanding backpacking philosophy that a lighter pack will inherently be more comfortable.
*The medium-sized Atmos weighs 4 pounds, compared to the 4.1-pound large and the 3.2-pound small.
The all new Baltoro 65 offers plenty of room for a long weekend, and if you're gear-savvy, enough space for an extra day or two in a pinch.
Osprey Atmos 50 Pricing
Both the Atmos and Aura AG 50 run for $240 for all sizes, but check the Osprey site here for the latest.
Where to Buy the Osprey Atmos AG 50
- On Osprey.com: Osprey now distributes their packs DIRECTLY via their website right here. I prefer going direct so as to have the best customer service and full warranty honoring.
- On REI.com: REI also carries a wide selection of Osprey products, including the Atmost AG 50 right here. REI members get to save extra with their dividends, so it can sometimes be the best deal.
- On Amazon: Amazon also tends to carry this pack, with competitive pricing.
Find information on where to track the pack down on Osprey’s purchase page here.
Use this for multi-day, overnight backpacking, not day trips
Given its load size (50 liters) and its dimensions (31in x 14 x 16), this is going to be a very bulky daypack. If that’s what you’re looking for, a good pack load will be closer to 30 liters, and even that will likely be more room than you’ll need.
The power of the Atmos AG 50 lies in its ability to fit all your backpacking gear let you roam without minding the weight. Using it as a daypack ignores its true strengths.
Atmos AG 50 vs AG 65
The new Atmos/Aura model comes in two sizes, the 50 and the larger 65. While many minimalist campers will assert that the 50 will be more than enough for most people’s needs, personal preference is important here.
While it’s true that the 50-liter load size will likely be more than enough for multi-day backpacking trips, that might not be true if most of your trips will take place in low-temperature climates and you’ll be packing heavy to stay warm. If you’re a hunter or a guide, which means you’ll have more gear to worry about, a larger pack might be worth considering.
For those unsure of their pack or gear needs, one good practice is to compile all your backpacking gear, weigh it, then select the size of your pack based on that weight.
One final consideration is that the AG 50 fits most airlines’ standards for carry-on luggage. You’ll be hard pressed to find a flight that will allow you to carry on an AG 65.
Gear Customization
The Atmos AG 50 comes in three colors: Absinthe Green, Cinnabar Red, and Graphite Grey. The Aura AG 50 comes in either Silver Streak or Rainforest Green.
Specifications for the three sizes for men:
| Size | Cubic Inches | Liter | Pounds/ounces | Kilograms |
| Small | 2868 | 47 | 3/15 | 1.79 |
| Medium | 3051 | 50 | 4/0 | 1.82 |
| Large | 3234 | 53 | 4/1 | 1.85 |
Women’s specifications:
| Size | Cubic Inches | Liter | Pounds/ounces | Kilograms |
| Extra Small | 2746 | 45 | 3/11 | 1.67 |
| Small | 2868 | 47 | 3/12 | 1.70 |
| Medium | 3051 | 50 | 3/13 | 1.73 |
Not sure what size is right for you? Go to Osprey’s website to find their sizing guide.
Anti-Gravity™ Suspension System
As mentioned several times already, this pack’s biggest strength is its comfort and weight distribution, and that’s thanks to the Anti-Gravity suspension system showcased in this generation of the Atmos/Aura. The AG system is comprised of four components: the suspension frame, the back panel stretchy mesh wrapping, the harnesses, and the hip belt (waist belt).
In a nutshell, the AG system is a mesh paneling that runs from the top of the back panel (neck and shoulders) down to the hip belt.
So rather than the pack’s weight is distributed between a couple shoulder straps, sternum strap, belts, and belt pockets, it’s being dispersed throughout the length of the pack. This ensures the pack’s frame conforms perfectly to each individual.
The hip belt also contributes to the pack’s weightless feel. Its shocking ability to fit snugly around your hips—making straps all but unnecessary—is a landmark in custom-fitting technology.
Full-mesh frame
The stretch mesh coating that outlines the AG 50’s litewire frame (including mesh pocket and hip belt) also serves as insulation to cool your back down, which is a big selling point for the sweaty-backed among us. Osprey first unveiled this mesh coating for better breathability (ventilation) way back in 1976, but the ventilated AG system goes a step further by integrating it into the suspension system.
Less is more with the Atmos AG LT 50, delivering our extraordinary, ventilated and comfortable AntiGravity suspension in a more streamlined silhouette for technical backpackers.
Additional Features:
- Removable Floating Top Lid: Able to extend to accept oversized loads, or it can be completely removed for lidless use, which is more weight-efficient than zippers and endless compartments.
- Flapjack: provides true compression and protection when the top lid is removed.
- Internal Reservoir Sleeve / Hydration Sleeve: located in the pack’s main body. Provides for quick access to a hydration reservoir or hydration bladder (hydration sleeve) and helps to balance weight distribution. This is in addition to water bottle pockets.
- Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment: located on the front left end of the pack, this attachment allows quick placement of trekking poles while wearing the pack.
- Tool Attachment: Dual ice tool loops and clove hitch style bungee tie-offs allow for secure tool attachment.
- Compression straps: upper side straps stabilize pack loads around the shoulder, while the lower straps can also be used to carry gear externally. The internal compression strap offers further stabilization that’s easy on the shoulder and back.
- Sleeping bag compartment: Lower zippered sleeping bag compartment (zippered pockets) separated from the main pocket of the pack by a removable divider.
All Mighty Guarantee
Osprey’s product guarantee is refreshingly straightforward: “Any product, any reason, any era.” Simply put, if you own an Osprey product, whether you purchased it last Tuesday or 40 years ago, Osprey will repair any damage or defect you find with it. If they can’t repair the item, they’ll replace it.
If you’re the kind of person that prefers to invest in a product with a long lifespan, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Osprey
Personal preference and fit are too important to choose a product simply because of the brand, but it’s worth noting the build quality unique to Osprey.
A small operation based in Colorado and Vietnam, every pack design the 41-year-old company has released passes through the hands of its founder Mike Pfotenhauer. Their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability is reassuring too.
Other Osprey Atmos 50 Alternatives
All this being said, there ARE some great backpack alternatives to the Osprey Atmos 50 worth considering (many of which our team has reviewed or compared over the years). There are:
- Osprey Kestrel 48: Slightly smaller backpack, but also more lightweight and prices are sometimes cheaper.
- Osprey Exos 48: Another similar option to the Kestrel.
- Osprey Volt 60: If you need additional capacity, this is a great step up from the Atmos 50 (but not quite as hefty as the Atmos 65 – an in-betweener).
- Gregory Baltoro 75: For a serious upgrade incapacity, the Baltoro packs a serious punch here.
- Osprey Daylite Daypack: For short day trips (or even a weekend travel pack) the Daylite is even a good option to have in ADDITION to the Atmos.
- Osprey Aura AG vs Ariel AG: Similar to the Atmos in some ways, these are two very popular packs in a similar category.
- Osprey Atmos vs Osprey Aether: Here’s a direct comparison of the popular (and lightweight / ultralight) Aether pack vs the Atmos.
Spacious yet agile, the Baltoro 75's Response A3 suspension stays comfortable on any multi-day trip. Carry everything you need for a deluxe basecamp, then set out and explore using the included sidekick daypack.
Conclusion: Osprey Atmos 50 Review
Less is more with the Atmos AG LT 50, delivering our extraordinary, ventilated and comfortable AntiGravity suspension in a more streamlined silhouette for technical backpackers.
Are there more lightweight packs? Yes. Are there less expensive packs? Certainly, but if you’re looking at an Osprey, you’ve likely already accepted that the price is worth the investment in unmatched build quality.
Bottom Line: Focusing too much on this pack’s weight, carrying capacity and price overlooks the breakthrough suspension technology and padding that makes the Atmos AG 50 perhaps the most comfortable pack on today’s market. Add in the removable lids, removable divider and compression factor, and this is truly a pack for all seasons.
To truly appreciate the difference this makes, try one out to experience it firsthand.
Further Reading
- Best Internal Frame Backpacks [Guide]
- Best Osprey Backpack Options [Guide]
- Best Hydration Systems [Guide]
- How to Pack a Hiking Backpack [Tutorial]
The All-Outdoors Guide team is comprised of enthusiastic experts that enjoy helping others that aspire to be better at outdoor fun. Part of that is making sure you have the right gear and information when it’s time to go out and have fun. Some of our team have accomplished amazing feats like climbing 6000 feet to the top of mountains, others have explored every dirt trail they could find and we even have some people that have backpacked solo on various continents. No matter what our readers want to learn and do, our team is here to help them accomplish those goals.