Osprey Aether 85 Backpack

Not everyone baulks at packing more than a spare set of underwear and a toothbrush, and for those who like to prepare -- and pack -- for every imaginable eventuality, the large volume Osprey Aether 85 Backpack could be the pack you're looking for. With a volume of some 70 litres, this has close to double the carrying capacity of the Osprey Talon 44 Backpack, meaning you've got loads of room to fill either before you leave home, or while you're on the road.

If you're a keen shopper, a bigger pack like this can be ideal as your clothes will only take up perhaps half the space, with the rest being reserved for goodies that you pick up during your holiday. Though the pack will easily store 20-25kg of your most valuable possessions, don't forget that that's a lot of weight to tramp through Bangkok's streets with.

As with most Osprey backpacks, this one is top loading, and in a nod to how heavy it might get when fully loaded, the pack has a sturdy support base so that most of the weight is well supported around your hips. The shoulder straps are easily adjusted to further distribute the weight comfortably. As with many packs, the sleeping bag compartment is zippered, so if you're not taking a sleeping bag (and a bag is not really required in Southeast Asia unless you are camping) then you can unzip it and combine the two sections. The pack has ample pocketing, meaning you can keep the stuff you need most frequently within easy reach, and there are plenty of exterior straps and clip points should you need to strap stuff to the outside of the pack.

An added feature of the Osprey Aether 85 is that the zippered top pocket is detachable and mates with the hipbelt to create a small lumbar pack -- convenient if you want to leave the other 25kgs back in your room.

The pack weighs in between 2.15 kg (4 lbs. 12 oz.) and 2.24 kg (4 lbs. 15 oz.) and comes in just a few colours.

It comes with an Osprey 100% lifetime guarantee: If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it any time for a refund of the purchase price.

Where to buy

Altrec deliver this pack to the US and over 50 countries worldwide or via Amazon with prices around the US$280 mark.