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Backpacks
Osprey Exos 58 Review: The 2 lb 13 oz Pack That Carries 35 lb
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The Exos 58 is a real frame and a ventilated back at 2 lb 13.4 oz, for 25 to 35 lb loads. Buy it in that window; skip it for ultralight kits or heavy hauls.
Will a phone fit in the Exos 58's hipbelt pocket? OutdoorGearLab says no. SwitchbackTravel says yes, an iPhone 16 Pro Max, barely, with the zipper straining. I love that two careful reviewers can disagree about one pocket.
My call, once. Buy the Exos 58 if your loads sit between 25 and 35 lb and you want a real frame and a ventilated back at under 3 lb. Skip it if your base weight is ultralight, or if you regularly carry more than 35 lb. I give it 8.5 out of 10.
By Brooke5 min read
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What is the Exos 58, and what does it weigh?
Osprey lists the men's S/M at 2.84 lb, which is 2 lb 13.4 oz, and the L/XL at 2.941 lb. CleverHiker measured 2 lb 13.5 oz. SwitchbackTravel and BetterTrail both list 2 lb 13.4 oz. The maker's number holds, to a tenth of an ounce.
The volume is 58 L in the S/M and 61 L in the L/XL, by Osprey's figures. Osprey rates it for 30 to 35 lb, and every reviewer I read lands on 35 as the ceiling. SwitchbackTravel calls 25 to 35 lb its sweet spot.
Here's a detail I enjoyed. SwitchbackTravel says you can strip the lid and the compression and sleeping-bag straps and save around 5 ounces, which takes the pack to roughly 2 lb 8 oz. Run the share at a 30 lb load: 2.84 lb is just under a tenth of the carry. At 25 lb it's 11%.
Two sizes. Two volumes. Sizes are men's S/M and L/XL, and the women's version is the Eja 58. SwitchbackTravel lists the Eja at 2 lb 13.2 oz.
How does it carry and breathe?
The back is Osprey's AirSpeed: a suspended mesh panel on a 4 mm LightWire frame that holds the pack body off your back. CleverHiker says it moves noticeably more air than close-contact foam systems. OutdoorGearLab says it comfortably carries loads up to 35 pounds, and beyond that most of its testers found it less comfortable than other packs.
The airflow has a price, and it's where the load sits. CleverHiker puts it plainly: the cargo rides farther from the spine, so the pack can feel heavier than it really weighs. It also lists "frame may rub on muscles" among the cons. It suggests checking frame clearance with a realistic load before committing.
The torso adjusts through five strap heights, with 4 in of range by Osprey's claim, per SwitchbackTravel, whose 18 in torso tester found the center slot spot on. BetterTrail notes the hipbelt itself isn't adjustable, and says the pack still molded to its tester.
Who were these testers? BetterTrail's was 6'2", 175 lb with an 18.5 in torso, in a men's L/XL. SwitchbackTravel's had an 18 in torso in the S/M, and took the pack on a demanding multi-night trek in Washington's Cascades. I like knowing the body behind a fit verdict. An 18 in torso sits mid-range on the S/M, so if yours is near an edge, your fit may differ from theirs.
What about pockets and access?
It's a top-loader with a removable floating lid. BetterTrail likes the wide opening and the one-handed drawstring cinch, and fit a two-person tent, a 15-degree bag and a pad in the base of the main compartment.
Then the phone question. Here's where it gets fun. OutdoorGearLab says the hipbelt pockets are pretty small and won't fit a modern smartphone. SwitchbackTravel says they're just big enough for its iPhone and barely take an iPhone 16 Pro Max. CleverHiker calls them good. My guess is the phone case decides it, so try yours before a trip.
The bottle pockets split reviewers too. OutdoorGearLab says the zigzag side compression straps make them hard to use, and they can't simply be removed because they also anchor the hipbelt. SwitchbackTravel and CleverHiker both like the dual-opening pockets, reachable without taking the pack off.
No rain cover is included, per BetterTrail, which calls that puzzling for an Osprey.
How tough is 100D?
Osprey lists recycled 100D high-tenacity nylon ripstop for the main body and bottom, with 400D nylon in the lining. CleverHiker puts it in the middle of the market for durability and says the mesh areas are what it watches most, because they take abrasion and snags.
BetterTrail's 7-day test bears that out: no wear except a few snags on the mesh bottle pockets. One change helps, and it's a good one. CleverHiker notes the current hipbelt pockets moved from mesh to solid fabric, which removes one weak point.
Osprey backs it with the All Mighty Guarantee, named on its product page. Read the terms there before you rely on it.
A bit of product-line gossip I couldn't resist. The previous Exos had no hipbelt pockets at all. SwitchbackTravel calls that omission bizarre, and OutdoorGearLab says it's happy the newest version has them, even though they're small. So the phone debate is new. For years there was nothing to argue about.
What else should you look at?
SwitchbackTravel lists the rivals with weights. The Gregory Focal 58 is 2 lb 12.8 oz, 0.6 oz lighter, and BetterTrail calls it the lookalike, with three sizes against the Exos's two. The Granite Gear Crown3 60 is 2 lb 6.4 oz, 7 oz lighter, more customizable, and aimed more at thru-hikers, per BetterTrail.
OutdoorGearLab calls the REI Co-op Flash 55 the most comparable pack: simple, lightweight and even more affordable. CleverHiker says the Flash delivers strong value at a lower price, and points to the ULA Circuit for proven thru-hike durability and a closer carry.
SwitchbackTravel's one complaint is worth hearing: heavy and overly complicated for many minimalists. That's fair. It's a framed pack with a lid and a lot of straps. If you want simple, that's the Flash. If you want a frame, it's this.
Owners are few on Amazon, 4.6 stars from 55 ratings as of October 16, 2026, so I lean on the reviewers here. The price band ran $280-290 that day, with Osprey's own price inside it.
Pros
- 2 lb 13.4 oz (Osprey S/M), confirmed by three reviewers' figures
- AirSpeed mesh moves noticeably more air than foam, per CleverHiker
- Carries up to 35 lb comfortably, per OutdoorGearLab
- Strip the lid and straps to save about 5 oz, per SwitchbackTravel
Cons
- Load rides farther from the spine and can feel heavier, per CleverHiker
- Hipbelt pockets may not fit a large phone (OutdoorGearLab and SwitchbackTravel disagree)
- Side compression straps get in the way of the bottle pockets, per OutdoorGearLab
- No rain cover included; mesh pockets snag
Key Specifications
- Sizes
- Men's S/M and L/XL; women's Eja 58
- Capacity
- 58 L S/M, 61 L L/XL (Osprey)
- Materials
- Recycled 100D nylon ripstop, 400D nylon (Osprey)
- Dimensions
- S/M 30.3 x 14.6 x 13 in (Osprey)
- Load rating
- 30-35 lb (Osprey)
- Weight (men's S/M)
- 2.84 lb / 2 lb 13.4 oz (Osprey)
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