The Osprey Atmos AG 65 won because the three most rigorous side-by-side tests we read all put it first. OutdoorGearLab's Sam Schild ranked it the Best Overall after testing 13 packs across thousands of miles, Switchback Travel made it their top men's pick after hundreds of trail miles, and Better Trail crowned it Best Overall on the Continental Divide Trail. They agree on why: the Anti-Gravity suspended mesh back panel. It is a continuous trampoline of tensioned mesh that extends from your shoulders into the hipbelt, so the pack rides off your back with airflow the whole way down. Schild put it plainly, saying it feels like the pack is giving you a hug, and called it the most supportive hipbelt in his test. Around that suspension Osprey wraps the most complete kit here: eight pockets, Fit-on-the-Fly torso and hipbelt adjustment you can tune while wearing it, a J-zip for full front access, and an included rain cover. It is not the lightest pack and it is not a dedicated heavy hauler, but for the everyday job of carrying a 40-pound load comfortably for a weekend or a week, nothing else balances comfort, ventilation, and features as well.
What It Won't Do
Weight is the honest tradeoff. At 4 pounds 10 ounces the Atmos is the heaviest pack in this guide, and both OutdoorGearLab and CleverHiker said so directly. Its comfort also tails off above a 40-pound load, where a dedicated hauler like the Gregory Baltoro carries better. And at $370 it costs nearly double our value pick, so you are paying for that plush suspension.
The REI Co-op Trailmade 60 won on value because it is the pack the experts keep naming when the budget is the constraint. OutdoorGearLab tagged it Best Under $200, Switchback called it the Best Budget men's pack, and Better Trail and CleverHiker both pointed first-time backpackers to it. At $189 it does the fundamentals well: an internal aluminum frame with load lifters carries a 35-pound multi-day load, the recycled nylon body is genuinely durable, and a U-shaped zipper opens the whole pack for easy loading. It is also the most size-inclusive pack anyone tested, adjusting up to a 52-inch waist, which matters because a budget pack that actually fits beats a fancier one that does not. It sits more than $100 below the next-cheapest framed pick here, and for a new backpacker that gap buys boots or a sleeping bag.
What It Won't Do
You feel the price in the finish. Switchback and CleverHiker both rated the Trailmade's comfort as only average next to pricier suspensions, and Switchback warned that the budget hipbelt foam will pack out and soften over time. GearJunkie went further, scoring it below average for durability and load transfer and noting it sits close in price to lighter, better-built packs. It is a great starter, not a forever pack.
Who Should Buy Which
Osprey Atmos AG 65
The best-ventilated all-rounder three top testers crowned number one
- Weekend and week-long backpackers carrying around 40 pounds
- Anyone who hikes in heat and wants the best ventilation
- Hikers between torso sizes who want on-the-fly adjustability
- Buyers who value a lifetime warranty and want to buy once
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
The sub-$200 starter pack that five testers named best budget
- First-time backpackers building a kit on a budget
- Anyone who needs a wide, size-inclusive fit up to a 52-inch waist
- Occasional hikers who carry 35 pounds or less
- Shoppers who want to keep the pack under $200