The Ariel 55 within the wild. Picture courtesy of Osprey.
In the event you’ve spent a vital period of time backpacking, you most likely have a love-hate dating together with your pack. Possibly your maximum very important piece of drugs, the backpack, in fact, transports the whole thing you wish to have right through your time at the path. Through the years, I’ve spent a large number of time available in the market and feature worn my justifiable share of unhealthy, and just right, packs — Osprey’s Ariel 55 falls into the latter class.
Created particularly for girls to supply a fine-tuned have compatibility, the Ariel 55 is designed to deal with plenty of physique sizes and styles. The pack includes a customized “Are compatible-on-the-Fly Hipbelt” and shoulder strap, so it will possibly simply be adjusted as you commute. Created from top quality bluesign licensed nylon and PFC-free DWR, the pack sports activities an injection-molded, die-cut foam AirScapeTM backpanel that creates a breathable, close-to-body have compatibility. Moreover, the close-to-body have compatibility and raise device permits the pack to paintings smartly with heavier rather a lot and keep cosy on extra technical trails.
With the Ariel 55, Osprey considered the whole thing. The pack features a rain duvet, a big, front-panel, zip-access major compartment, a floating most sensible lid with lash issues, a material bolstered shove-it pocket, and dual-access mesh facet water bottle wallet. So far as adjustability, it additionally has twin higher/decrease compression straps and twin front-panel compression straps. To not point out puts for tools, like dual-zippered hipbelt wallet, twin ice awl loops with bungee tie-offs, a zippered drowsing bag compartment with detachable divider, an inner hydration reservoir sleeve, and anchor loops for attaching an afternoon pack.
Placing the Ariel 55 to the check in Iceland. Picture: Rebecca Parsons
My Take
I latterly went on a 12-day shuttle in the course of the highlands of Iceland and taken the Ariel 55 alongside for the experience. Admittedly, I didn’t test it out forward of time and used to be frightened about taking a brand new pack on this kind of long shuttle. I’ve worn Osprey packs prior to now and the emblem’s recognition is impeccable. Nevertheless it used to be of venture however.
After I first attempted at the pack, I assumed I’d ordered the fallacious measurement. I’m 5’7”, 125 kilos and ordered the S/M. However after some adjusting, I used to be ready to get it fitted and located it used to be the very best measurement for my lean body.
There’s so much to like about Osprey’s Ariel 55. I’m a large fan of the multitude of wallet, quick-stash zippered sections, and the number of straps. The elements in Iceland is mercurial so I repeatedly discovered myself stripping and including layers, so it used to be great to have puts to simply stash issues. I saved necessities like chapstick and gloves within the hipbelt compartments and snacks and different vital pieces within the floating most sensible lid.
I drink a large number of water, so I introduced a hydration bladder which I saved within the specialised compartment and two water bottles that I stashed within the outer water bottle holders. I put common water within the bladder and water with electrolytes within the bottles, so the mix of hydration assets and garage areas labored smartly for me.
I love to put on my pack as cosy as imaginable across the hips, so I truly liked the on-the-go adjustment device, which I loosened when starting off the pack and cinched as tight as imaginable when at the path. The shoulder straps have been additionally adjustable, however I discovered that considered one of them refused to take a seat flat which created some discomfort – in all probability it used to be person error but it surely used to be considered one of my solely qualms with the pack.
Twelve days is a very long time at the path and the Ariel 55 proved its value thru sunny days, rainstorms, and the whole thing in between. I foresee many extra adventures in our long run.
Get the Ariel 55 at Backcountry or REI.
