Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsToo heavy and bulky for my needs, but high quality.
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018
I wanted this bag to work. It’s strong, sturdy, with good handles, and the lifetime warranty is excellent. But it’s too much bag for me. The 45L/22” size is nearly 8# empty! And the pictures don’t really convey just how big and bulky the bottom plastic is and the wheels are. This adds stability, but the trade off in weight doesn’t really work. I bought this for a two week international trip where I knew I would have to carry the bag for part of it. And, I agree with another reviewer who said that this has an odd shape with the side panels and wasted space in the design.
So to test it out, I packed it full with bulky sweaters and two pairs of sneakers, cinched it as tight as I could, and then packed another Osprey day pack with light items, and attached it, because that was the plan—especially if I needed to check the sojourn on smaller European flights. Then I strapped the pair on my back and did a flight of stairs—and nearly fell backward. It was like I was carrying a small house with me. I’m a 5’6” female with a sturdy build. It held more than I thought, but I felt every pound of it.
The pack fit well with the hip belt suspension, but it was still too heavy and hard on my back. I’m not an avid hiker and can imagine that I would be wheeling this most of the time but would need to quickly pick it up and carry it on my back. That’s not really possible on the go, but it’s not too complicated to get the straps out and attached. You can also remove the hip belt, but it’s significantly less comfortable when you do, so I don’t recommend it.
I also put it side-by-side with an old square carryon that, when expanded, was flagged by domestic security last year and I had to compress it further. The osprey is wider and longer, so I’m not sure how it works as a carryon unless you are a light packer. And if you are a light packer, why wouldn’t you buy a smaller, lighter, less bulkier wheeled pack? I think it’s worth learning how to pack better.
My advice, if you don’t want to haul a heavy pack, is to try the Osprey Ozone convertible 50L/22” or even the cheaper Hypath Travel 2 in 1. I’m going to order those and see if Goldilocks can find the right travel combo. Or maybe I should hit the gym harder. I would try the Osprey Meridian, but it’s nearly 8.5 # and has a similar shape, and no hip belt, so I’m guessing I’ll run into similar problems.
Oh well, back to the drawing board...
