Review is not for the Tungsten Grey Back pack nor is it for the S/M. We ordered the Blue Backpack in the L/XL size 58 litres. Since receiving the pack I have not yet used it in the field as we purchased it early for a trip planned for Xmas - New Year in Tasmania. Having said that I have begun packing the gear I want to carry and it seems to be the perfect size. I have weighed the pack and contents & it feels comfortable to wear with 12-14 kilos total weight. I will be taking the pack & contents for a few day hike soon and expect it will be comfortable and suitable for our planned trip. I chose the Exos 58 litre pack after considering the Exos Pro 55 litre pack. The main reason was the better protection on the base of the pack (A bit more robust than the newer ... MoreReview is not for the Tungsten Grey Back pack nor is it for the S/M. We ordered the Blue Backpack in the L/XL size 58 litres. Since receiving the pack I have not yet used it in the field as we purchased it early for a trip planned for Xmas - New Year in Tasmania. Having said that I have begun packing the gear I want to carry and it seems to be the perfect size. I have weighed the pack and contents & it feels comfortable to wear with 12-14 kilos total weight. I will be taking the pack & contents for a few day hike soon and expect it will be comfortable and suitable for our planned trip. I chose the Exos 58 litre pack after considering the Exos Pro 55 litre pack. The main reason was the better protection on the base of the pack (A bit more robust than the newer version.) This pack is more than half the weight of my other hiking packs weighing just under 1300 grams. I think it will serve my purpose well and expect it will also last as long as it is treated with respect and maintained during and after each adventure.

5 star suspension. 1 star everything else

You really get this pack for the way the suspension works. It's top-tier. Then you just put up with all the lousy design choices made on the rest of the pack.1. The hipbelt pockets can hardly even hold a small smartphone (iphone 13 mini) without the phone feeling like it is going to bend in half when the belt is pulled tight and the pockets curve with it. It would have taken a tiny amount of extra fabric to make them usable. They are just horrible in every way. I added about a quarter ounce of fabric to mine, and they are now over double the volume. Warranty voided just to get more-usable pockets.2. The compression straps can't be routed under the pockets unless you cut the pockets, thus voiding warranty even more.3. The flapjack lid cover thing, doesn't really ... MoreYou really get this pack for the way the suspension works. It's top-tier. Then you just put up with all the lousy design choices made on the rest of the pack.1. The hipbelt pockets can hardly even hold a small smartphone (iphone 13 mini) without the phone feeling like it is going to bend in half when the belt is pulled tight and the pockets curve with it. It would have taken a tiny amount of extra fabric to make them usable. They are just horrible in every way. I added about a quarter ounce of fabric to mine, and they are now over double the volume. Warranty voided just to get more-usable pockets.2. The compression straps can't be routed under the pockets unless you cut the pockets, thus voiding warranty even more.3. The flapjack lid cover thing, doesn't really keep rain out and just makes everything goofy with added weight. They should go roll-top.4. The rubber tube on the trekking pole holder spins on the trekking pole handles, and lets them slide down unless it is pulled extremely tight. Works better if tube is cut off and just straight shock cord holds better.5. Shoulder straps don't have any extra latch points for added accessories like pouches and camera clips.6. The frame squeaks and groans. This could be very easily solved with a slippery section of fabric over the frame to reduce the friction and noise. I had to make my own, and it works, but I should never have had to begin with.In the end, it holds stuff, and can go backpacking. The ability to carry weight so well, while being ventilated, is worth the annoyance of the rest of the pack. All it has to do is hold stuff, but Osprey somehow made it harder to just hold stuff, for no reason at all.If you are handy with scissors and hand sewing, you can customize the pack to work better, but at the cost of never having any warranty again.

Fits so well, it's like getting a hug

It's a bit of a gamble to order a backpack online instead of going to the store, trying one on with weights inside, walking around, etc, but when Osprey came out with a new, redesigned version of the Eja in 2022, I did a lot of research, crossed my fingers, and ordered one in size XS/S. Short version: I'm in love. Here are some specific thoughts.Use so far: I took this pack on a one-night, 8-mile overnight to test it, carrying between 20-25 lbs, climbing pretty rugged mountainous terrain. I'm a lightweight hiker, but not a super ultralight hiker — my base weight is around 15-16 lbs — and I think this pack hits that sweet spot well. I'm looking forward to taking it on multi-day trips.Fit: I am a small person (5'3", 120 lbs), I've been backpacking for 10+ years, ... MoreIt's a bit of a gamble to order a backpack online instead of going to the store, trying one on with weights inside, walking around, etc, but when Osprey came out with a new, redesigned version of the Eja in 2022, I did a lot of research, crossed my fingers, and ordered one in size XS/S. Short version: I'm in love. Here are some specific thoughts.Use so far: I took this pack on a one-night, 8-mile overnight to test it, carrying between 20-25 lbs, climbing pretty rugged mountainous terrain. I'm a lightweight hiker, but not a super ultralight hiker — my base weight is around 15-16 lbs — and I think this pack hits that sweet spot well. I'm looking forward to taking it on multi-day trips.Fit: I am a small person (5'3", 120 lbs), I've been backpacking for 10+ years, and I have never had a pack that fit me this well. The adjustable shoulder straps allow you to dial in a very precise fit for your torso. The back panel is comfy — Osprey eliminated the low-back seam on earlier models that pressed into my hips when I tried an Eja a few years ago — and the airflow is excellent. The hip belt fit well, and had plenty of room to be both tighter and looser. No weird pressure points or chafing on shoulders, armpits, or hips, which has been an issue for me with other packs. I felt like a total superhero, so much that I almost decided to extend my hike by 5 miles because I was feeling so good.Pockets and straps: Love the loops for holding hiking poles. The pockets all worked nicely for me. The side compression straps are tricky to figure out at first because they have a semi-fixed point in the middle that allows you to adjust the top and bottom separately. Once I got the hang of it, it worked well. The pad straps on the bottom are long and dangly if you don't have a closed-cell foam pad or tent to strap there— I added a seat pad to my gear just to give those straps something to do, but I might remove them altogether in future. I took along a hydration system just to test that feature out, and I found the port to be awkward to wrangle the drinking tube through. I'll take bottles instead of a hydration bladder next time.Color: I got the teal green and was pleased that it ended up being a darker, more forest-y green, and less blue-teal than the pictures.Guarantee: Osprey's lifetime guarantee was definitely a factor in me buying this pack. I have friends who have used the guarantee and Osprey was great about replacing or fixing their packs. If I'm going to use this piece of gear for years and years (and I hope I do!), it will be nice to have the guarantee to rely on if and when I need it.

Great on the back, well balanced, well designed

I took the Osprey Women's Eja 58 pack on an 8-day backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon where I carried around 35lbs of weight. Because of the lumbar length adjustment, the backpack fit my petite (5'2") frame perfectly and distributed the weight so that I never felt any pain or fatigue in my shoulders or back. The mesh back kept me from getting too hot and sweaty on my back. I loved the two pockets on the waist straps, and I figured out how to squeeze in my switchback sleeping pad. The large pocket in the back and the two on the sides were handy for carrying water and various things. I wish the pack came with instructions on all of the ways the various components could be used, as I know the top can be removed but I don't know if it could serve as a day pack. The ... MoreI took the Osprey Women's Eja 58 pack on an 8-day backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon where I carried around 35lbs of weight. Because of the lumbar length adjustment, the backpack fit my petite (5'2") frame perfectly and distributed the weight so that I never felt any pain or fatigue in my shoulders or back. The mesh back kept me from getting too hot and sweaty on my back. I loved the two pockets on the waist straps, and I figured out how to squeeze in my switchback sleeping pad. The large pocket in the back and the two on the sides were handy for carrying water and various things. I wish the pack came with instructions on all of the ways the various components could be used, as I know the top can be removed but I don't know if it could serve as a day pack. The size was perfect for what I needed, the ergonomic fitting made it possible for me to carry the weight over precarious footing with ease. The only negative is that one of the rubber fasteners shredded without being used that much, but compared to how wonderful the pack is, this is a minor issue.

Incredible Backpack!

I started my Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike this year with this backpack and after completing the trail, I think I saw more Osprey Exos and Eja backpacks on the trail than any other backpack. This is an incredibly durable and fairly lightweight backpack that easily carries 20+lbs of gear. The shoulder straps are extremely comfortable as well as the trampoline suspension and there is plenty of airflow between the backpack and your back if you're like me and sweat like crazy. After about 800 miles, I ended up switching out the backpack in favor of the Osprey Levity for 2 reasons. The first is I have a 20" torso size which falls in between a Large and a Medium so I sized up and bought a Large. I always felt like the lumbar portion of the trampoline sat a little too low ... MoreI started my Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike this year with this backpack and after completing the trail, I think I saw more Osprey Exos and Eja backpacks on the trail than any other backpack. This is an incredibly durable and fairly lightweight backpack that easily carries 20+lbs of gear. The shoulder straps are extremely comfortable as well as the trampoline suspension and there is plenty of airflow between the backpack and your back if you're like me and sweat like crazy. After about 800 miles, I ended up switching out the backpack in favor of the Osprey Levity for 2 reasons. The first is I have a 20" torso size which falls in between a Large and a Medium so I sized up and bought a Large. I always felt like the lumbar portion of the trampoline sat a little too low and wished I had bought a medium so if you fall in one of those in between sizes, prehaps think about taking the smaller size. The second reason is I reduced my base weight enough so that I could opt for the Levity and save an additional 9ish ounces and that has nothing to do with the Exos or the review I'm writing. Under no circumstances would I ever say that the Levity is more comfortable than the Exos just like I wouldn't say the Exos is more comfortable than the Cadillac Atmos.Though this backpack doesn't actually fall into the "ultralight" category, it is an extremely light backpack. It doesn't have the frills like other backpacks have such as hip pockets albeit, the older Exos had them but the new Exos is a fair bit lighter than the old Exos and if you really need hip pockets, you can buy some aftermarket ones. The Detachable "Brain" Pouch came in handy because I just detached it and left it at home to save a few ounces. I didn't require the space and I didn't really have a need for it. The Trampoline suspension is not quite as robust as the Anti Gravity suspensions found in the Atmos but it is much more durable than the one found in the Levity. The Shove-it pocket on the back is stretchy and can fit an infinite amount of gear. OK maybe not that much stuff but it stretches out quite a bit. I always carried a pair of sandals, wind pants and rain jacket in that pocket but I could easily fit much more. The side pockets can fit a Smart Water bottle either vertically or horizontally with plenty of room for additional gear. Placing the water bottles horizontally makes it easy to grab the bottle on the go without taking the backpack off but I found that if I bent over, sometimes the water bottle would fall out. I fixed this by using black shock cord hair ties I bought at Walmart that I tied off to a loop on the backpack which I wrapped around the tops of my water bottles that effectively "dummy-corded" my water bottles to my backpack. The main compartment of the backpack easily fit my 20 degree sleeping bag, clothing bag, stove, human repair kit and my gear repair kit as well as a tent, and food bag which typically carried 3-5 days of food and one time carried 8 days of food with no problems. Typical backpack weights were 25-28 pounds with 3-5 days of food and about 30 lbs with the time I had 8 days of food.This is a go-to bag for many first-time thru-hikers and I think it would make an awesome bag for many section hikers. The bigger the backpack, the more stuff you'll want to put in it. I think this 48L bag is just the right size. I sold my old Exos because it was too big but I have already purchased a new medium one that I plan to use on future trips since REI had it at 25% off and I sent my Levity back to Osprey for repairs. I finished the AT with my Levity but I am not sure saving 9ish ounces was worth losing the comfort of this backpack. I would highly recommend this pack for anyone not going ultra-light or for anyone that just wants a lightweight, durable and comfortable backpack at a good price with an unbeatable warranty.

Lightweight with comfortable frame!

This pack is AWESOME! I just got into backpacking at age 45 and did 3 days on the AT recently in NJ. Pack load out was ~36 lbs with two full one liter life water bottles in side pockets and 2 person tent packed horizontally in bottom of pack. I feel like this is the very upper limit of comfort for me. Barry and Steffi at the Paramus, NJ REI fit me up and I could not have been happier with this buy. Member discount during May sale was great and helped me justify the purchase in case I decided I hated backpacking. As it turns out, this pack was really comfortable considering the weight I was carrying (looking to go lighter with future trips). Complaints I read about hip belt I never found to be an issue. Outer mesh great for stuffing extra stuff (camp shoes, water ... MoreThis pack is AWESOME! I just got into backpacking at age 45 and did 3 days on the AT recently in NJ. Pack load out was ~36 lbs with two full one liter life water bottles in side pockets and 2 person tent packed horizontally in bottom of pack. I feel like this is the very upper limit of comfort for me. Barry and Steffi at the Paramus, NJ REI fit me up and I could not have been happier with this buy. Member discount during May sale was great and helped me justify the purchase in case I decided I hated backpacking. As it turns out, this pack was really comfortable considering the weight I was carrying (looking to go lighter with future trips). Complaints I read about hip belt I never found to be an issue. Outer mesh great for stuffing extra stuff (camp shoes, water filter, water bottles, camp chair). Brain fit SO MUCH GEAR I was shocked! Nice feature in brain is underneath mesh pocket with a red clip for keys. Hip belt pockets perfect for some chapstick, sunscreen stick, small multitool, some bug repellent wipes, Gatorade packs, lighter and tissues. Airflow between spine and pack is legit! Absolutely love this pack and can’t wait to use it again on trail. Works well with REI shoulder holster for cell phone.

Over 1000 miles and still awesome....

I purchased this pack (38L) from a hiking store in France as I was beginning the Camino Frances in the summer of 2022. The lady at the store fitted the pack to my frame, made the proper adjustments and explained about micro-adjustments while hiking. I have carried this now through 3 caminos, well over a thousand miles. It has held up perfectly and still looks practically new. It has never caused brusing around the hips. It fits my body like a glove and with the weight properly distributed inside, I sometimes forget I have it on.It sits high in the back and sometimes bumps the back of my Tilley hat, but that is the only complaint I have about this pack (not really a complaint- just a note).The back ventilation is great. The water bottle pocket design makes it easy ... MoreI purchased this pack (38L) from a hiking store in France as I was beginning the Camino Frances in the summer of 2022. The lady at the store fitted the pack to my frame, made the proper adjustments and explained about micro-adjustments while hiking. I have carried this now through 3 caminos, well over a thousand miles. It has held up perfectly and still looks practically new. It has never caused brusing around the hips. It fits my body like a glove and with the weight properly distributed inside, I sometimes forget I have it on.It sits high in the back and sometimes bumps the back of my Tilley hat, but that is the only complaint I have about this pack (not really a complaint- just a note).The back ventilation is great. The water bottle pocket design makes it easy to grab my water from the pocket while on the go (I have not tried it with a camelbak bladder).The waist belt pockets are a good size.At first I was not delighted with the slender, tall design, but after the first few miles over the Pyrenees, I was loving it.I am 60 years old, 5'8", weigh 120 lbs. My pack is M/L.

Overall good pack but load shifts quite a bit

Overall I really like most of the features of this pack but there are a few things I didn't like a whole lot. I used to have one of the atmos packs but the hip belt just didn't sit right on me as I am very bony so I ended up exchanging it for the exos. I have been pretty impressed with it so far, the hip belt is much less rigid so it conforms to my bony hips but also still supports the load well. It is very easy to load and the compression straps go all the way down each side of the pack you you can really get the pack small. All of the zippers and plastic hardware are ykk or itw which is awesome to see! All around the build quality is great with the exception of the back harness attachment mechanism. The way it attaches is with little plastic toggles that slot into ... MoreOverall I really like most of the features of this pack but there are a few things I didn't like a whole lot. I used to have one of the atmos packs but the hip belt just didn't sit right on me as I am very bony so I ended up exchanging it for the exos. I have been pretty impressed with it so far, the hip belt is much less rigid so it conforms to my bony hips but also still supports the load well. It is very easy to load and the compression straps go all the way down each side of the pack you you can really get the pack small. All of the zippers and plastic hardware are ykk or itw which is awesome to see! All around the build quality is great with the exception of the back harness attachment mechanism. The way it attaches is with little plastic toggles that slot into a plastic ladder sewn into the back mesh, in theory it sounds pretty good and is light weight but in practice it's not great. There is nothing that actually rigidly locks anything into place and this can cause the whole pack to move and sway as you walk. It's not necessarily a huge problem but it's a very odd feeling and can be a little off-putting. If you don't mind a pretty bouncy or floaty feeling as you hike, the pack itself really is great and I would recommend it.

The Goldilocks of Packs

Purchased last month and completed a 10 miles hike with 22lbs in this pack and it handled it like a dream. I'm 6'0" tall and 205lbs with a 19.5" torso measurement and 46" chest and the L/XL pack fits my perfectly. There are lighter packs but they cost more and aren't as durable or comfortable and there are cheaper packs but they are heavier and not as comfortable. In my mind, this pack strikes an excellent balance of weight, comfort, durability, and cost. It's sub 3lbs with the brain on and close to 2.5lbs if you choose to leave that at home, which I haven't yet.It doesn't come with a rain fly but that's extra cost and weight that you don't need and doesn't protect your gear from water as much as using a pack liner or trash compactor bag.Also, in regards to the ... MorePurchased last month and completed a 10 miles hike with 22lbs in this pack and it handled it like a dream. I'm 6'0" tall and 205lbs with a 19.5" torso measurement and 46" chest and the L/XL pack fits my perfectly. There are lighter packs but they cost more and aren't as durable or comfortable and there are cheaper packs but they are heavier and not as comfortable. In my mind, this pack strikes an excellent balance of weight, comfort, durability, and cost. It's sub 3lbs with the brain on and close to 2.5lbs if you choose to leave that at home, which I haven't yet.It doesn't come with a rain fly but that's extra cost and weight that you don't need and doesn't protect your gear from water as much as using a pack liner or trash compactor bag.Also, in regards to the hip pockets; they are there but not very big and depending on your body type, difficult to use. I keep items in there that I might need every so often but for frequent things such as snacks, chapstick or my phone, I just use Osprey's ultralight waist pack which is commonly on sale for less than $20 and only weight about 2oz.Overall, I cannot rate this pack highly enough and I have absolutely zero issues with it

great pack if you have ultralight ambitions

I just returned from a 5-day, 4-night trip with this pack. This is an excellent pack if you envy ultralight packs but aren't quite ready to give up your luxury or comfort items.Overall it performed well. The heaviest comfortable weight for me was around 35-38 lbs. Any more than that and you could feel the straps start to strain. The main compartment can hold a BV500 on its side. If you use a water bladder though, there's not enough room at the top for it. The trampoline mesh back is comfortable and ventilates extremely well; it really has few peers. I also found the hip belt very comfortable, more so than Gregory packs (which pressed into my bony hipbones) and Osprey's own Atmos, which was a little too firm. There are an assortment of versatile loops and ties on ... MoreI just returned from a 5-day, 4-night trip with this pack. This is an excellent pack if you envy ultralight packs but aren't quite ready to give up your luxury or comfort items.Overall it performed well. The heaviest comfortable weight for me was around 35-38 lbs. Any more than that and you could feel the straps start to strain. The main compartment can hold a BV500 on its side. If you use a water bladder though, there's not enough room at the top for it. The trampoline mesh back is comfortable and ventilates extremely well; it really has few peers. I also found the hip belt very comfortable, more so than Gregory packs (which pressed into my bony hipbones) and Osprey's own Atmos, which was a little too firm. There are an assortment of versatile loops and ties on the outside to accommodate whatever setup you prefer. The brain is removeable if you want a smaller pack. Without it, it's almost as light as some daypacks like the Talon 22.I wish though the compression straps on the side were anchored independently of the hipbelt. The pockets on the hipbelt are small, and when the pack is full, the compression straps tend to flatten the pockets, making access more difficult and crushing the items inside. While this is fine for durable items like a multitool or lipbalm, it'll crush more delicate snacks. I also wish the same compression straps could be routed inside the side pocket like prior year packs. This seems like a step backwards.I saw the review about the harness attachments not being square. This is probably the result of the lighter frame being bent in transit. It's easy to correct though by laying the pack on its side and shifting the top forward or back to square it back up. This happened to me and is not a dealbreaker.I'm 5'7" and the S/M fit me well. There are multiple adjustments in the harness to let you really dial in the fit. It's best to go to a store to try on several different ones. I almost got a Gregory, but after finding hipbelt was less than ideal, I ended up back with Osprey again.