I also got this for thruhiking the Foothills Trail. Im also a member of the FTC. Ive had this pack for a couple of weeks now. So far I have put several miles on it already. I normally am out somewhere on the trail or nearby every weekend. This pack has been great. Especially for heavy multi day loads.

Welldriller74

Tamassee, SC

I'm not an expert on backpacking, but work with folks who are. I wanted to go on an extended outing and turned myself into a gear geek. I did my research and decided on the Aether AG 70. It's plenty large enough to haul everything I want/need. Love the various storage pockets. I went on a 5 day hike on the Foothills Trail and have no regrets on my gear. I'd buy the same pack again and suggest it to others as well.

Packman

SC

I actually use my bag to carry my telescope around. The scope fits perfectly in a 70 liter bag, and all the accessories fit into the pockets. I have been using my bag to carry my telescope for 6 years. I have traveled all North America with it. I just sent it back and received a new one, because the first bag was falling apart. They are made great for my telescope business. I also use it whenever I go on hiking trips, of course.

MoonMan

Vancouver BC Canada

My Clavicle got broken in April 2016, bought pack in June 2017. I had to try, the pack on a few times as my shoulder and neck bothered me. The sales people at Robinson's Outdoor store in Victoria, BC are awesome. Hiked to Della falls in sept 2017 with it and from all my other issues that i had going on (concussion) the pack was comfy and it was perfect. My clavicle only gave me problems when i was hiking out with 1km to go. which was more from the cable car then anything else.

Iron Steph

Victoria, BC

I had an Atmos 65 airframe. Although that pack was well built and nicely outfitted, it did not work well on my body. The back of the pack simply didn't lay close enough to my back and thus pulled on shoulders and neck and tended to throw me off balance, no matter how I adjusted it. SO, because that Osprey and my other Osprey, the bullet-proof Kode, were so well built, I sold the Atmos and got an Aether 70. And this one fits my body much better. I love the way I have to pry the hip belt open like a clam, to insert myself, reminds me of an old race car seat I had. Once in the hip belt closes as if it was built just for me. And it carries the load. I have to remember to put at least SOME of the load onto the shoulders. Another advantage of the Aether is the good idea of the top-hat that becomes a fanny-pack. This saves me carrying the extra weight and bullk of a hip pack for day-hike-peak-assaults from a high camp. But the top-hat disconnect, reconnect and belt design need a bit of rethinking or fine-tuning. The belt tends to slip, the disconnect is fine, but the reconnect not so smooth, and the overall fit of the top-hat to the pack is a bit funky. Lastly, the top-hat fabric is not tough enough to withstand fanny-pack grinding downhills. I had a slight brush with some granite on the way down an Adirondack peak and the top-hat fabric gave out at one of the seams, right on the stitching, either from abrasion or strain. But these Osprey packs are quality at high levels for sure, and there is a certain confidence and satisfaction that comes with that. I tend to carry between 35-45 lbs in my Aether, depending on the trip length and season. It handles that load range with aplomb, and rides closely to my body, to help maintain balance on the kind of rough terrain better thought of as an obstacle course than a trail. A fine tuning of the removable top-hat would make this pack as perfect as a pack can be.

The Enigma

Mountains of the NE

Got and used the XL version (73 liters) on a Philmont trek in NM. Absolutely worth every penny. Couple of times it was over loaded (when we had a commissary stop that gave us 5 days food at once) still worked well. I would recommend a larger pack cover if you have any attachments.

Jim the Mountain Goat

Salem, Oregon

I recently used this pack for an intensely busy 1-week trip to Alaska. This was my summer vacation and included a lot of hiking/camping in rough terrain. WHAT A GREAT PACK! Was incredibly comfortable, easy to use, and I can tell it will stand a beating over the years. I packed everything I needed in this for one week, minus a change of clothes, toiletries, a laptop, a DSLR, and 3 chargers which I kept in my carry-on just in case. That weight would have added approximately 6lbs. The total weight for the bag with all the other things I needed for a week topped out at 30.1lbs. That's a great starting place for anyone considering this back for thru-hikes or urban backpacking in Europe/Asia. Favorites: Angled access for standard size nalgene bottles on the side is a GREAT idea. The removable top which converts to a day pack is awesome too. Loved the front zipper for easy access to the main compartment. VERY comfortable on my back and easy to get through airport security for a carry on in a pinch as long as it's not totally full and. This thing is clearly built to last. Not-favorites: I am a very small male - 5'7, 140lbs, with a 30" waist. The smallest hip-belts, a male S or female XS, are still a tad too big for me. It didn't bother me hiking at all except a little rubbing on one side. But that was hardly noticeable. Not sure how the hip-belt would fare comfort wise on an extended trip over 5 days. I think it's fine but I had the belt cinched up ALL of the way with no extra left.

James G

Greenville, SC