Used this summer for 8 days on the Pacific Crest Trail, about 65 miles from Horseshoe meadows to Onion Valley, including summit of Whitney with the removable day pack. Very easy to load. Just remember to go smaller on the hip belt when doing extended hikes as you will want most of the weight supported on your hips when you loose weight. Hip belt still molds to your body unlike some of the smaller AG series like the Atmos. It is now my go to pack for winter trips. Can strap a winter tent to outside vertically and a foam pad on bottom. Water bladder sleeves on inside and outside of pack. Seperate sleeping bag compartment is nice. Use of Osprey rolltop waterproof pack liner and waterproof compression bag on sleeping bag make it impregnable gear protector to wet weather or creek immersions. Removable top pack makes it great for base camp trips like from Crab tree Meadows to Summit of Whitney. Love the external compression straps. This pack will easily hold a bear canister horizontally. This is my second Aether. Also get the grab bag and the alpine pocket. Also Osprey Rain cover for complete system. New hip pockets are handy. By the way I am 65 years old. Many multi day trips in the Rockies, Sierra's and the Ozarks.

Missouri Tortise

Springfield, MO

Great pack.. One thing not mentioned in features is the ability to attach a Daylite or Daylite Plus pack. The Daylite attachment loops are sewn in, beneath the "straight jacket" compression straps & let you add up to 20L of additional storage. A few more zippered pockets could be useful, but the Daylite attachment option is a good alternative.

Joe User

Earth, Terran System