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Women looking for a versatile pack for weekend trips, canyoneering, or extended trips with a go-light emphasis will certainly appreciate the Osprey Ariel 55 backpack. A trimmer version of its big sister, the Ariel 65, this backpack offers the same great harness / suspension system but in a smaller version. If you're budget conscious about your pack purchase, you don't have to settle for a generic fit. The editors at Backpacker magazine would agree, as they tagged the Ariel 65 (the 55's big sister) a Best Buy in their 2006 Gear Guide. The Osprey Ariel 55 women's backpack features the IsoForm custom moldable hipbelt that uses heat to achieve a precise fit. These hipbelts come in four women's specific sizes. Furthermore, the Isoform shoulder harness is available in four sizes, also contoured to fit women best. The pack to body surface of both the hipbelt and shoulder harness are entirely seamless, reducing the chance of pressure points developing. Next, the AirScape suspension, a carefully assembled sandwich consisting of an internal framesheet with single aluminum stay, ventilated rubber foam backpanel, and peripheral 7075 AL rods evenly transfers the weight to the hipbelt and shoulder harness for a terrific carry. The Osprey Ariel 55 backpack offers a number of useful features. A highlight is the two-way stretch woven front pocket, great for stowing almost any piece of camping equipment imaginable.
very comfortable
It served me well, two years in the Peace Corps, 8 day dessert hike and 5 day canyon hike. It holds up well sliding against rocks, light and sturdy. Forces you to pack efficiently. Even combats airport wear and tear with my 4.5 month backpacking African journey.
Outstanding Fit
I love my Osprey Ariel 55! I just completed a section hike on the PCT with it and was just as impressed as I was when I bought it on the CT in 2006. It's just the right size for me. The only thing I've done to it was buy a smaller hip belt, because I lost weight and the one of the pack was too big. It protected my body and back quite well, as I had the misfortune to fall twice, and roll down the hills.
Great pack!
I bought my Ariel pack about a year ago and have been very happy with it. I was reluctant to let go of my 15 year old external frame Kelty that I loved, but after my first trip with the Ariel was amazed at how comfortable this pack rode.
Scrambling around on rocks and uneven areas is no problem, the pack remains close (but not uncomfortably so) and did not throw me off balance at all.
The hip belt is very comfortable, it expands easily and I was impressed with how much the 55 could hold. The fit is perfect, and it's very sturdy. I highly recommend it!
very comfortable
It served me well, two years in the Peace Corps, 8 day dessert hike and 5 day canyon hike. It holds up well sliding against rocks, light and sturdy. Forces you to pack efficiently. Even combats airport wear and tear with my 4.5 month backpacking African journey.
Outstanding Fit
I love my Osprey Ariel 55! I just completed a section hike on the PCT with it and was just as impressed as I was when I bought it on the CT in 2006. It's just the right size for me. The only thing I've done to it was buy a smaller hip belt, because I lost weight and the one of the pack was too big. It protected my body and back quite well, as I had the misfortune to fall twice, and roll down the hills.
Great pack!
I bought my Ariel pack about a year ago and have been very happy with it. I was reluctant to let go of my 15 year old external frame Kelty that I loved, but after my first trip with the Ariel was amazed at how comfortable this pack rode.
Scrambling around on rocks and uneven areas is no problem, the pack remains close (but not uncomfortably so) and did not throw me off balance at all.
The hip belt is very comfortable, it expands easily and I was impressed with how much the 55 could hold. The fit is perfect, and it's very sturdy. I highly recommend it!
I Adore This Backpack!
I got this pack as a gift before embarking on a 75 day backpacking trip around Europe. It expanded easily when I crammed it full of souvenirs, the zippers and stitches held strong against all of my abuse and I'm sure it will serve me well on many future trips :)
The best part of this pack is the Airscape Suspension for the back. It keeps the pack from being entirely against your skin and getting all sweaty. I actually wore my pack with a terrible back sunburn (never fall asleep on the beach!) without much irritation.
Great Osprey Backpack from Altrec!
This backpack fits great and is pretty light. It is easy to adjust the shoulder straps and the waist belt as well. I called Altrec as I was not sure what size would fit my frame and was delighted with how helpful they were. I am 5'8" and got the medium size which was perfect. The backpack arrived on time! Thank you Altrec. Keep up the great work.
Step 1 - Pack Sizing
All Osprey packs, save the transit bags, are available in multiple sizes to fit a range of torso lengths. To find your torso length, have a friend measure your back along the spine from the level of your iliac crest (the top of your hipbones) to your C7 (the knobby bone at the base of your neck).
Step 2 - Hipbelt Sizing
To determine your hipbelt size measure around your hips, not your waist. A properly fitted hipbelt rides centered over the hipbones and needs to be very snug; after all it will be carrying the bulk of the pack's weight. The padded portion should wrap well around your hips, leaving a gap of 3 to 6 inches between the tips of the pads when securely tightened.
| Torso Length | Pack Size | Hip Measurement | Hipbelt Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| > 22" | XLarge | > 36" | XLarge |
| 20-22.5" | Large | 33-37" | L or WL |
| 18-20.5" | Medium | 30-34" | M or WM |
| 16-18.5" | Small | 27-31" | S or WS |
| 14-16.5" | XSmall | < 28" | WXS |
| Torso Length | Pack Size | Hip Measurement | Hipbelt Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| > 20" | Large | > 36" | XLarge |
| 18-20.5" | Medium | 33-37" | L or WL |
| 18.5"- | Small | 30-34" | M or WM |
| - | - | 27-31" | S or WS |
| - | - | < 28" | WXS |
| Torso Length | Pack Size | Hip Measurement | Hipbelt Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | > 36" | XLarge |
| > 20" | Large | 33-37" | L or WL |
| 18-20.5" | Medium | 30-34" | Medium |
| < 18.5" | Small | 31" | Small |
| Torso Length | Hip Measurement | Pack Size |
|---|---|---|
| > 20" | > 33" | Large |
| 18-20.5" | 30-34" | Medium |
| < 18.5" | < 31" | Small |
| Torso Length | Hip Measurement | Pack Size |
|---|---|---|
| > 18" | - | M/L |
| < 18.5" | - | S/M |
| Torso Length | Hip Measurement | Pack Size |
|---|---|---|
| > 20" | > 33" | Large |
| 18-20.5" | 30-34" | Medium |
| < 18.5" | < 31" | Small |
ErgoPull
Nearly all Osprey hipbelts use an exclusive ErgoPull design. It creates mechanical advantage to provide extra leverage in cinching down the hipbelt. The ErgoPull design also draws tension along the top and bottom of the belt, not through the center, so it distributes pressure more evenly over the padding and relieves direct pressure on the hipbones.
Step 3 - Harness
Osprey Crescent & Luna, Aether & Ariel and Waypoint packs offer interchangeable shoulder harnesses. Harness sizing usually corresponds to pack size, but your best bet is to try one on. A properly fit harness should terminate 2 to 3" beneath the armpit. Webbing should not touch the body. By breaking the hook and loop connection and sliding the harness up and down the backpanel the torso length can be adjusted up to 3". (see illustration).
| Men's | SM | MD | Large | XLarge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's | WXS | WSM | WM | WL |
Step 4 - Overall Fit
Once you have the correct size pack, harness and hipbelt, and the torso length set properly, it's time to put some weight in the pack (20 to 30 pounds of well distributed weight will do) and dial in the fit. First, snug down the hipbelt and harness. Connect the sternum strap (A) - position it about 2 inches below your collarbones and snug it down lightly. Finally, tighten the load lifter straps to draw the load solidly against your back. The lift straps (B) should come off your shoulders at a 45 to 60 degree angle in Osprey's ReCurve and Ethereal Suspension packs. In other models these straps serve more as compression straps and ride flatter; they may even angle downwards.
In a good fit, there should be no pressure points and no gaps between your body and the pack. With Osprey's ReCurve packs, final tweaking may involve custom fitting the aluminum stays to your back.
Guava and Havasu Blue. Available sizes, while supplies last, include size small, size medium and size large: s, m, l.
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Free Standard Shipping is available on purchases of $45 or more within the Contiguous U.S.. To receive FREE Shipping simply choose the FREE Shipping option during checkout. Exceptionally large/heavy items, such as a kayak or some Special Order items, may require an additional Handling Charge as noted on each product page.
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