Osprey Europe Hikelite 26

Product Information

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A place where we regularly post stories of our own adventures alongside gear reviews and other outdoor news. I find that it’s really comfortable to wear and that it’s also very easy to adjust the straps to give me a good fit. This helps to prevent the excessive back sweating and bad posture you can get with packs which hug the back too closely. Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are a family of human-made, fluorine-containing chemicals. The outer pocket has a clip for your keys and enough room for a mobile phone, charger, hat, gloves and a few small bits and pieces.

Hikelite 26 features an AirSpeed™ suspended mesh backpanel, helping to keep you cool and comfortable when you’re out for a hike.

A fixed BioStretch harness uses elastic binding that delivers maximum flexibility without compromising stability for dynamic movement when scrambling or hiking steep ascents. As someone who has had more than a few odd glances for lugging around a mammoth pack, this makes a welcome change. It’s nowhere near as luxurious as the memory foam you see on heavier load luggers, but this pack isn’t meant to be carrying that kind of weight.

The shoulder straps are broad, soft and well-enough cushioned to not dig into soft bust tissue, and the shape neatly sits outside the breasts rather than across. I’ve been testing this pack over the last few months on lower level and shorter walks where full winter gear hasn’t been necessary. Designed for easy access, in theory it’s a good idea, but in practice I find I’m too worried to keep anything inside it in case it falls out. There are a huge number of pockets on the Osprey, with a zipped valuables/sunglasses pocket at the top, two huge stretch mesh side pockets for whatever you want to stick in them, plus a roomy and versatile front patch pocket which fastens with the pack’s upper compression straps, making it ideal for storage of all sorts of bits and pieces like a waterproof jacket or fleece when not in use. Little did he know, he would eventually stitch together the legacy of meticulous craftmanship for which Osprey is widely renowned.

The sternum straps helps a bit and can be adjusted up and down which is particularly useful for women, it also has an emergenvy whistle on the buckle. Rather than a webbed pouch or zipped compartment, this is a pocket which is held in place by two compression straps. I’ve been using this pack for 8 months now, and in that time I’ve clocked up close to a hundred km, hill walking in the Peak District, Snowdonia and in Scotland and I’ve used it on numerous camping trips too, so I’ve already got a lot of use from this backpack. The main compartment is hydration compatible, or you can use the bladder slot for a laptop if you’re using it to commute.Its made of the same material as the other Osprey rain covers so should turn a few showers, but don’t rely on it to protect critical electronics, dry bags are best for that. The side pockets are large enough to accommodate a large bottle of water without worrying about it falling out and are positioned as such that you can reach for them without taking the pack off, provided you have decent shoulder mobility. If you reject certain cookies or similar technologies, this may result in the display of less relevant content or some functions of our services may not be available. The only bag you’ll need for an active outdoor lifestyle, the Hikelite epitomises functionality with a long list of mountain-ready features.