Out of all of the packs that I have owned, the Osprey Volt 60 is my personal favorite hands down. With its durable construction, good looks, and well-planned features, I might never need another pack again.
The Volt 60 also offers an adjustable torso for those that need to adjust the fit and makes it a great pack for a young backpacker, as it will be able to grow with them. Osprey also makes a woman’s version of the Volt called the Viva!
Pros
- The external hydration bladder pocket is easy to access. I had no problems placing a 3.0L water bladder into the pack, even when the pack was already stuffed to the gills with gear.
- Very comfortable and it is highly adjustable. As my load shifted on the trail, I could easily reach all of the straps and loosen or tighten them as needed to fine-tune the fit.
- The pack seemed to never run out of room. I could fit enough gear for a multi-night backpacking adventure or even an overnight ski mountaineering trip. The side compression straps were sturdy enough to secure my AT skis, which weigh 9lbs 10oz (including boots), on each side. I could also fit my snow shovel and ski helmet along with all of my usual overnight backpacking gear inside the pack.
- The top pocket is gargantuan! I loved being able to fit all sorts of miscellaneous items into the top pocket for easy access. I kept my lucky sun hat, my favorite beanie, gloves, sunscreen, headlamp, flask, knife, and energy bars in the top pocket and it was barely half-full. Having the zipper against the back of my head also made accessing the contents very easy, even with the pack on my back.
- The sleeping pad straps are thoughtfully placed on the pack. With a pad attached, the pack will stand on its own when set on the ground.
On the fence
- I have a 30” waist and consequently I had to cinch the hip belt almost all the way down to get a snug fit. This left the straps hanging down quite a bit, so I just stuffed them in my pants pocket to keep them out of the way. A minor annoyance.
Cons
- While the hip pockets are nice and big, closing them one-handed was impossible. It appeared that the zipper was at the wrong angle, and without grasping the back of the zipper with one hand while pulling with the other (which required some odd contortions), I could never get the zipper to close.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the market for an overnight pack, the Volt 60 is an excellent option. Not only is it a great price at only $179, but also there are numerous features typically not found on a pack of this price point. This pack will surely serve you well for many years.
Tech Specs
Manufacturer: Osprey
Date available: Currently Available
Manufacturer’s Website: www.ospreypacks.com
MSRP: $179.00
Listed Weight: 3lb 9oz
Size: 3,661 cubic inches
Materials: 210D Nylon double rip stop & 600D poly
Warranty info: Osprey will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect in our product – lifetime warranty
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