Customer Reviews Osprey Stratos 24

I have used this pack in just about every way possible, and in almost every instance it has served me well. Daily commute on my bicycle and motorcycle. Travel, Hiking, general, I have camped with this back and gone on numerous day hikes and quick morning walkabouts. The fit is A+ and the pack makes the weight of the gear light on my body and allows me to retain mobility with heavy loads. This is more of a middle sized/function bag, that is not in the same size class as the lighter hydration focused day packs, nor is it in the size range of the trunk like full camping bags. The rigid wire that lines the back is very strong and will not bend, the Stratos is NOT packable and not made to compress vertically, but will slim down horizontally in relation to the amount of gear packed. The AirSpeed suspension is the greatest backpack feature ever created, I have piled on more weight than is imagined and the bag has always allowed air to pass through and cool me down. Keep in mind, AirSpeed pushes the pack about 1-2 inches away from your body to create the cushion. Durability: I have thrown this bag around for nearly every day of the last 3 years and while is shows signs of love, nothing has ever broken on it. Straps are all intact, plastic fasteners are all 100%, zippers work as new, outter shell has zero holes or rips. I have dragged this bag in dirt and on much more abrasive concrete numerous times. The amount of wind whip my poor pack has suffered while on my motorcycle is immense and yet despite daily rides not a single strap, pocket, or piece of cloth is frayed. Would I recommend this bag? Yes without question, I do this routinely when people see me with it. Would I buy this bag again? Yes, but I won't have to because it's a tank that will last forever.

Backpack was great. However it was someone else’s return. The paper tags attached appeared worn and the rain cover at the bottom of the bag is missing. Shame on Zappos for not checking their returns to make sure everything was included. Unfortunately I need the bag this weekend and was not able to take time to return it. So I have a bag that is not complete. Price of this bag should’ve been reduced for the lack of the rain cover.

Had the pack for about 1 year now and am very happy. Its is super comfortable for me. I've used it on day hikes in all sorts of weather with no issues. This is my second osprey pack and would certainly recommend them.

Used on 2 Grand Canyon Rim-2-Rim-2-Rim trips. And many day trips in the mountains. This pack does everything I could want. Perfect size for all your day-needs. Well organized and great placement of pockets. The side pockets are well designed for quick access to water bottles or snacks or headlights or phones or any number of items that you may desire. Great durability. Yes..... this pack is a bit heavier than a few other day-packs offered by Osprey and other manufacturers but the Straros offers an internal metal frame, excellent hip supports and a great suspension (with great airflow) that carries a load easier (less perceived effort) than other/lighter packs that generate less support.

I am a TD1 diabetic so I have to bring with me a lot of different things including Insulin pens, food, security stuff, tools, etc. It comes with a powerful whistle bytheway!

I first saw someone using this pack on my Everest Basecamp hike. It was used as a day pack because we had porters carrying our load. It seemed comfortable and has good capacity for the intended use. My current use is as a day pack for hiking to mountains near L.A area. Before getting Stratos 24, I first checked out Stratos 36. It turned out to be a larger pack which is actually closer to a 58L lightweight pack I already have, so I return it and got the Stratos 24. It is exactly the right size for my day hikes. I can put a 2L water bladder in it, plus food and extra clothing all in it and it still feeled comfortable to carry all day. I especially like the quick release hiking pole straps which I can put away or get the poles without removing the pack from my back. I saw some reviews about the Cons of this pack, so I'll mention below. (1) Yes, the opening to get the tube of the water bladder in/out of the pack is a little difficult to access. It takes a little wiggling to get it through, but we really only access it before or after the hike, so it's really no big deal. I examine the opening closely and think it can really be a more straight through slit without any concern of water getting into the pack. It is well covered already. (2) The pack lacks an outer "pouch" where you can quickly strap a jacket to the outside of the pack for access. Yes, I get that, but I don't have issue of using the inner bag for such storage during my hikes so far, and the inner bag keeps things clean anyway. (3) Water bladder is not included (compare to the Manta model). Well, I have more than one water bladder around over the years, so I don't miss that. (4) The outer compartment with vertical zipper is too small. This really depends how you load the pack and what you plan to put in that bag. I always keep my snacks/food in that compartment, and I load it first so I don't camp everything inside first and then feel it's too tight to use that compartment. Overall, I'm happy!

I'm a full time trail builder and I have used my Stratos 24 daily for 2 and a half years. I've also taken it on long day hikes in Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks. Will be taking it to Costa Rica in January. Thanks, Osprey. You guys never disappoint!

I always thought of these as over priced backpacks until a friend of mine put his on my back and adjusted all the straps. I wish I had tried one 5 years ago. As a person who wears a backpack DAILY..I have been missing out. Now I've owned mine for a year and I just recently (sept) hiked miles and miles in Washington state with it. The features I thought were unnecessary in the past I won't go without now lol. A real game changer..from motorcycle rides to mountains and waterfalls..osprey is the real deal.

I bought this pack a few years ago and have it has been with me through probably 500 miles of day hiking and several summits. I love the AG system on it and I think it is wonderful. It is comfortable for several hours of hiking and can carry a decent amount of stuff for day hiking. I usually carry 5 liters of water, some emergency gear, camera, food and 2 jackets and this was just right for that. I will probably continue to use this for several years.

I have own a Stratos 24 for 5 1/2 years and have hike over 3,000 miles with this pack in all seasons and I simply love it! My favorite feature is the Airstream Suspension, I'm not sure if I could ever hike with another style of suspension - its comfortable and cool on my back. The zipper pockets on the belt are very useful. I use the pole attachments on nearly ever hike. I could go on but won't bore everyone with my rave review. I have finally worn it out and am looking to buy a new day pack, My only wish would be for Osprey to bring back the Stratos 26, I could use 2 or 3 more liters in the winter. The Stratos 34 is just to big. Anyway I definitely would recommend this pack!

Excellent daypack with steel frame support, whistle, rain cover, hydration sleeve pocket, mesh side pockets and padded hip belt with additional two pockets. It also has pockets for goggles and keys in addition to main pocket. The only slight downside is that once I insert my fully filled 2L Camelbak insulated bladder, it eats up a bit of volume of the main compartment because the hydration sleeve is inside the bag due to steel frame. So I would say 24L capacity can become available entirely if bladder is not filled.

I have used this pack for two years on long dayhikes and snowshoeing in mountainous terrain. It's got a wide belt and rigid frame so the weight rides on your hips where it gelongs. The frame, straps and belt adjust in many ways. All the straps and compartments seem well thought out. Snowshoes and poles attach easily and securely. All the literature shows the hydration reservoir inside the bag (internal). But I slip the reservoir in between the mesh and the bag (external). It sits right against your back so air circulation is compromised but the weight balance is much better. It seems like a secret feature, partially but not fully designed into the bag. There's a little opening in the back of the main compartment, just right to thread the little support strap thru to hang external. But the strap is hard to unsnap in that position so I use a CamelBak reservoir which has an open hook (no need to unsnap). It's easy to remove/replace the reservoir when it's external, no need to go into the main compartment and pull out all your gear. I've used this configuration for a few hundred miles and it's the way to go. Overall, an excellent pack for many uses.

I've had this pack for about a year, taking it on 2-3 day hikes per month as well as a couple of trips to Disneyland. It's absolutely perfect for long day hikes as well as carrying a bunch of snacks, water, and jackets around a theme park. Seems like the other reviews cover the most important details of the pack, so I'll just talk about two aspects that set it apart from other packs: ventilated back and waist straps. The ventilated back keeps your back from getting sweaty and overheated. The waist straps are wider than those of all other packs I've seen, which distributes the weight more equally, making the straps more comfortable. The only negative to this pack is that the ventilated back structure makes it a bit heavier than other packs. But still, 10/10 would recommend.

Carried everything me and my girlfriend needed for the whole day and then some, and felt weightless throughout the trip. Great ventilation kept the back cool and the rain cover was nice to have when we needed it. Everything stayed dry!

Fantastic ventilation. Very comfortable. When you guys revamp this pack in few years, make the water bottle pockets stretch mesh like on the Talon series. Also, please include the sunglasses pocket from other packs in your range. Love the included rain cover, but the hydration sleeve should be closer to the back, not in the compartment that isn't even the closest to your back.

Pros: -keeps you cool -lots of features -ice tool loop -max load 25lbs -trekking pole attachment -hydration bladder pocket and tube routing -multi use pack -doesn't bounce when moving quickly -side pocket straps -colors (mine is orange) Cons: -only 1 ice tool loop -hard to load bladder -I have a hard time using the trekking pole attachment -not the lightest pack (2.75lbs) , due to all the features This is my go to bag for (New England) day hikes, winter hikes/jogs, icy adventures. It's great for any season. It houses my crampons, microspikes, ice axe, trekking poles, med kit, food and extra layers and other little things. I run hot so even in winter I like having the trampoline back feature. The torso adjustment lengthens by around 5". That's a must have for me. Even though it has some flaws I love all the features and the comfort. I really enjoy using this pack for a variety of activities. Highly recommended.

This really is a great little pack. The best ventilation I have seen, ensured a dry back after a 7 hour tramp. A rare and very pleasant surprise. The frame, suspension, compression straps and generous hip belt distributed the load extremely comfortably and it never felt heavy. While I have not yet used the integrated rain cover, it provides piece of mind knowing how well it works on my other Osprey packs. Good sized mesh side pockets and reasonable hip belt pockets proved very handy. The odd zip up front pocket not so much, it was difficult to zip up under load and would likely be useless with a really full pack. A stretchy mesh pocket would be far more use, so would some more straps and attachment points. Couple other top pockets are good, and the pole holder thingies front and rear are great. Fitting a 3L hydration bladder was fiddly and very difficult and can really only be done with an empty pack, though this is not uncommon for an internal bladder pocket. It also takes up a lot of space. Overall this is one of the nicest backpacks I have worn, very adjustable and incredibly comfortable the few weaknesses are quickly forgettable

The most comfortable backpack I have ever used. The Stratos 24 is great for hiking and bike commuting. On the bike I stow the belt buckle in the pockets on the hipbelt. A thin 15" laptop fits (very) snugly in the hydration sleeve. Mesh suspension is great for hot weather. Take it to work all week, on weekend bike to your local trail then hike/run -- does it all! Vertical zip pocket is really useful. Beautiful bag (especially in red), gets lots of compliments! Trade-offs: can't squish the bag into a tiny spot. Hipbelt can't be removed (but can be folded along the back while walking or biking). If you don't need suspension or hipbelt then buy a simpler bag. If you do, stop reading and buy it now!

Great for day hikes and so comfortable that I can forget it was on my back. Air mesh is fantastic for keeping my back cool. Good set of pockets in the right places and zippers that work. I use the pack for day hikes on Moderate to Strenuous hikes. Pack was easy to fit my 6'4" frame and does not bounce around on my back while hiking. I have two dislikes about the pack. 1) Others point this out too: it is hard to load my Platypus 2L water reservoir. 2) Hip pockets are small. I now have a system for loading my Platypus reservoir and moved smaller items into the hip pockets. If not for those two points the pack is a five star pack.

Osprey is the king, no doubt. I have a lot of their stuff but it seems that every single item I have is great with at least one big compromise or frustration. The (as of 2022) Stratos 24 is another great product with two problems. The good: Comfortable. Adjustable. Breathable back. Spacious. Rain Fly. Makes heavy loads feel lighter. Cool so far. Overall, you will like using it. The Problems: Why, Osprey, why do you make some of the holes that your hydration tube goes though big and easy on some packs and miserably small on others? Why? On the Stratos 24, the hole is so small that it is nearly impossible to get the mouth piece through. Oh, use the two-piece host you say. Yeah, I have that and it's still hard to do. Once in, the bend in the hose is terrible! My solution is probably to void the warranty and cut the dang thing opened. Photo attached!! Second, the pocket in the middle of the back is a novel idea that I guess, like the hydration hole, no one at Osprey tried using in the woods. You can only unzip it half-way down, at most, without spilling the contents of the pocket. This is a cool idea that is terrible in practice. Did any one actually test this in the wild? This thing is being used in preparation for two weeks in Glacier and a week in Zion and I'm skeptical about taking it. It may stay home while my old pack has all the fun. Look, I like Osprey stuff and I live with the ongoing issues that it seems every item has. But, they need a new product manager that will not allow a hydration hose hole to bend the host at a 90-degree angle and to be too small. Right? Three stars on what should be a five star pack.

Rubs as hip strap not placed well

I had one of these packs previously and loved it. I use it for day and one night weekend trips. I recently purchased the new 24 and am disappointed that they removed the sleeping pad straps. I would prefer not to upsize and have already used the pack so It looks like I will need to add some straps on my own for future use.

I've taken this pack on 4 serious day hikes in the white mountains. Pros. I pack heavy, the suspension system is AMAZING! Sorry but compared to any other pack on the market the rest of the positive features can be found on any back pack built for day hiking. Cons. 1. You can't reach your water bottles while wearing the bag. So you have to take your bag off to drink water. 2. Because of the side pocket issue this pack almost forces you to use a hydration bladder. 2 b. The hydration bladder cannot be refilled without emptying half your bag out. 3. The stow strap setup for trekking poles can't be used if you have a water bottle or anything large in the side mesh pocket. 4. The front pocket is just about useless if you already have a ton of stuff in the main compartment. They should just cut it off and replace the whole front unit with a mesh pocket for grab and go stuff like many brands are doing these days. If you guys read this, (Osprey) angle the water bottle pockets, cut the flat pockets off and re-equip with a mesh stuff it on the front. A few tweaks and I think more people would be happier with your product

Hip pads cover fabric is deteriorating quick. hydration pack is difficult to load unload/load as insert opening is so high up inside the bag and the other top pocket obstructs it. Also back supports descend below hip straps so they imbed themselves against my body and rubs painfully.. not satisfied!