Osprey Atmos AG 65L Men's Backpacking Backpack, Black L-XL

Why it's worth it

The Atmos AG 65 hangs a taut mesh panel between you and the load, so air moves across your back instead of pooling there. It's not light, but it carries a weekend's gear comfortably and Osprey repairs it for as long as you own it.

The suspended mesh back panel is the whole reason to buy this pack. Osprey's Anti-Gravity panel curves away from your spine and cuts back contact by roughly 60% compared with a foam design. Switchback Travel's reviewers estimate that suspended mesh reduces perceived back moisture by about 40% once it's above 70°F. If your hiking season is humid, or you sweat through shirts on climbs, that's the difference you'll actually feel.

Load transfer is the other half of the story. The mesh wraps around your hips too, so the weight settles onto your pelvis instead of hanging off your shoulders. Owners moving up from older, simpler packs describe 30-pound loads that stop registering after the first mile. Backpacker Magazine gave its Editor's Choice award for multi-day packs to the Atmos AG 65, citing ventilation and load transfer above 50 liters.

From our review of 5 hiking backpacks, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +The suspended mesh back panel is the whole reason to buy this pack
• +Load transfer is the other half of the story
• +The organization is sensible rather than clever
• +Sixty-five liters is more pack than a lot of people need, and that's fine

What to know

• –It's heavy. At roughly five pounds empty, it weighs about double the Granite Gear Crown 3, and every ounce of that is frame,…
• –The suspended panel has a real trade-off