![]() This is pretty unique in the daypack market-very few designs have the open space behind the mesh to create that kind of airflow. Like many of its backpacking cousins in the Osprey lineup, the Stratos uses a mesh backpanel to keep your back as dry as possible. Depending on your needs, the Stratos’s weight can be the reason to avoid it, but the extra ounces deliver excellent comfort, back ventilation, and features. But all of those packs are missing the Stratos’s sturdy metal frame, which is the big difference-maker. Even Granite Gear’s much larger Crown2 38 beats it in weight by 8 ounces. ![]() ![]() For reference, Osprey’s popular Talon 22 is much lighter at 2 pounds 1 ounce (for the S/M size), Gregory’s Inertia 25 is 1 pound 9.4 ounces, and CamelBak’s Fourteener 26 is 2 pounds 5 ounces. The Stratos 24 tips the scales at 2 pounds 12 ounces, which makes it one of the heaviest daypacks among those with similar mid-20-liter capacities. There are downsides to the design-the frame and features make it heavy-but purely from a comfort perspective, the Stratos is a true standout. The solid structure and suspended backpanel also keep the pack from drooping under a heavy load, and you never really feel what’s inside the bag along your back. The mesh backpanel conforms nicely to your back, the padding is downright plush for its capacity, and the metal frame puts the weight mostly on your hips (most daypacks carry more on your shoulders). It’s essentially a shrunken-down version of a deluxe backpacking model-even its max load capacity of 25 pounds isn’t far off from some overnight bags. In terms of carrying comfort, the Osprey Stratos 24 is as good as it gets in the daypack market. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best daypacks. Below we break down our experiences with the Stratos 24. It carries heavy loads comfortably, keeps your back ventilated with its suspended mesh panel, and has tons of pockets and features for organization. We’ve been testing the latest Stratos 24 since its release in 2017 and have been very happy overall. We’ve owned multiple variations over the years, and all have delivered nearly flawless performance through extended, rough use. ![]() Osprey is a leader in the pack market, and their Stratos line is an all-around favorite for day hiking. ![]()
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