After 20 years with our old backpacking backpacks it was time to trade them in. And since hiking backpacks are such an important and integral piece of any outdoor hiking gear we were willing to put in the time and effort to properly research which packs would be best for us.
Part of this research meant checking out reviews from other wearers and going to stores to try on different brands for both fit and comfort. I don't believe that there is any single pack that is best for all body types or all hikers. Hiking backpacks are as individual as hiking boots and trekking poles. What fits for one doesn't always fit for another.
After all our research was done we knew that we wanted to stick with the Osprey brand of hiking backpacks. They have a lot of choices within their lineup of backpacks and it was partly due to their commitment to quality and their All Mighty Guarantee that had us committed to their backpack choices.
The history, in brief, of Osprey really does speak to their continued commitment to quality. The company started out shortly after 1974 when Mike Pfotenhauer, at the age of 16 sewed his first backpack for himself. This after years of hiking with his family wearing uncomfortable and ill fitting backpacks. He then started creating custom fitted, made to order backpacks for fellow hikers.
By 1987 he was selling his backpacks at the wholesale level and he was very involved in both the design and production quality of each backpack.
In 2009 the company came out with their All Mighty Guarantee which meant free repairs on any pack. "Any product, any reason, any era". This means that no matter when you bought your Osprey and no matter what has happened to it, they'll repair it free of charge and if they can't repair it, they'll replace it for you. Now who can beat that?
Mike Pfotenhauer also believes that "Osprey is, in large part, about exceptional relationships between the pack and wearer, between the pack and its makers and between the company and its staff".
What we also like about their packs is the custom molding of the hipbelts and the adjustable torsos. These are two features that make wearing their backpacking backpacks so much more comfortable than other brands.
Osprey backpacks are well worth considering for any type of hiker whether you are new to the sport or in need of replacing your backpack.
Happy Hiking!
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