Osprey Luna 70

I LOVE this pack. This is the first women's pack I've ever owned and I'm never going back.

YEARS of sore hips are a thing of the past as I now wrap my womanly hips in a decadent, curved waist belt. The shoulder straps are narrower and actually fit my shoulders. My Osprey hugs my back thanks to its curved suspension system which results in a much more stable, better distributed load. There is even a kind of 'pocket' right behind my head which enables me to look up without banging into my pack.

The shoulder harness and waist belt are both detachable, interchangeable & come in several sizes so getting the perfect fit is easy no matter what your shape and size. The detachable daypack is a really nice feature which I use often. There is a separate sleeping back compartment and side zips so you don't have to pull everything out from the top of your pack in order to reach something in the middle or the bottom. The lid is also removable for use as a day pack and has two compartments, one for maps and small items and another for a hydration system.

The construction of Osprey packs is absolutely bomber. The fabric can withstand the harshest lashing slide alder can dish out and the zippers are virtually indestructible. The buckles are high quality and never fail.

I've packed 6 days worth of gear including climbing gear into this pack and it carries like a dream up to about 65lbs. At 70+ I could feel the suspension struggling but then so was I! No one who fits this pack should be carrying that much anyway. I've been training for the upcoming season with 50lbs of water in a smaller pack but it was making my back ache so I switched it to my Osprey today. WHAT a difference. Even though the pack probably weighs 4lbs more than the smaller pack it felt about 15lbs lighter. At around 6lbs, you can find a lighter pack but I find that this pack fits me so well the extra weight goes unnoticed. (Apparently the 2006 models are lighter)

My one and only complaint about the Luna is that there are no Velcro ice axe holders. It does work well putting the ice axe in the compression straps but I would rather have a separate strap so it doesn't fall off every time I need to get in there.

Fitting this pack is simple. They come in XS to L sizes for both the pack and the hip belt. The shoulder harness comes in XS - L so you can mix and match. If you have narrow shoulders and wide hips for example, you can get a small shoulder harness and a medium hip belt. The newer models come with heat moldable hip belts which should make it even more comfortable.

For comfort, space, fit and practical use this pack really can't be beat. It's a bit pricy compared to other packs but worth every penny and then some.