Each week the BDN Maine Outdoors team takes a look at different gear you might need for your next outdoor adventure. For this week’s Gear Bag, we looked at the women specific Osprey Aura 50 AG hiking backpack.
What is it? The Osprey Aura 50 AG hiking backpack is a bag made specifically for a woman’s frame that Doug Farrell, assistant store manager of Epic Sports, suggests for women looking to get into backpacking.
Why do I need it? The 50 liter pack is an entry-level pack that would be great for a two-day or an overnight trip. The pack weighs in just under four pounds, but can hold anywhere from 25 to 40 pounds. Osprey just updated their suspension system with a whole new harness and hip belt on the packs to help distribute the weight more evenly. To make sure a pack fits you correctly, you want to make sure the hip belt fit your hits and sit fairly high on your waist, this helps to distribute the weight on your hips instead of your shoulders. You also want to check to make sure the torso length fits. Once you put the pack on you want to make sure there isn’t too much excess space between the tops of your shoulders and your shoulder straps, meaning the bag is too big for you, or that the straps are pulled too far up, meaning the bag is too small for you.
How much does it cost? The Osprey Aura 50 AG costs $230.
Where do I find it? The Osprey Aura 50 AG is available at Epic Sports in Bangor.
