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Why I chose the Osprey Ariel 65L
Before I started working at Wild Earth, I was heading off for my first overnight hike and had no idea where to start when buying gear. It was pretty daunting. The awesome staff helped me choose my pack, and I have to say that I'm in love with my Osprey Ariel 65L pack! Primarily, I chose this bag because it was the most comfortable. Years ago, I had a travel pack and knew the importance of being comfortable during long days on the trail with up to 25kg on my back.
I'm a bit of a bargain hunter, so I was trying to get the best bang for my buck and didn't want to spend a cent more than I needed to. After trying on several packs, I knew that the Ariel was the one for me when it came to a comfortable fit. The helpful staff made me see that it's worth paying a little more for quality and comfort. I believe it is one of the best hiking backpacks for women on the market in Australia. Since working at Wild Earth, I have sold many of these and have had plenty of positive feedback.
Over the last 4 years, we've had some amazing adventures together, beginning with the Three Capes walk in Tasmania and most recently the Milford Track in NZ.
My first hike was the Three Capes walk in Tassie. This was a practice run for me as I wanted to do the Overland Track but had no experience in overnight hikes.
All my gear fitted nicely in the Ariel 65L, and there was still some room for future trips where I'd also be lugging a tent and a sleeping mat.
Next up was The Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, where I particularly liked the loops and straps on the outside of the pack where I could hang my freshly washed underwear, swimmers, and shirt. It's a much more humid walk, and so my gear needed a wash, and it dried quickly hanging from my pack as I walked in the sunshine each day.
This pack withstood being dragged up the rocks on the beach where there is a bit of a climb, chucked on the sand and rocks all along the track, and hanging from the hooks at night so the mice didn't chew their way through.
How the Osprey Ariel 65L Handles Heavy Loads
Next was the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, and then onto The Overland Track in Tassie, where we spent 8 nights doing as many side trips as possible.
I was carrying a massive 25kg on this trip as I didn't have as much lightweight gear as I do now. I have to say that this pack was amazing with all that weight in it. I didn't know how heavy it was when we did the weigh-in. I asked the girls to take a photo, but not tell me how heavy it actually was until we finished.
Just about everyone else on the hike knew but me. LOL! As long as the harness was fitted properly on my waist, I barely registered the full weight of what I was carrying. The secret to a great overnight hiking backpack is to get it fitted correctly and make sure the weight is evenly distributed.
Recently I walked the Milford Track in torrential rain with water across the track up to my butt. I had the raincover on, but of course, the bag still got wet. Everything inside was in stuff sacks, so nothing actually got wet, but the bottom of my pack did have some water sitting in it, which is not surprising considering how deep it was.
When we got on the boat at the end, we could smell a wet dog. We then got on the bus and could smell the wet dog there as well. Suddenly, we realised we were the ones who smelled like wet dogs. Yep, my bag stank like it had never stunk before. That's to be expected after being wet through for 3 days.
Favourite Features of the Osprey Women's Ariel 65L pack
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Plenty of loops for hanging gear from
Top and Front loading for easy access to everything -
Waistband pockets for snacks
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2 elasticised pockets for water bottles
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Built-in safety whistle
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Comes with a raincover, which comes in handy both in the rain or as a cover to keep birds out of your pack
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Harness system built for a woman’s shape
Care and Cleaning of your Osprey Ariel pack
So far, I've only used my Osprey Ariel 65L for about 20 nights over 5 trips, but it still looks brand new. After each trip, I put some wool wash in the bath and let it soak and swish it around a little, then I rinse it and put it out in the sun to dry. It comes up smelling and looking clean again every time.
Would I buy the Osprey Ariel 65 pack again?
Hell yeah! Every chance I get, I'm spruiking the merits of the Osprey Ariel backpack. It is very durable, with plenty of pockets, and gear loops, and a comfy harness, so there is every chance I won't need to. So my initial investment will surely pay for itself over the coming years.
My Top 3 Hiking Essentials
After years of multi-day treks through rain, humidity, sand and rocky terrain, there are a few items I never hit the trail without. Other than the Ariel 65L, here are my top 3 hiking essentials:
Not sure what gear you need for your adventure? Chat with our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today, and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia in your next post.
