In September 2013, We landed via a small aircraft in the Alaskan wilderness to take a three and a half week mountain expedition into the southeast state of the U.S.A. During the tour, the entire equipment and food was stored in a Osprey Xenith 105 backpack. Only specific climbing gear was transported in a separate stuff sack.
First impressions
Modern and elegant, were my impressions at first glance of the Osprey Xenith 105. It offers a unique design with its contemporary shape and innovative details. Compared to other trekking backpacks, I did notice however, that the synthetic outer buckles appeared to be somewhat fragile.
Construction and functionality of the Osprey Xenith 105
The distribution of the Osprey Xenith 105 and its compartments is extremely practical and functional in comparison to many other backpacks in this category. I found the zips via outside access to the main compartment especially convenient, as there was no need to open the backpack the conventional way using the top lid compartment. Another positive aspect was the externally mounted stretch-mesh front pocket, as it offered additional storage space and proved itself on our tour, extremely serviceable for wet and dirty clothes or to quickly have a rain jacket at hand.
Several large exterior pockets provide a good distribution of gear, meaning one always knows where something has been placed and eliminates the annoying task of searching in one single large compartment. The zip pockets on the waist belt are ideal for small essentials like mobile phone, passport and wallet. Not only does this allow quick access, at a glance you can always check whether the zips are still closed and valuables safely stowed away. The two sides mesh pockets, we used mainly for water bottles. Here, Osprey’s large capacity backpack is a bonus: In both pockets, three 0.5-litre bottles easily fit.
The trekking backpack put to the test – fit and weight distribution
When we were ready to finally start out on our trek, the backpack fully loaded and strapped on my back with its full 30kg capacity, I was struck by the tailored ergonomics of the back system. The comfort was particularly noticeable from the start – despite the enormous weight. The straps are well padded in all the right places and distribute the pressure as best as possible, alleviating any pressure points.
The only drawbacks of the Osprey Xenith 105, in my opinion, is the attachment of the top lid. The two straps that connect the main part of the trekking backpack with the head element are fixed well below the top of the main compartment. Since there is no way to fix these two straps to reach to the top, they easily slip sideways over it. This means that the top lid sits incorrectly on the main unit if the backpack is not bulging out over the top and the straps are above held by the protruding gear. Optically it looks unfortunate and has a negative effect on the balance of weight distribution when the top lid is also filled.
My conclusion on the Osprey Xenith 105
All in all my overall test review is a positive one. Apart from the somewhat impractical loops between the top lid and main compartment, the Osprey Xenith 105 absolutely proved itself on our Alaska tour. The heavy-duty Osprey model held to what it promised, and was a reliable companion – and will continue to be so on other tours!
General facts:
- Pack volume: 105 litres
- Weight: 2.7 kg (size L), 2.58 kg (Size M)
- Dimensions: 96 x 40 x 42 (L), 94 x 40 x 42 (M)
- Available colours: graphite grey
- Special features: top pocket with two compartments, zip pockets on the waist belt, large stretch side pockets, various compression straps, Stow-on-the-Go™ stretch-mesh front pocket, hydration system, ice-axe loops
More Info:
Osprey Xenith 105 backpack in the Bergzeit online shop
Buyer’s Guide to backpacks