This is my first backpack. I tried it once so far and was very pleased with it. The construction is vey well thought and looks to be of excellent quality. The online chat service from this site helped me make my decision and I thank them.

I like all the little extras this bag offers- extra pockets on the bag, two top pockets with a mesh inner pocket on the top flap, two pockets on the waistband. It is a nice compact bag for short weekend hikes. Only one thing I don't like is the lack of divider between the sleeping bag compartment and the main compartment. This is a bit annoying (remove your bag and everything falls down to the bottom). Other than that, a great bag.

I'm a big fan of this pack. I felt like Osprey put a good design together and every feature has been thought through. The comfort level doesn't really change as your pour the weight on, It carrys like a dream wtih 30-40 lb. The volume limits how much you can carry more than the comfort does. I used it on a handful of weekends in Utah and a two week Argentinian Patagonia trip where it took everything I could throw at it.
I really like the waistbelt more than any other pack I've had or tried on. As a somewhat thin dude with boney hips I have a hard time finding packs that don't leave my hips hurting the next day. For the hip pads they use a thinner and more flexible foam than most other packs. It's designed to hug the hips instead.using a lazy design an just putting a buch of soft foam. The waistbelt also has small zippered pockest that I didn't really find that useful, they're bit enough to fit your keys (maybe a small digital camera would fit, but I was lugging around the SLR).
The back was comfy, it's a corragated closed cell pad. It comformed to my back shape well and rotated torsionally better than most (especially considering the size and load). The back breathed fine for me, but I'm not an overly sweaty guy so I can't really say how much better the Atmos is in that reguard. I didn't really notice the shoulder straps, which I guess means they were pretty comfy and it fit well enough to take most of the load just on the hips. One thing of note, all the foam in the pack is closed cell with mesh convering. The major advanatage of this is that it doesn't absorb your sweat, so you don't get that cold shock of disgustingness when you put your pack back on after a break. I liked this alot.
I thought the trekking pole stow and go system would be more of a gimmick than anything, but was pleasantly suprised to find it quite useful. They included a pack cover, which was nice of them but it immediately went on my gear shelf. Maybe I'll take it if I'm going out knowing I'm walking into a monsoon, but that's about the only use it'll get. It took up too much space for a pack of that volume. Not having to dig inside the pack for the water bladder was nice too, it's behind the back panel but not inside the pack. The the pack was fully loaded and stuffed, the pockets on the side didn't take 32 oz nalgenes too well, but were perfect for drying sweaty socks, trail mix, or the 20 oz target brand nalgene knockoff bottles. The stretchy pocket on the back is adequate for small stuff like a guidebook or some food, maybe a light rain shell. It's covienent, but didn't eat anywhere near the amout of stuff that the Atmos does.
All in all, the cons were very insignificant for me (and probably things good for other people) and the pros were way better than any other pack I could find. Before price is considered, this is a great pack. Realizing that it's cheaper than most high end packs makes it a steal. I should also note that I've used Osprey stuff before and it lasts. I'm still using my 7 year old Vertigo for climbing. The thing has been abused on a weekendly basis and is still going strong and has seen tons of abrasive rock. I look forward to this same quality with the Kestrel as well.

Just finished 25+ days on the Long Trail in Vermont with this pack. I have a 20.5" torso length and got the M/L. I purchased this pack to be a quiver of one, to handle most of my summer backpacking duties, and to be a backup pack to my marmot eiger 36 in the winter. And for the price, it seemed too good to be true.

Overall a sweet pack. Great for backpacking, and has the peripherals to handle winter hiking.I really like that the pack comes with the rain cover, something no backpacker should be without. The adjustable shoulder straps gives a good custom fit, and the hipbelt gives a nice comfortable load transfer (although the hipbelt straps are EXCESSIVELY LONG. You can either stow them with the provided elastic band or, as I did, trim them.) Hip belt pockets came in handy to carry my digital camera, pocket knife, and energy gels for thru-hiking. The pack has to external access pockets, one which I used to carry my tent and leave the tent stuff sack at home. The lid has two outside pockets and one inside one, good to store water treatment, rain gear, and toiletries. I enjoyed the simple rucksack style for thru hiking and backpacking.

BEST FEATURE: The quick stow for your trekking poles. When hitting some scramble sections of the Long Trail, I could compact my BD poles, quickly stow them without having to take my pack off. As soon as the terrain flattened out, I could quickly retrieve the poles again. A truly amazing feature on osprey packs.

Only downfall is that the pack itself is somewhat heavy. Perhaps a trade off for the price? I do have to admit though it did carry the weight quite well. Pack weight doesn't mean squat if it doesn't carry the load well.

If you want to only buy one pack for your outdoor adventures without spending a pretty penny, go with this guy.

I bought this pack last year and I love it. This pack is big enough that you could get 2 days out of it if you pack right. It's also small enough to carry on an airplane (which is the reason I bought it). Never checking a bag again!

ive used this back for a full summer and it is a great bag, more than enough pockets for storage, external hydration compartment is a plus, has a heavy duty waist strap to allow for heavy loads, also has waist pockets which is great for cameras/ipod. all the space needed for a long weekend excursion.

I'm about 5'10" and the M/L length was a great fit for the size of my torso. The cargo size--just under 3000 cu inches, is perfect for a light weight 4.5lb two person/three season tent, compressed 30 degree 800 down fill sleeping bag, stove, food, raingear, and other essentials for a couple days.

I used this pack for a long weekend backpacking in the southwest and it was perfect. I'm a 5'6 female and the S/M pack fit me very well which many packs, even women specific ones, don't do. The waist belt was great and the side pockets were big enough for me to store my somewhat bulky digital camera and gloves when the temperature rose.

This bag has all the answers. It has all the things that you see and like on a bunch of different bags all in one. really comfortable, easy with lots of organizing options, staying light. Osprey really got it right.

This pack is great with all of its features like the built in rain cover and numerous pockets. Not to mention the price.
Only bad thing is the adjustable torso was terrible. Atleast for tall people I am 6'2" with a 21.5" torso. I would not recommend this if you torso is over 19" as the shoulder straps loose their 90 degree angle which makes the pack put all of the weight on you shoulders.
If your torso is under 19" Buy away. This is a great pack for you "small" people