A lighter multi-day pack for thru-hiking...
I've been looking for a new pack for long trail trips such as the Te Araroa. I needed carry capacity combined with a reasonable weigh and cost, while still being rugged enough for New Zealand conditions.
After much searching and weighing of options I decided on the Osprey Volt 75 pack. I like this bag as it is a fairly basic design and forgoes many of the redundant features and unnecessary weight of other packs of this size and capacity.
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| My other heavy load carrier...my Vaude Accent 65+10 pack, here on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track |
After much searching and weighing of options I decided on the Osprey Volt 75 pack. I like this bag as it is a fairly basic design and forgoes many of the redundant features and unnecessary weight of other packs of this size and capacity.
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| Osprey Volt75: front view...note the gear loops and tie down points on the front |
Osprey once again
I went with Osprey once again, I really like their packs I think they may be my go to pack brand from now on. They have nice harnesses and their weigh tends to the light side. I have two now and both are super comfortable to wear even when loaded to the gills with gear.
My other Osprey pack is the Atmos 50 AG I posted about a couple of weeks ago. The Volt and the Atmos are good gear...both were brought in the Bivouac end of summer sale!
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| Jon wearing the Atmos 50 AG on the way back from Carrington Hut, Feb 2018 |
My other Osprey pack is the Atmos 50 AG I posted about a couple of weeks ago. The Volt and the Atmos are good gear...both were brought in the Bivouac end of summer sale!
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| The Osprey Atmos 50 AG |
The Osprey Volt 75
Osprey packs are size specific, abet with a small range of adjustment possible to fit them to the individual tramper. My Volt is a large size, these also come in small and medium.
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| Osprey Volt 75 in use, image from YouTube |
The back panel is adjustable to allow the harness to fit correctly to someone with a long torso between 43 and 51cm long. I know this because there is a label on the bag saying so....
One cool feature is the integrated safety whistle built into the sternum strap.
One cool feature is the integrated safety whistle built into the sternum strap.
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| Osprey Volt75: details of the harness set up, note the integrated whistle |
The Volt has a removable floating lid which you could jerry rig as a small day pack if needed. I have a light weight sil-nylon bag from Sea to Summit for this purpose so it is not a feature I will use.
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| The Sea to Summit ultra sil-nylon pack |
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| Osprey Volt75: more detail of the harness and back panel |
There are two mesh pockets on the side of the pack for your water bottles and one 'kangaroo' pouch on the front in this same mesh. I would really prefer a hardier material but you takes what you can get.....
Additionally there are two generously sized pouches on the hip belt, they are big enough for a small camera, phone, GPS or a couple of snacks.The hip belt is fully adjustable and the belt padding can be sized to any waist between 30 and 50"
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| Osprey Volt75: side view showing mesh side pockets, harness setup |
This is a single compartment pack, it has a removable divider between the bottom and top of the pack for a sleeping bag/bear canister but I will use this as a single entry pack. I carry my gear in a plastic pack liner so I have no need for a separate lower compartment.
There are side compression straps top and bottom to allow you to secure your load.
Here is a great review of the Volt 75 on the US based Section hiker website.
Here is a great review of the Volt 75 on the US based Section hiker website.
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| Osprey Volt75: side profile, note pockets and compression straps |
There is also a red colour available in New Zealand if that takes your fancy, I would have brought one in this colour but unfortunately they didn't have any...
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| Osprey Volt 75: alternate New Zealand colour- Carmine red |
I think that red and grey colour scheme is pretty cool myself...
Here are some specifications;
Weight: 1.72 kgs
Capacity: 75 litres
Material:210D Nylon, poly coating inside
Harness: Size specific (S/M/L)
Price: $254 NZ dollars on sale
Colour choices: Graphite and Carmine Red/Graphite
Below is my typical load of gear carried for any multiday trip...just add food and water and this is all I carry for trips from 3-14 days!!!
If I was thru hiking this is actually all the gear I would need to sustain myself for several months...
Here are some specifications;
Weight: 1.72 kgs
Capacity: 75 litres
Material:210D Nylon, poly coating inside
Harness: Size specific (S/M/L)
Price: $254 NZ dollars on sale
Colour choices: Graphite and Carmine Red/Graphite
Below is my typical load of gear carried for any multiday trip...just add food and water and this is all I carry for trips from 3-14 days!!!
If I was thru hiking this is actually all the gear I would need to sustain myself for several months...
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| My Volt 75l with a multiday load of gear...good for months if required! |
The Volt 75l in action...
I used my new Volt pack this last weekend on my second trip to Packhorse Hut to act as the volunteer hut warden. I didn't get a lot of photos of the pack in action but it performed very well.
The pack was comfortable to carry even loaded down with my stuff and 3 kgs of extra gear DOC needed transported to the hut. The harness was easy to adjust and overall I was really impressed with the bag.
Georgia said it looked cool, so that is all the praise you need really.....!!!!
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| Georgia sitting next to the Volt 75 on the way to Packhorse Hut |
The pack was comfortable to carry even loaded down with my stuff and 3 kgs of extra gear DOC needed transported to the hut. The harness was easy to adjust and overall I was really impressed with the bag.
Georgia said it looked cool, so that is all the praise you need really.....!!!!
The pack performed well on my Travers-Sabine Circuit Tramp. It is easy
to use and adjust, fits well and was super comfortable to carry.
I carried it for 80+ kilometres loaded to the top with food for an 8 day trip and it carried the weight magnificently. Even the 1000 meter climb over Travers Saddle didn't cause any back fatigue.
Highly recommended obviously.
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| The Volt 75 on the way to Speargrass Hut, March 2018 |
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| The Volt 75 and Pole, trekking, expedient, wood, Series II in the Travers Valley 2018 |
I carried it for 80+ kilometres loaded to the top with food for an 8 day trip and it carried the weight magnificently. Even the 1000 meter climb over Travers Saddle didn't cause any back fatigue.
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| Carrying the Osprey Volt to Speargrass Hut, 2018 |
Highly recommended obviously.
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| Me carrying the Volt on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track in 2018 |
