Best Osprey Backpacks for Women (Day Pack, Hiking, Travel)

Looking for the best women’s Osprey backpack? Osprey packs dominate the travel and hiking backpack market, and now they make some of the best day packs and hiking backpacks on the market. This isn’t by chance, as they have crafted some of the best backpacks backed by an All Mighty Guarantee.

Osprey has quickly grown to keep up with demand, launching many backpacks for female travelers.  It leaves many ladies wondering how to pick the best Osprey Backpacks for women. Let’s dig into the best Osprey hiking backpacks, day packs, and more.

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Best Osprey Backpacks for Women

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Osprey Hiking Backpacks

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Women’s Osprey Backcountry Backpacks

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Osprey Aura AG

The Osprey Aura AG is the gold standard of multiday backpacks. It’s loved for its versatility, comfort, fit, and durability. This pack has faithfully served women for millions of miles underfoot. It’s because of Osprey’s AntiGravity System, which feels great on your back.

This is another top-loading Osprey backpack specifically made for women making it one of the best travel backpacks for women on this list. Designed for the traditional backpacker or those on a hiking adventure, you can’t go wrong with the Aura. It’s not a lightweight hiking pack, but one built for maximum space and comfort.

The back panel is made of mesh for ventilation, which adds to the comfort and fit. I love how the harness can be fine-tuned for any sized woman. This pack has several compartments for an organization, including space at the bottom for a sleeping bag. I also love that the top compartment can be removed if you don’t need the space and prefer a more compact bag.

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Osprey Kyte

The Osprey Kyte hiking backpack is much more affordable than the top-of-the-line Osprey Aura. It’s an exceptional pack full of practical features for female hikers. Its size may be too small for a long thru-hike, but 46 liters should be more than enough for most trips into the backcountry. The backpack is also available in 36L and 55L designs.

It’s a super comfortable pack built on the Osprey backpack LightWire suspension system, which transfers weight from the harness to the hip belt. The frame design allows for excellent airflow and keeps your back pretty cool.

I’d recommend utilizing a reservoir with this backpack, as the side pockets are inaccessible on your back. Another downside to the pack is that the top “brain” of the backpack is not removable. However, it is feature-rich with a rain cover, trekking pole straps, ice ax loops, and sleeping bag straps. These combined easily make it one of the best hiking backpacks for women for the price.

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Osprey Ariel Pro 65L Backpack

Best Multi-Day Hiking Backpack for Women

The Osprey Ariel is one of the most expensive packs to make this list. The Airel was an old classic when it came to hiking backpacks. However, as new lightweight materials hit the market and more hikers want lightweight bags, Osprey revamped the Ariel and shaved off over a pound and a half from the original weight. It’s a backpack designed for technical backcountry expeditions.

The back excels at backpacking trips abroad or more intense hiking trips. The NanoFly fabric, antigravity back technology, hip belt, and shoulder harness set this bag apart. Osprey’s anti-gravity system adds some weight, but the suspension enables you to easily carry heavier loads. It’s easy to customize the fit for any woman’s frame through several adjustments.

Once you have fit dialed in, the backpack is ready to tackle any objective. It has all the features for technical expeditions, such as dual ice axe loops and compression straps. The top brain can be removed for a streamlined approach, while an internal flap cover provides interior protection. It’s an exceptional bag that costs $400, so one should expect that.

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Osprey Lumina

Best Osprey Ultralight Backpack

This is Osprey’s answer to the wide range of ultralight packs popping up everywhere. The bag weighs less than 2 lbs while providing an impressive metal frame. Ultralight backpacks are best suited for experienced hikers who are well-versed in packing and have ultralight/small gear.

For most, it will leave them wanting more features and space while only shaving off a few pounds. When overpacked, the reduced suspension system can hurt the shoulders. Like most Osprey packs, it has a solid construction, and the NanoFly fabric is durable enough to withstand harsh conditions.

Despite its lightweight build, the bag is surprisingly robust, and the straps sit nicely on your shoulders and back. The vented back ensures you don’t overheat when carrying the pack. If you want to keep it light and simple, we highly recommend the Lumina.

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Best Osprey Day Packs for women

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Osprey Tempest 20

Osprey’s Tempest 20 is our best hiking backpack for day trips. It’s an excellent solution for fast and light day hikes, mountain biking, or peak bagging. It’s got some nifty features for a day pack, such as an ice tool loop, helmet clip, trekking pole attachment, and an expandable mesh pocket.

The AirScape® back panel works well to allow heat to escape when working hard. Along with comfortable shoulder straps, the hip belt and sternum strap provide excellent support with weight. It’s very comfortable, and I’ve never felt discomfort on a long day.

It has excellent organization, too, with a dual-zippered interior pocket. The external mesh pocket is most useful, which I’ve used for everything from a jacket to a climbing harness or lunch. The backpack lacks a rain fly, so that will be an additional purchase if you regularly have inclement weather. Its frame is also short, which may be a problem for tall women.

My only gripe with the backpack is the external hydration reservoir sleeve. Its location between the shoulder straps is challenging, and the bladder can consume pack space. It’s a versatile backpack with all the technical features for epic adventures. The Tempest line is Osprey’s most versatile, with a vast selection of sizes to find the perfect fit. It is my used backpack in our closet.

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Osprey Mira

The Osprey Mira is a fully loaded day hiking backpack with a 2.5L reservoir for hydration. It’s a feature-rich bag that does a great job of organization, comfort, and fit. An ideal hiker would enjoy long day hikes or a supported multi-day hike such as a Machu Picchu or Kilimanjaro trip.

The hydration compartment is easy to access, and the adjustable sternum strap features a magnetic closure to hold the bite valve. This allows for the bite valve to sit comfortably out of the way. Other features include an integrated rain cover that offers reliable coverage.

Fit is suitable for more petite frames thanks to the 4″ adjustment, but for taller or larger women, the pack may be a tight fit. Read some reviews to see what would work well for your body type. However, with the right frame, the fit is excellent and comfortably transfers the weight across your hips. Dual-access side stretch mesh pockets are spacious enough to hold a large water bottle or a jacket.

Other great features include the front mesh stash pocket and a “stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachment. The pack also features an ice tool loop, but the pack lacks the design to be compelling for mountaineers. More organization includes a zippered front pocket and padded scratch-resistant top pocket for your hiking sunglasses.

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Osprey Sirrus 24L Pack

The Sirrus is a great option for a less technical hiking backpack with excellent suspension and comfort. It may be less versatile than the Tempest above, but it feels far more robust for avid hikers. The larger sizes, compression straps, and more comfortable suspension system make it a very capable hiking backpack.

The Osprey Sirrus is smaller than most Osprey packs on this list. It’s a tremendous daypack for hikers. It is built on Osprey’s LightWire suspension system that effectively transfers weight from the harness to the hip belt. It can feel a little tall for those with a very short torso, but it should fit most women’s frames with adjustment.

The mesh back warm helps keep you cool on cooler days. The reservoir sleeve is external, so it’s easy to refill your bladder without pulling things out of your bag. If you want to take the 36L version of this bag on an overnight trip, there are sleeping bag straps, a rain cover, and a trekking pole storage system.

The 24L Osprey day pack best suits most hikers with simple day objectives. In contrast, the 36L size is an effective daypack and works well as an overnight bag for short backcountry or porter-assisted trips.

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Best Osprey Travel Backpacks

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Women’s Osprey Fairview

Best Travel Backpack for Women

The Osprey Fairview is the new design of the classic Farpoint travel backpack. Essentially they took the Farpoint and built it with a woman’s frame in mind. Thanks to thoughtful design and reliability, it became a fan favorite. It’s a feature-rich backpack. The large pack volume will ensure you have plenty of luggage space yet remain under most airline carry-on requirements.

The Fairview is a great women’s travel backpack. It’s a front-loading backpack, so it opens similarly to a suitcase for easy access. It’s lightweight and features a removable daypack, zip-away suspension, and a side handle. The 40L is fantastic for carry-on luggage, while the 55L and 70L are suitable for long-term trips.

The side handle of the bag makes it easy to grab out of an overhead bin and carry it off of a plane. Osprey has its roots in hiking, so you get a travel-specific bag packed with hiking features in the Fairview. Most notable are the comfortable straps and a hip belt that make carrying weight easier. It’s easily the best Osprey travel backpack for women.

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Osprey DayLite Plus

Best Osprey Daypack For Travel

The Daylite Plus pack rocks and is one of the best Osprey packs. I’ve been traveling with it for years and love it because it’s slim, lightweight, durable, and it’s designed to clip onto a full-size pack. With two mesh pockets for travel water bottles and an inner pouch for a water bladder, it’s easy to stay hydrated with this pack. I’ve done day hikes with Daylite Plus, and I’m always impressed by how comfortable the bag sits on my back.

It carries weight, like most ospreys, really well. Even though the straps are slim, I carry six-eight kgs in it all day and never notice the weight on my back. However, much more weight than that, and the straps tend to dig into the shoulders.

It’s smaller than most other bags on this list and is more a day pack than something you want to pack your whole life in (unless you’re a super minimalist). If you’re wondering about this Osprey women’s daypack, I can fit my 13″ Mac Air inside, too, making it also a decent work backpack if you have a small laptop.

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Osprey Porter

Best Carry-On Backpack

The porter is more a unisex backpack and not a women’s specific bag. However, it is an exceptional travel bag. It’s well constructed and leaves plenty of room for your clothes. The Porter bag is lightweight and easy to throw off your back when you hop on a bus or train. It also meets carry-on requirements and saves you checked baggage fees worldwide.

Padded sidewalls, a dedicated travel laptop sleeve, and a mesh top pocket for toiletries are much-appreciated features. Stowaway shoulder harness. This pack has many organizational features that make traveling easier for you.

You may wonder how the Osprey Porter compares to the Fairview, which has similar features. The Porter uses HDPE Framesheet Suspension, a stiff plastic sheet to provide support, while the Fairview uses a lightweight wireframe. The wireframe offers a notch up in improvement as it provides better ventilation and suspension performance.

The only problem with this bag is that it’s not as robust, so the backpack will become uncomfortable for those who like to walk or cover long distances. That being said, it’s one of the cheapest Osprey backpacks you can buy, so you have more budget for your backpacking trip.

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Osprey Ozone Convertible

Best Rolling Backpack

This bag has a hefty price tag and is a newcomer. It’s probably my least favorite backpack on this list, but I felt I should mention it simply because it has wheels. The first generation left much to be desired; however, the latest models have become more attractive.

It’s an excellent option for those with back problems who would like to enjoy the benefits of a backpack. Despite the wheel and handle, the backpack is impressively lightweight, which is helpful for overhead airplane bins. This backpack has grown on us and will surely be loved by suitable travelers.

The Ozone Convertible is a similar build to the Farpoint, with the added addition of a more compact frame and a pullout handle with wheels. The wheeled part could be a problem if you are on the cobbled streets of Europe, but it is possible to pull out the straps and make the Ozone a full backpack.

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Choose Your Type of Osprey Backpack for Women

There are a wide range of backpacks on the market and a large selection from Osprey. To determine which Osprey women’s backpack is best for you, it’s best to decide your intended needs.

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Osprey Hiking Backpacks For Women

Hiking backpacks are great if you plan to hit the trails, and it’s the only category where you need a dedicated backpack. You can travel worldwide with an Osprey hiking backpack like the Aura, but you can’t go on a hike with a travel-specific backpack like the Farpoint.

Then you have several size options for the best hiking backpacks. Large-volume backpacks offer more versatility, but they cost more and weigh more on your back. To most, a large-volume backpack may also be overkill unless you have plans for an extended journey or long multi-day hikes.

For hiking trips assisted by porters like Machu Picchu or Kilimanjaro, a small backpack around 35 – 45L, such as the Osprey Mira, would be a better fit. Check out our favorite women’s hiking clothes if you plan on hiking!

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Osprey Travel Backpacks For Women

Travel-specific backpacks are great for most travelers’ backpack needs. They’re practical, affordable, and offer a lot of versatility. We have now traveled extensively with travel backpacks like the Farpoint and love their strengths.

They have a lot of versatility as they can be carried on your back, and their soft side makes them great for adventure travel. Soft-side bags can slip under a bus, a small plane, or the back of a truck. Then there is the apparent advantage of carrying the bag down uneven roads or surfaces.

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Osprey Daypacks For Women

We always need a daypack when hopping around cities, hiking in the woods, or snowboarding in some glades. An urban daypack is excellent for carrying a camera, laptop, map, headphones, or your favorite water bottle, even in a city. It’s a great travel accessory we always need anywhere in the world.

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Elements to Look for in a Backpack

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Interior

You’ll want to make sure that the main compartment of your Osprey backpack is large enough to carry all of your belongings while still having easy access. Store the heavier things at the bottom of your bag to get the weight closer to your back. Additional compartments are suitable for storing small items or valuables like your passport.

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Hip Belt

A good hip belt is essential for any women’s travel backpack. If you haven’t heard, women have hips, and putting your Osprey women’s pack weight on your hips helps take the pressure off your back, so you will want a good, well-cushioned hip belt that is sturdy to help do that.

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Shoulder Straps

Along with the hip belt, your shoulder straps carry a lot of the weight of your pack. Thick and comfortable padding will keep your shoulders from hurting after a long day’s hike or walk through a city.

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Hydration

Hydration ports are great for those long hot days and are essential when choosing an Osprey backpack. If you aren’t using the hydration ports or a bladder, you will want at least one water bottle holder to hold your liquid.

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Weatherproofing

We look for waterproof bags or have a rain fly in case you’re stuck in a rainstorm. Nothing is worse than wet gear, so looking for an Osprey waterproof backpack is essential. In all outdoor gear, we like to have some form of weatherproofing.

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Suspension

Suspension refers to the total components that affect how you carry the backpack on your back. This includes straps, a back panel, a hip belt, and a sternum strap. Essential elements are hip belts, sternum, and shoulder straps.

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Back Panel

A well-cushioned back panel can make the difference between having a backache and not. Then you have ventilated back panels and various materials. If you are walking long distances in the heat, you’ll want to have vented back panels.

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Trekking Pole/Ice Axe loops

If you are doing any hiking during your travels, these are great little additions to any bag that can optimize your comfort and free your hands if you use poles or ice picks on hikes.

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How to choose the best women’s Osprey backpack for you?

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Price

The first thing to think about when picking a great women’s travel backpack is your budget. High-quality backpacks are expensive, but you don’t want to blow your entire budget on a backpack. That being said, if you invest in one of the best backpacks on the market, it will stand the test of time. Many companies like REI and Osprey will offer to repair your products.

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Comfort

Like anything, make sure that your backpack is comfortable on your back. You should be able to hike comfortably for at least two hours. When buying online, it’s a good idea to check the return policy if the backpack does not fit you the way you would like. Most Amazon and REI purchases come with free returns.

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Design

A backpack design is crucial. A good backpack doesn’t necessarily mean a bunch of bells and whistles. Make sure you narrow down if you want a top-loading backpack or panel loading, and check for any extra straps, harnesses, zippers, and clips you may or may not need. There’s often no perfect backpack, but what’s perfect for you?

Then look at all the women’s Osprey backpack features and think about how you will use them. For example, maybe you’d like your overnight hiking backpack to have a mesh front to dry a bathing suit or your travel towel. I suggest you consider everyday use with the backpack.

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Material

Pick a women’s backpack that is with solid materials. Most backpacks on the market are constructed with Ripstop Nylon or Polyester. There is also the latest material of Dyneema, but it comes at a premium price point.

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Volume/Frame/Weight

Determine everything you want to carry in your backpack, which will determine your ideal backpack’s volume. A good starting point for a travel backpack is 40-50L. My first backpack was a 70L, and I stuffed it, which made my travel days unbearable. I was pretty terrible at packing in those early days.

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Trip Length

It’s essential to consider your trip length when picking an Osprey hiking backpack. There are great small travel backpacks on this list for shorter trips. In comparison, the larger capacities can circumnavigate the world or tackle a multi-day hiking expedition.