The Osprey Stratos 24 is a well featured pack for more technical hiking with a comfortable suspension system and full waterproofing that you will trust for a long time.
Table of Contents
ToggleGood to know: This pack is offered as a men’s specific variant. You can buy the women’s specific Sirrus 24 as a direct replacement. It is slightly slimmed down from the Osprey Stratos 24 for more petite frames.
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Comfortable to wear over prolonged periods
- Fully waterproof
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Front loading pocket is a little frustrating to use on the trail
- Quite pricey
I was extremely impressed with the Osprey Stratos 24, which is why we’ve awarded it one of the best daypacks for men in our overall reviews. Like many of Osprey’s other products, it is well made and will stand the test of time. I loved the fact that it’s made of entirely recycled materials from the get go and I have no reason to think this pack wouldn’t last you over a decade or more.
The full back suspension system alongside the padded straps and hip belt make this a comfortable pack to wear for longer hikes (as well as shorter ones too). However, you may find some of the features overkill is you just want a simple, light and nimble pack for quick hikes. I also found the front loading zippered pocket frustrating at times.
If you’re someone that wants a pack that will grow with you as your time outdoors becomes more advanced, I think you’ll be very happy with this pack. The fact it comes with a rain cover included to take it to 4 seasons is a bonus too.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our overall guide to the best daypacks, see more in this guide:
- Best Daypacks for Hiking
- How to Choose The Right Daypack For Your Hike
- How We Tested Hiking Daypacks
- Compare Hiking Daypacks
You may also be interested in: Best Waterproof Hiking Backpacks
Compare to Similar Products:
Product | Osprey Talon 22 | Gregory Maya 25 | Deuter Speed Lite 23 | Osprey Stratos 24 | Gregory Citro 24 | Rab Tensor 20 | Osprey Daylite/Plus | Mystery Ranch Coulee 30 | Black Diamond Distance 15 | The North Face Basin 24L | Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil 20 | Cotopaxi 24L Batac Pack | Granite Gear Dagger Ultralight | Rab Adrift 24L | Adidas Terrex Climacool Daypack | Cotopaxi Luzon Del Dia 24L |
Buying Options | ||||||||||||||||
Our Award | Best Overall Daypack | Best Overall Daypack - runner up | Best Daypacks For Women | Best Daypacks For Men | Best Waterproof Hiking Daypack | Best Daypack For Hot Weather | Best Daypack For Travel | Best Hiking Daypack With Hydration | Best Lightweight Daypack | |||||||
Type and Style | Lightweight all purpose backpack for hiking, climbing and bikepacking | Active hikes, longer trails, climbing | Hybrid trail running/hiking/climbing | Full suspension backpack | Full suspension hiking pack | Lightweight summer pack | Lightweight lifestyle travel/hiking pack | Full suspension backpack/summit pack | Hybrid trail running/hiking/climbing | Hiking and biking | Ultralight daypack | Basic hiking | All round hiking | Fully waterproof hiking | Basic hiking, travel and general day to day use | Basic hiking, general everyday use, travel |
Material | bluesign®-approved recycled 100D x 210D wave check high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating. | 100D 30% recycled high density nylon, 200D 45% recycled high density nylon | 140D and 100D recycled polyamide | 210D recycled nylon body, 420D recycled nylon accents and bottom with a PFC/PFAS-free DWR | 210D Honeycomb Cryptorip Nylon and 420D High Density Nylon body. EVA foam straps, alloy steel frame. 135D High Density and 50% recycled polyester lining | 100% recycled 420D polyester ripstop | bluesign® approved 300D recycled polyester | 210D recycled nylon, DWR | UHMWPE ripstop body fabric and mesh | 210D recycled ripstop nylon and 600D recycled polyester also all with non PFC DWR | 15D high strength nano nylon fabric with silicon coating for water resistance | Offcut material used from other brands production runs, making a sustainable pack | Nylon (100D and 210D) | PFAS Free ripstop nylon | 100% recycled polyester | Offcut material used from other brands production runs, making a sustainable pack |
Capacity | 22 liters | 25 | 23L | 24L | 24 liters | 20 liters | 20 liters | 30L | 15L | 24L | 20L | 24L | 22L | 24L | 32L | 24L |
Breathability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Not as good as some other models | OK | OK | Not as good as some other models | Poor | OK | Good | OK | OK | OK |
Pockets | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6/7 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Dimensions | 48 x 28 x 23 cm | 50.8 x 28.4 x 23.3 cm | 52 x 27 x 18 cm | 59 x 34 x 24cm | 52 x 28 x 20 cm | 50 x 30 x 23cm | 43 x 26 x 20 cm | 57 x 27 x 24 cm | 47 x 32 x 13 cm | 50 x 27.9 x 17 cm | 48 x 28 x 20 cm | 51 x 28 x 18 cm | 53.34 x 33.02 x 20.32 cm | 52 x 30 x 25 cm | 50 x 26.5 x 17 cm | 60 x 30 x 17 cm |
Rain Cover | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No - but the daypack is already waterproof | No | No |
Durability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | OK | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
See the Osprey Stratos 24 in more detail:
Analysis and Test Results
The Osprey Stratos 24 did exceptionally well in all my tests. It is a well featured pack that does just as well in the alpine and full on ascents as it does carrying heavier loads on less full in trails.
It’s durability, comfort and fit are some of its strong points. The ventilated, full back suspension system alongside the adjustment it offers mean you’ll have a comfortable fit in any weather and trail condition.
I’d say that if you’re just looking at a pack for light and quick trails, this may be overkill (and certainly isn’t lightweight). However, if you’re looking for a pack that will take you further, this may well be one of the best contenders in our round up.
Performance Comparison
Type and Style
The Osprey Stratos 24 is a more technical backpack. This is intended for general hiking and summit days bit of extra support and extra attachment points and features are well called for.
With a full back suspension system and ventilated straps in both the shoulders and hip belt, this pack is also great if you need to carry heavier loads for extended periods of time. 1.259kg/ 2.776 lbs, it sits at the heavier end of our line up but the comfort that is offered here more than makes up for the extra weight.
Material
The Osprey Stratos 24 uses bluesign® approved 210D recycled ‘honey comb’ nylon with a PFC/PFAS-free DWR on the main body fabric. Bluesign® approved 420D recycled nylon with a PFC free DWR on the accents and bottom.
I’ve found this pack generally very solidly made, in much the same way as every other Osprey pack I’ve tested. It really does feel built to last. I’ve also crammed this pack pretty solidly with heavy and awkward shaped gear and I’ve seen no signs of abrasion in all my time using.
One area that I do think is a little bit of a let down (though really minor) is that I found the Osprey logos rubbed off the pack pretty quickly. This is purely cosmetic, but I also do wonder about these flaking off and dispersing into the environment. It would be great to see Osprey improve this and move toward stitching, for example.
Breathability
The Osprey Stratos 24 makes use of a full AirSpeed suspension system which is very breathable. The straps include ventilation too. One area I particularly loved with the Osprey Stratos 24 is the full back suspension system. I really value this style of pack for the kind of more technical hiking I like to do. I usually find myself working up a sweat and also carrying heavy gear so I’m really happy to report in all my tests with this pack that the breathability offered on the back is second to none.
The straps on this pack are also very well padded, and whilst they do have mesh sections and breathability provided, I did find that on particularly hot days, they can start to feel a bit sticky. However, I wouldn’t really say this is any different to some of the other packs I’ve tested. Anything next to your skin on a hot day will do this.
Waterproofing
Unlike some of the other packs in our best daypacks for hiking round up, I was happy to see that the Osprey Stratos 24 comes with a rain cover included. This is great because it means you’re not having to buy this as an afterthought to make it four season suitable.
Aside from the rain cover for added protection, the DWR coating on the body of the daypack does protect it from light to mid rain. I’ve carried this pack in my tests through heavy rain and only needed to add on the full waterproof cover a handful of times. If you live somewhere where you can expect rain quite frequently, this would make a great option for you.
Dimensions
The Osprey Stratos 24 is decently sized at 59 x 34 x 24cm/
23.23 x 13.39 x 9.45 in. It’s really clear when you look at the pack that it has been designed to be taller and actually a little wider than some of the other packs in our reviews. Osprey say this pack has a wider LightWire frame to enhance fit range with quick easy adjustments.
I actually also have the Osprey Stratos 34, and the 24 feels pretty similar to this in terms of its look. I would say this feels quite similar to some of Ospreys backpacking packs. What I love about the style and feel of this pack is it works well for varying shapes and sizes of wearer. I’m relatively tall (at just under 6 foot) and this pack sits pretty much perfectly for me.
Fit
Osprey’s information on this pack says that it comes with an ‘O/S per gender design’ which offers a great and easy fit. It also allows for a 4” torso adjustability. It comes with various other features too such as a sternum strap, and EVA foam mesh straps.
I found the Osprey Stratos 24 one of the most comfortable packs I’ve tested in terms of fit. There are plenty of areas for adjustment. The back and shoulder straps allow you to adjust in really minute ways to get the perfect fit.
The hip belt straps feel really adjustable too, which is fantastic if you’re carrying a heavy load. One thing I really liked too is that it feels very easy to adjust when you’re on the go. Naturally you may not take the same gear with you for every hike, so I liked how it felt quick to go from different weights very easily.
Over time, this pack feels like it grows with you and adjusts with you for the perfect fit. It’s a real snug, yet comfortable pack that I find myself reaching for time and time again.
Storage
This pack has a slightly different storage system than some of the other packs in our lineup, with a vertical zippered front stash pocket. It’s actually pretty useful in that you can fit larger items in it. However, I found that I needed to lay the bag down flat on the ground in order to access it without risking things falling out of it. Which isn’t always convenient on the trail.
The side mesh stretch pockets were pretty much in line with other Osprey offerings such as the Osprey Talon 22 and the hydration sleeve is well positioned and feels comfortable. The pack is shaped like a rectangle, so it allows you to load your gear in sensibly and get the load right for a comfortable carry. I’ve been able to load quite a lot of heavy equipment into it, alongside layers, lunch and various other pieces and it’s always felt comfortable.
A security pouch at the top is ideal for your keys and other personal items. The two hip belt pockets are fairly roomy too – being good for lip salve, snacks and so on. It also includes various attachment points on the pack for trekking poles, ice axe and other bungee tie offs and lash loops to keep things secure whilst moving.
Comfort
I found the comfort offered in this pack second to none – with a few small adjustments I found this pack was good to go for a long hike straight away. With the fact that this pack offers a wide range of adjustments, it would be suitable for a range of body shapes.
The only area this may be an issue is with the hip belt, which at the time of writing is only available in a standard fit. If you need a longer waist belt/hip belt length, you may find this isn’t right for you, and may be better looking at some of Ospreys extended fit ranges (the Talon 22, which we’ve also reviewed is offered in this EF range).
Due to the padding on the straps and the back suspension system, I felt confident wearing this pack on long hikes with a heavy load. It always felt comfortable to carry and by the end of a long day, I had no sore or rubbing spots at all, time and time again.
Features
This daypack from Osprey is pretty well featured when it comes to more technical hiking. It’s various attachment points make it suitable to carry things like hiking poles, a helmet, ice axe, crampons and other items you may wish to bring.
The back suspension system and padded straps on both the shoulders and hip belt are two features I also really love. This makes it really comfortable to wear for longer periods of time and for heavier loads.
I also like the fact that this pack comes with a rain cover included, which is not something you get with all packs. The front zipper is also interesting, but as I’ve said above, I don’t think this is the best feature of the pack and can be hard to load.
I think if you’re looking for a pack just for quick adventures, you may find the Stratos 24 a little bit overkill for your needs. However, if you’re looking for a more technical pack that will grow with you as your adventures develop, this would be a fantastic contender and should be at the top of your shortlist.
Durability
Throughout my tests I have found the Osprey Stratos 24 to be incredibly durable. The pack makes use of a strong 210D recycled honeycomb nylon which is excellent at withstanding any knocks and scrapes that you can expect from general use. In my tests I’ve had this pack filled with heavy gear there is often awkward shapes and into the sides have created any tension points.
Likewise, when carrying a heavy load there are no visible changes to the shoulder straps, the suspension system and the hip belt area. I’ve been using this pack for quite a while at this point in a whole variety of hikes in different climates and I am very confident to say that if you purchase this pack, it will likely last you a very long time.
Sustainability
Osprey make a big point of talking about how all of the materials used in this day pack fully recycled. This is great to see and shows Ospreys commitment to more sustainable practices longer term as a company in the outdoor space.
Further to this, the Osprey Stratos 24 daypack is exceptionally well made. It sits firmly in amongst Ospreys other burly, strongly made packs designed for more technical hiking.
This means that if you purchase this backpack that you will still be using it a decade from now or even longer if you look after it well. The only area that may need some work is the DWR coating, which you can treat to prolong the life of.
Conclusion
As with many of Osprey’s backpacks in the more technical range, the Stratos 24 is a fantastic day pack with high versatility and a great amount of function. If you need a pack that is more suited to Alpine ascents and carrying heavy loads, you’ll love the clever attachment points and back suspension system that this pack offers.
What’s more, this pack is built to last. Making use of sturdy, recycled nylon, this pack can withstand holding heavy and awkwardly shaped items with no risk of abrasions. I also love the fact that this pack comes with a waterproof cover as standard meaning you don’t have to buy anything extra.
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