Osprey Exos 58 vs Granite Gear Crown3 60
Quick take: The Granite Gear Crown3 60 costs $20 less; the Granite Gear Crown3 60 carries more (60 vs 58 liters); the Granite Gear Crown3 60 is lighter (2.55 vs 2.84 lbs).
| Spec | Osprey Exos 58 | Granite Gear Crown3 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $260 | $240 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (800) | 4.7★ (500) |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 58 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 2.84 lbs | 2.55 lbs |
| Max Load | 40 lbs | 35 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable 17-22 in across sizes | Sized short/regular/long, 15-21 in |
| Material | 100D nylon ripstop | 100D/210D high-tenacity nylon |
| Back Panel | AirSpeed suspended mesh | Molded foam with removable frame sheet |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | Yes |
| Removable lid | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) | Granite Gear limited lifetime |
Pros & cons
Osprey Exos 58
- ✓The classic gateway ultralight — AT thru-hiker surveys have ranked the Exos among the most-carried packs for years running.
- ✓The AirSpeed trampoline back is the only real ventilation in the sub-3-lb class, and sweaty-back refugees notice immediately.
- ✓The current generation's adjustable torso fixed the old fixed-size gamble, making online sizing much safer.
- ✓It carries 35 lbs with a composure frameless cottage packs can't match, per constant r/Ultralight comparisons.
- ✓The removable lid strips 4+ ounces for weekend loads, with a flap jacket underneath to keep things clean.
- ✓Osprey's lifetime All Mighty Guarantee is a genuine advantage over cottage packs' 1-2 year coverage.
- ✓REI availability means you can try sizes on in person — rare in this weight class.
- ✓The 100D ripstop has proven far more durable than its spec-sheet denier suggests over multi-thousand-mile reports.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets on a pack this popular remains baffling — nearly every long reviewer lists it first.
- ✗The exposed side mesh pockets snag and tear on brush; they're the best-documented wear point.
- ✗The stock hipbelt is thin, and loads at the 40 lb ceiling telegraph straight to the iliac crest.
- ✗The trampoline frame bows into the packbag, so a BV500 rides high and awkward.
- ✗The stretchy shove-it pocket sags when loaded with wet gear.
- ✗The frame creaks for some users after dusty miles — a known quirk Osprey service lubes rather than fixes.
- ✗At $260 it's within $40 of true cottage packs (Circuit, Kakwa) that weigh half a pound less.
- ✗Ultralight purists find the hanging-lid-and-straps aesthetic fussy compared to clean roll-tops.
Granite Gear Crown3 60
- ✓Halfway Anywhere PCT surveys consistently place the Crown line among the most-used packs — thousands have finished trails with one.
- ✓Redditors call it the best value in ultralight: Circuit-class function at $60 less, often on sale below $200.
- ✓The adjustable-length hipbelt fits waists that fixed-belt cottage packs exclude.
- ✓Strips to about 1.9 lbs with the lid and frame sheet removed — a legitimate two-packs-in-one design.
- ✓A BV500 fits horizontally with room to spare, a canister-country selling point repeated in reviews.
- ✓The 210D bottom panel takes granite abuse that destroys lighter packs' floors.
- ✓The huge stretch front pocket and deep bottle pockets carry a full wet-gear kit outside the bag.
- ✓Its 35 lb rating is honest — reviewers report it carries at its ceiling better than the Flash 55 does.
- ✗The foam back panel has zero real airflow; it's the sweatiest back in this roundup after the frameless packs.
- ✗Fixed torso sizes mean online buyers between sizes must guess.
- ✗The shoulder straps are unpadded by plush standards and dig under 35 lb food carries.
- ✗No hydration port on some production runs annoyed bladder users — check the current spec.
- ✗The lid is floppy when half-full and many owners just leave it home.
- ✗The roll-top collar fabric is thinner than the body and wears first.
- ✗Granite Gear's colorways run loud; the muted options sell out first.
- ✗Warranty service is fine but slower than Osprey's, per owner anecdotes.