Osprey Exos Pro 55 vs LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension
Quick take: The Osprey Exos Pro 55 carries more (55 vs 46 liters); the LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension is lighter (1.94 vs 2.08 lbs).
Which one to buy
Same $330, and closer in volume than the labels say: the Exos Pro 55's main compartment was measured at about 46 L, the same as the LiteAF Curve Full Suspension's stated main body. What separates them is fit, load and back. The LiteAF is made to order with torso and hipbelt picked independently from four sizes each, torso S 17-18.5 in through XL 23+ in, so fit is close to custom. Its two removable aluminum stays are rated to about 35 lbs, against the Exos Pro's 30 lb ceiling, a limit its frame noticeably reaches.
The Exos Pro wins on carry comfort in heat and on pockets. Its AirSpeed suspended mesh keeps your back ventilated, where the LiteAF uses a padded foam panel against your back. Its externals are unusually generous: side pockets that take five 700 ml bottles, half-liter hipbelt pockets that are usable rather than token, and a lid that comes off to save 2.8 oz. The LiteAF has no hipbelt pockets. Osprey's lifetime All Mighty Guarantee is another point for the Exos Pro; LiteAF's warranty runs 1 year against defects. One caution: a reviewer's Exos Pro soaked through after an afternoon of rain, so run a liner.
The LiteAF's headline 1.94 lbs is for a medium build and moves with the sizes you choose, so the weight gap is small and depends on your order. If your loads approach 35 lbs or your torso sits at either end of the range, the LiteAF's sizing and stays are the reason to wait for a made-to-order pack.
Osprey Exos Pro 55
The better fit for thru-hikers under 30 lbs who want a ventilated back, big usable pockets and a warranty they can buy off the shelf today.
LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension
Worth the wait for a made-to-order pack if you carry up to about 35 lbs or need torso and hipbelt sizes picked separately.
| Spec | Osprey Exos Pro 55 | LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $330 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (37) | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 55 L | 46 L |
| Weight | 2.08 lbs | 1.94 lbs |
| Max Load | 30 lbs | About 35 lbs |
| Torso Fit | S/M and L/XL | Sized S 17-18.5 / M 19-20.5 / L 21-22.5 / XL 23+ in (40 L adds XS 15-16.5 in); hipbelt S 28-32 / M 33-38 / L 39-44 / XL 45-50 in |
| Material | NanoFly 100D nylon x 200D UHMWPE ripstop | ECOPAK EPLX200 recycled polyester laminate (UltraWeave and Dyneema options) |
| Back Panel | AirSpeed suspended mesh over 3.5 mm LightWire frame | Padded closed-cell foam back panel over two removable curved aluminium stays |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | Yes |
| Warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) | LiteAF 1-year warranty to the original owner against defects in materials and craftsmanship |
Pros & cons
Osprey Exos Pro 55
- ✓33.2 oz for a framed 55 L pack with suspended mesh is competitive with cottage ultralight packs that offer neither.
- ✓The lid removes to save 2.8 oz, so the pack can be stripped for shorter trips.
- ✓NanoFly's UHMWPE grid gives far better tear resistance than the denier alone suggests.
- ✓A 0.60 oz per litre ratio is excellent for a pack with a real frame and ventilation.
- ✓Side pockets swallow five 700 ml bottles, which is unusually generous.
- ✓Half-litre hipbelt pockets are usable rather than token.
- ✓About three-quarters of a pound lighter than the standard Exos 58 for only 3 L less volume.
- ✓Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee, which almost no cottage ultralight brand matches.
- ✗30 lb is the manufacturer ceiling and the frame is noticeably at its limit there.
- ✗The frame and hipbelt are both non-removable, so the pack cannot be stripped further.
- ✗$330 is more than the standard Exos 58 and than several cottage packs.
- ✗Measured main compartment is 46 L against 55 L advertised.
- ✗Only one volume is offered, unlike the three-size Exos and Eja runs.
- ✗NanoFly is light enough that careless handling on rock will still damage it.
- ✗No rain cover included.
LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension
- ✓Torso and hipbelt are chosen independently from four sizes each, so fit is close to custom.
- ✓Two removable curved aluminium stays carry about 35 lb at under 2 lb of pack.
- ✓LiteAF states a bear canister fits inside.
- ✓About 15 L of external pocketing on top of the 46 L main body.
- ✓The hipbelt is now removable and interchangeable.
- ✓Three fabric choices, with ECOPAK EPLX200 the cheapest.
- ✗The hipbelt has no pockets; shoulder-strap pockets are an add-on.
- ✗Made to order, so it is not an off-the-shelf purchase.
- ✗No hydration sleeve is described.
- ✗Weight varies from 25 to 36 oz depending on the sizes chosen, so the headline figure is for a medium build.
- ✗No ventilated back or raincover.
Osprey Exos Pro 55 vs LiteAF ECOPAK 46L Curve Full Suspension: common questions
Does the Exos Pro 55 really hold more than the LiteAF Curve 46L?▾
Not in the main body. The Exos Pro's main compartment measured about 46 L, the same as the LiteAF's stated main body, and the LiteAF adds about 15 L of external pocketing. The Exos Pro's strength is its pockets, which are unusually generous.
Which is better if my loads sometimes go above 30 lbs?▾
The LiteAF Curve Full Suspension, rated to about 35 lbs on two aluminum stays. Osprey's 30 lb ceiling for the Exos Pro 55 is honest and the frame is noticeably at its limit there.
Can either pack carry a bear canister?▾
LiteAF states a bear canister fits inside the Curve Full Suspension. The Exos Pro 55's main compartment measures about 46 L, so test your canister in it before a trip that requires one.