Backpacks

Osprey Archeon 70L Backpack | Review

Made from fully recycled materials, this functional, stylish, pack is perfect for some proper backcountry trekking

Why We Chose The Osprey Archeon 70L Backpack: Fully recycled materials, environmentally friendly, durable and versatile

Osprey and backpacks. Backpacks and Osprey. Such is the extent to which Osprey have mastered the art of producing quality packs for the outdoors, the words have become increasingly synonymous in recent years. The Archeon 70L, included in this year’s 100, is the latest in a long string of hits from the brand – embodying essentialist and environmentalist principles in an excellent multi-day adventure product.

Who Is The Osprey Archeon 70L Backpack For?

Whether you’re looking to leave the bad memories of 2020 behind with some gap year style long distance travelling or want to take on a multi-day hiking challenge, like the West Highland Way, the Osprey Archeon 70L has got your name written all over it.

The adjustable AirScape back panel. Photo: Mike Brindley

Materials

The Osprey Archeon 70L is made from 100% recycled fabrics; 1880D Recycled Nylon Canvas to be exact. Underlining its very good environmental credentials is its PFC-Free DWR coating.

Features

This is a backpack with a lot of features.

First things first, let’s discuss the fully adjustable AirScape backpanel. With its lumbar support and foam ridges for comfort and fit, this close-fitting ergonomic backsystem works together with the hipbelt and shoulder harness to allow you to handle significantly heavy loads, ideal when you’re on a mammoth trek. It’s also got plenty of height adjustment as well, thanks to its sliding back panel.

“The close fitting backsystem can handle significant loads… without compromising on comfort”

On the external strap front, Osprey’s definitely delivered with the Archeon 70L. The side compression straps, for example, help you to tighten up the overall package while the removable sleeping pad straps allow you to customise the backpack to suit the situation. There’s also a useful internal top load compression strap here, meaning you can really stuff everything into the pack before tightening it securely into place. Technical details then include loops for your ice axes, and walking pole attachments, on the outside of the pack.

Diving into the guts of the Archeon 70L, it’s clear that Osprey have thought long and hard about the logic of backpack storage. Take the sleeping bag base compartment, with an internal divider, for example. Speaking of storage, special mentions must also go to the pack’s stretch mesh side pockets, the twin-zippered hipbelt pockets, the under lid zipped mesh pocket and the zippered expanded opening for easier access. The internal key attachment clip is another nice touch.

The Archeon 70L is made from fully recycled materials. Photo: Mike Brindley

There's twin-zippered hipbelt pockets on this thing plus numerous other storage options. Photo: Mike Brindley

Comfortable shoulder straps and a quick adjust sternum. Photo: Mike Brindley

As well as its PFC-Free DWR Coating, the Archeon 70L also has an integrated and detachable recycled raincover to help protect your gear from the conditions.

Another useful feature you’ll be grateful for on those long, thirst-inducing, walks in the big outdoors is the internal hydration sleeve. It’s a part of the Archeon 70L that’ll keep your reservoir firmly in place.

The sternum strap on the Archeon 70L, it’s worth adding, has an emergency whistle for attracting attention should you ever find yourself in trouble and, finally, the pack’s overarching sense of tough-it-out durability is underlined by its tough metal buckles throughout.

Conclusion

The £250 you’ll fork out on the Osprey Archeon 70L might seem like big bucks to spend on a backpack but when you consider just how durable, practical, and fundamentally usable this is the price of it doesn’t seem so unreasonable. There are, for sure, more budget options out there but none of them, we’d wager, will bring this level of quality to your adventures.

The pack is also super sustainable and environmentally friendly, so there’s no need to worry about being on the wrong side of the eco divide.

Tester’s Verdict

Giles Dean, Outdoors Magic gear tester

“I tested this backpack on the Becket Way, a pilgrimage from Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral, which was a three-day hike with two nights of wild camping.

The 100% recycled material has a really nice feel to it and it super durable. It’s the type of bag that you know is going to age well – it can take some heavy use and will look better for it. The downside to this sort of material is its weight. As mentioned in the review above, lighter bags can be found elsewhere, but if you’ve read this far counting grams probably isn’t your thing anyway.

“One design floor that I did find on the sample I tested is that the straps on top of the shoulders kept on slipping. This, I believe, was due to the metal buckles Osprey had used for it. This issue has been resolved now however and Osprey has updated these to a different type of plastic buckle instead – but do check before buying.”

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, Outdoors Magic Editor

“Despite its classic look, this is actually surprisingly modern in terms of its construction – particularly in regards to the back system, which I’ve found to be very comfortable (as always seems to be the case with Osprey in my opinion), and brilliant at managing heavy loads.

“The fabric is thick and tough, and therefore the Archeon is on the heavy side. But there’s a really dependable feel to it though, and I like that.”

“A small downside I found, was that the hook and loop sternum strap is quite fiddly. I expect the webbing will loosen a little eventually however. So it’s not too much of an issue.”

“There’s a smaller daypack in this new Archeon collection that I’ve also been using, and that’s impressed me also. Nice fabrics, a nice look and all the right features. I think Osprey could be onto a bit of a winner with this series.”