Osprey Volt 60 Review

Since its foundation back in 1974, Osprey has worked its way firmly into the hearts of many outdoor enthusiasts. Not only are Osprey products cleverly designed with tonnes of thoughtful features that make them perfect for like on the trail, but Osprey also has a glowing reputation for sustainable and ethical production. What’s more, Osprey products are wallet-friendly and covered by the famous ‘Almighty Guarantee’, which means all products will be replaced, for free, forever – winning!

Although Osprey now produces a range of backpacks designed for everything from urban commuting to mountain biking, its classic backpacks designed for life in the wilderness are undeniably their flagship products. The Osprey Volt 60 is one such product and, with its 60L capacity, has been designed for backpacking trips up to 5 days long.

Despite this, this bag is incredibly versatile and is well-suited for both shorter and longer trips. This is largely thanks to its extra features – we just can’t believe how many thoughtful touches have been packed into this bag! Somehow, the price has remained surprisingly low. So let’s take a closer look at this budget-friendly backpacking bag and see how well it performs against our ranking system.

Materials and Durability

Any decent backpacking back needs to be able to stand up to those inevitable bumps and scrapes it will encounter on the road and in the wilderness. So, what’s the Osprey Volt 60 made of, and is it up to the challenge?

Materials

The main body of the bag is made from 210-denier (D) nylon double diamond ripstop while the base and accents have been constructed of 600-denier polyester to provide additional strength.

But what are these materials when they’re at home?

Well, nylon and polyester are the most popular choices for outdoor gear thanks to their resistance to abrasions and general durability. Both fabrics are constructed from plastic fibers, and the term we used to describe the thickness of the fibers is deniers’ (or just ‘D’). The greater the denier, the tougher the fabric – simple.

210D nylon is at the lower end of the outdoor gear spectrum, with robust backpacks typically being constructed from 400-600D nylon. However, the double ripstop nylon material has been cleverly crafted to prevent rips and to enhance durability, which makes up for the fibers being slightly thinner than expected.

Furthermore, the thicker polyester used for the accents and base will further add to the longevity of the pack and stop any hole from forming in the base.

Water-resistant?

As well as being hardy, nylon and polyester, like all plastics, are water-resistant too. Sure, this pack would get soggy if it took a tumble overboard, but it can certainly stand up to some splashes. Plus, for more serious rainfall, simply whip out the integrated rain cover, a feature that we love, to keep your gear dry.

Overall, the Volt 60 does a great job of providing durability and water resistance without cranking up the price tag. Although there are undeniably more robust materials out there, this paco is certainly tougher than most others in its price range.

Carrying Comfort

Whether you’re summiting a mountain, trekking through forests, or making your way from one country to another, carrying comfort is key for any pack you’ll be using day in day out. After all, the last thing you want is to wake up so sore you dread putting your pack on again… so, how does the Volt 60 perform in terms of comfort?

Frame

One of our favorite things about the Volt 60 is its weight distribution – there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re carrying your entire pack directly on your shoulders. The LightWire peripheral frame and frame sheet not only spread weight evenly across the whole of the back panel but also direct weight away from the shoulders towards the hips, perfect.

Backpanel

The back panel itself is lined with padded foam that keeps you close to your load, but, don’t worry, the foam is covered with mesh to maintain airflow and reduce back heat – phew.

Sizing, straps, and belts

Although the Volt 60 comes in just one size, that doesn’t mean it takes a one-size-suits-all approach. The harness is adjustable and can accommodate torsos ranging from 17 to 22 inches. Again, the hip belt can fit a range of hip sizes and it’s also very well padded, and the sternum strap is adjustable too. On top of that, this pack also features load lifter straps to alleviate weight from the shoulders, yay. All of these help to ensure a great fit and weight distribution overall.

Organization and Accessibility

There’s always the danger of losing track of your essentials when using a big pack and that’s why all good ones come with plenty of organizational features. No matter whether it’s a train ticket, snacks, or a first aid kit, you should always be able to find what you need when you need it when you’re out on the trail. But how well will the Volt 60 organize your gear? In short, pretty well!

Compartments

With a 60L main compartment, the Volt isn’t the largest backpacking bag around. However, you can carry a surprising amount of gear with this versatile pack and there are lots of ways to customize it and make it your own. For instance, we love that the floating top lid extends when you need to accommodate larger loads yet you can remove it entirely when not needed.

We also like that this pack is hydration compatible, which is fantastic if you’re traveling around a hot country or taking a hike on a summer’s day (you will need to pick up the hydration reservoir (up to 3L) separately, though).

Finally, there’s a sleeping bag compartment at the base that can be accessed via its own zipper but, if you prefer, you can remove the divider here and make a more cavernous main compartment – the choice is up to you.

Pockets

We’re pleased to inform you that the Volt 60 comes with a bunch of thoughtfully placed pockets to help you keep your gear organized. Our favorites are the dual hip belt pockets where you can keep essential quick-grab items, such as a train ticket or map, without removing your pack.

As well as proving extra storage capacity, the removable top-lid features dual zip pockets for any nifty items you want to be easily accessible, and there are also two mesh water bottle holders with dual access to reduce time spent fumbling around then you’re thirsty.

There’s also a large ‘shove-it’ pocket/pouch on the front of the pack, which is great for storing extra layers such as a raincoat.

We wouldn’t mind one or two more internal pockets for any extra-small items you want to keep separate but, on the whole, this pack does very well in terms of organizational capacity.

Extra Features

As we’ve seen, the Osprey Volt 60 is durable, comfortable, and has a bunch of compartments and pockets but, aside from its rain cover, removable top-lid, and optional sleeping bag compartment divider, does it have any other quirky features?

Yepp! It features twin loops for carrying ice axes or trekking poles, ‘Stow-on-the-Go’ trekking pole attachment points, sleeping pad straps at the base that means you don’t have to waste space inside your pack, and side compression straps to cut down on bulk and further aid even weight distribution.

Plus, dual daisy chains on the front of the pack mean you can clip on extra bits of gear there, and the removable top lid also features web attachment points. Oh, and we almost forgot, the sternum strap has an integrated whistle to help you get attention during emergencies.

60L might not be the largest capacity for a backpacking bag, but it’s not the smallest either. With a removable lid and tonnes of external attachment points, this pack can accommodate way more gear than you might think at first glance, making it incredibly versatile.

Value For Money

The Osprey Volt 60 is a fantastic pack offering incredible comfort and a bunch of thoughtful touches. With a low price tag to boot, this pack offers better value for money than most others on the market – well done Osprey! Oh… and it’s covered by a lifetime warranty too, so no worries on that front.

Rating

With an overall rating of 92, the Volt 60 has performed very well against our rating system.

It lost a few points for not losing absolute premium materials but, then again, this would certainly impact the price of the pack. We’d also like to see a couple of internal small pockets but otherwise, we can’t fault this pack in terms of organization, extra features, and value for money – well-done Osprey!

Verdict

So, all-in-all, what do we think of the Osprey Volt 60?

For its price range, it offers an unprecedented amount of extra features and thoughtful touches. Plus, the ability to strap on tonnes of gear, expand the top lid, and add or remove a sleeping bag divider means you really can make this bag your own and use it for various trips. It also offers excellent weight distribution thanks to its frame and various adjustable straps – an essential feature of any backpacking pack.

Durable, comfortable, and covered by an unlimited warranty, there’s no reason why this pack won’t be your backpacking partner for years to come!