The Osprey Aether/Ariel Plus is a series of highly functional, durable, and innovative carrying products designed for adventurers, offering a comfortable and stable carry for heavier loads. This owner's manual provides comprehensive information on the product's features, use, maintenance, customer service, and warranty.
Function Description:
The Aether/Ariel Plus series are high-capacity backpacks engineered to provide a remarkably comfortable carry, even with heavier loads, thanks to its NEW AirScape® injection-molded framesheet. The backpacks are designed for extended adventures, offering ample storage, robust construction, and a highly customizable fit system to ensure optimal load transfer and comfort. The series includes both men's (Aether Plus) and women's (Ariel Plus) specific models, each available in various capacities and sizes to cater to different user needs and body types.
Usage Features:
Shared Features:
The Aether/Ariel Plus backpacks come with a range of shared features that enhance their versatility and user experience:
- Removable Top Lid converts to DayLid daypack: This innovative feature allows the top lid of the main pack to be detached and used as a smaller daypack, perfect for shorter excursions from a base camp. To convert, simply unzip the U-shape zippered compartment and pull out the harness straps. The buckle on the end of the DayLid harness straps attaches to buckles adjacent to the standard top lid buckles. Reversing the process returns it to normal top lid function.
- Included raincover: Made with PFC-free DWR and bluesign®-approved materials, the raincover ensures your gear stays dry in wet conditions. It's easily located in a compartment on the toplid, slips over the pack, and is secured with a cord lock. To prevent mildew, it's recommended to allow the raincover to dry entirely before storing.
- Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment: This feature allows for quick and easy stashing and carrying of trekking poles without removing the pack. Users can adjust poles to their minimum length, insert the basket end into an elasticized loop on the lower left side of the pack, and then secure the handles in a loop on the left harness strap with a cord lock.
- Floating top lid with lash points: The top lid is designed to "float," meaning it can be raised or lowered to accommodate overstuffed loads, while integrated lash points provide additional external attachment options.
- Dual front panel zippered pockets: These pockets offer convenient and easy-access storage for items you need to grab quickly.
- Fabric reinforced front shove-it pocket: A durable, open-access pocket on the front of the pack, ideal for stashing a jacket or other frequently accessed items.
- Large dual-access stretch mesh side water bottle pockets: Designed to hold water bottles, these pockets allow for easy retrieval and storage from two different access points.
- Dual upper/lower side compression straps: These straps help stabilize the pack's load, preventing shifting and maintaining a compact profile. They also offer additional attachment points for external gear.
- Dual front panel compression straps with StraightJacket compression: These straps further stabilize the load and can be attached to additional StraightJacket points when minimal pack volume is needed, cinching down the pack for a more streamlined carry.
- Dual zippered hipbelt pockets: Conveniently located on the hipbelt, these pockets provide quick access to small essentials like snacks, phone, or GPS.
- Dual ice axe loops with bungee tie-offs: Securely attach ice axes or other tools using these dedicated loops and bungee tie-offs. To attach, slide the tool shaft through the top loop, route the handle through the bungee, and tighten the cord lock into the Y-clip.
- Zippered sleeping bag compartment with removable divider: A dedicated lower compartment for a sleeping bag, which can be separated from the main compartment by a removable divider for unimpeded access to the pack interior.
- Removable sleeping pad straps: External straps for attaching a sleeping pad or other bulky gear to the bottom of the pack.
- Internal hydration reservoir sleeve: A dedicated sleeve inside the pack to hold a hydration reservoir, ensuring proper weight distribution and keeping it upright with a buckled loop.
- FlapJacket Cover: When the top lid is removed, the FlapJacket Cover can be unfolded and attached to the front vertical compression straps, providing protection for the pack's opening.
Carry System Features:
The Aether/Ariel Plus series boasts an advanced carry system designed for superior comfort and load transfer:
- LightWire Suspension: A 3.5 LightWire peripheral frame effectively transfers the load to the hipbelt, ensuring stability and support.
- AirScape Backpanel: An injection-molded, die-cut foam AirScape framesheet maintains comfortable back contact with ventilated airflow channels, providing maximum stability for carrying heavy loads. The mesh-covered foam lumbar offers supportive, lightweight, and comfortable contact surfaces.
- Harness: An easily adjustable harness system accommodates various torso lengths. Custom Fit-on-the-Fly Shoulder Straps are included.
- Custom Fit-on-the-Fly Shoulder Strap: These straps allow for a precise shoulder wrap and fit, with spacer mesh fabric providing a soft and comfortable contact surface. They are adjustable by separating the shoulder strap sleeve from the padded shoulder strap via a hook-and-loop closure, sliding the padded strap to the desired length, and using white markings as a guideline for alignment.
- Custom Fit-on-the-Fly Hipbelt: An extendable hipbelt offers a precise fit for varying waist sizes, with incremental length and angle adjustments for a fine-tuned fit. The Crossbody ErgoPull hipbelt pulls weight into the lumbar when tightened, enhancing load transfer by integrating the LightWire frame into the adjustment system for better weight distribution. To adjust, separate a hipbelt wing from the padded hipbelt, guide the padded hipbelt in/out to the desired position, and firmly re-engage the hook-and-loop closure, using white markings as a guideline.
Sizing and Fit Instructions:
Achieving a proper fit is crucial for comfort and efficiency. The manual provides detailed steps for measuring your back and adjusting the pack:
- Position the Pack: Loosely load the pack with 10-20 lbs of gear. Put the pack on and ensure the hipbelt is centered and rests over the hipbone, with padding halfway above/below the hipbone.
- Buckle Hipbelt: Buckle and tighten the hipbelt evenly using Osprey's cross-body ErgoPull. The hipbelt padding should wrap around the hips with approximately 1-3 in./2.5-6 cm. of webbing between the buckle and the hipbelt when tightened.
- Hipbelt Adjustment: Adjust the Custom Fit-on-the-Fly Hipbelt as described above to ensure even weight distribution.
- Tighten Shoulder Strap: Tighten the shoulder harness straps by pulling them down and back.
- Tighten Load Lifters: Pull the load lifters to bring the pack close to the body and stabilize the load. If the torso length is correctly adjusted, load lifters will sit between a 30-60 degree angle and align naturally with the shoulder straps.
- Check Torso Length: Locate the harness yoke (where straps meet at the base of the neck) and the C7 vertebra (large protruding bone at the base of the neck). The yoke should be 1-2 in./2.5-5 cm. below the C7 vertebra.
- Torso Length - Harness Adjustment: If the torso length is too long or short, adjustments may be needed. To lengthen, release ladder locks and slide the harness up along the LightWire frame. To shorten, slide the harness down and tighten webbing at the ladder locks. Use white markings on the backpanel as a guideline.
- Check Harness Fit: Harness straps should wrap fully around the shoulders without gaps. The padded part of the shoulder straps should end 2 in./5 cm. or more below the armpits without topping out.
- Harness/Shoulder Strap Adjustment: If the harness is too small or large, but torso length is correct, adjust the Custom Fit-on-the-Fly Shoulder Strap.
- Buckle the Sternum Strap: Adjust the sternum strap to approximately 2 in./5 cm. below the collarbone.
Maintenance Features:
The manual emphasizes the importance of proper care for the raincover to prevent mildew, advising users to allow it to dry entirely before storing. For comprehensive information on product care, how to pack your pack, and warranty details, users are directed to ospreypacks.com. Osprey prides itself on creating durable products and offers a lifetime guarantee, underscoring their commitment to quality and customer service.
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