When we reviewed Stratos 36, we found it excels in ventilation and comfort, but compared to the Kestrel 38, it performs poorly in terms of convenience and gear capacity. It’s not sewn to the bag and can be detached if needed, so you can take it out and dry separated from the bag. Or if you just want to use the pouch for other stuff. Or maybe an epic one-day hiking trip, when you need a lot of extra supplies and you are not sure if you are going to need to stay for the night too. The separate sleeping bag compartment is big enough, and the sleeping pad straps are strong enough so it doesn’t hang annoyingly when you walk. During our product testing, we discovered that it features a side loophole mount, also known as “stow-on-the-go,” for attaching trekking poles. I personally found this feature to be quite handy.

Whereas the Stratos 36 tends to compress gear when you’re making certain motions or carrying certain types of items, the Kestrel 38 does not. Overall, I would recommend the Kestrel 38 over the Stratos 36 due to its versatility in various hiking situations. Osprey Kestrel 38 Pros & ConsMinimalists and thru-hikers may find it over-featured, with extra compression straps and features like a trekking pole attachment loop on the shoulder strap.

The comfort factor here is truly amazing. Through our evaluation of this product, we determined that the ergonomics are well-designed. What it is perfect for is one-day epic hikes, when you need a lot of gear or fear that you may need to sleep out there. It is for the weekend and the overnight trip, and also for trips up for a week. Capacity: 4/5 stars, adequate capacity. The advertised volume is pretty accurate, I would say it's definitely on the lower end of the estimated volume. It fits all the gear I need, and I find that the capacity is enough. The Osprey Kestrel 38 has side zippers so it is easier for you to reach your stuff in the main compartment. Speaking of the main compartment, you can access using the sleeping bag compartment as well, which is very convenient.When out camping I use a very compact 1 man tunnel tent, with no gear porch. So I have to sleep with my kit inside my tent, which considering I often have valuables in my bag, is no big issue. On previous trips when lugging around my 70 litre osprey, my space inside the tent would be severely compromised by the sheer bulk of the bag and its stiff, heavily padded waist straps. With the Exos 48 there was no such issue. The lightweight nylon compresses well and the super flexible hip straps can easily be compacted flat against the bag, meaning it really didn’t intrude too much on my space at all. The Exos is equipped with several attachment points for various types of gear, so let’s go over them one by one. The build and the materials feel very sturdy. It feels very good overall. Better yet is that Osprey has a great insurance policy called “ All Mighty Guarantee”. Big bump in sustainability with the latest model: PFC-free DWR coating and recycled and bluesign-approved materials.

The suspension system Exos 38 suspension system with the trampoline style tensioned mesh and great ventilation. You can adjust the sternum strap too, just slide it up or down and get it the height you want. The hip belt is wide enough and adjustable, which is always nice. Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility. With my Western Mountaineering AlpinLite, Big Agnes FlyCreek2, self inflating torso ground pad, UL chair (yep, I'm old and it's worth it), LifeStraw, Nalgene, possibles bag, clothes, food and water, it was full and weighed 22 lbs.

Osprey recently updated their longstanding ultralight pack, and the net result is an impressively well-rounded and comfortable design

It is something in between the two. Something that you can take with you for a camping trip that is not lasting longer than a week. However, what the Kestrel 38 has over the Exos 38 is its slimmer and more environmentally conscious design. If you’re tossing up between the 38 and and the Osprey Exos 48 in most cases I recommend going with the 48. Especially if you envision being at or near capacity most of the time.