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Through-hiker and serial adventurer Kate Donald has just lately upgraded to Osprey’s Eja Professional 55 after a few years with the earlier Eja 58. Gram counting, meet options and luxury – we reckon you two will get alongside simply tremendous.
On my first ever long-distance hike alongside the Australian Alps Strolling Observe (AAWT), Osprey’s Eja 58 was my sole companion. It was the right backpack to take me 650km+ throughout the rugged expanse of the Excessive Nation.
It was light-weight, breathable, dependable, however most significantly, comfy. Now, as I put together for my subsequent thru-hike, 1100km on the Heysen Path, I’m thrilled to embrace the subsequent evolution in ultralight backpacking: the upgraded Osprey Eja Professional 55 backpack.
Observe: The Eja Professional is the ladies’s model of this pack, the boys’s is known as the Exos Professional. The options are the identical however some weight and dimension specs differ, as do colors.
Learn extra: In a single day Mountain climbing Packing Checklist with 20+ Necessities
Who’s Osprey?
In the event you’ve ever skilled the sheer bliss of backpack consolation, chances are high you’re conversant in Osprey. Famend for his or her ergonomic and high-quality designs, Osprey creates packs and luggage that cater to almost each out of doors journey.
Aside from utilising supplies with a low environmental affect together with using recycled materials, their dedication to sustainability encompasses a stellar restore and guarantee program, guaranteeing gear longevity and higher bang to your buck.
Learn extra: First Look: Osprey’s Exos/Eja Professional is the Optimum Through-Mountain climbing Backpack
Fast Specs of the Eja Professional
Weight: 870g (XS/S) and 930g (M/L)
Capability: 52L (XS/S) and 55L (M/L)
Load vary: 5-18kg
Value: $459.95 RRP
The Design
The Eja Professional embodies a sleeker and lighter model of its beloved predecessor, the Eja, retaining Osprey’s signature options just like the totally adjustable match and quantity flexibility.
It’s accessible in two sizes – XS/S 52L and M/L 55L, alongside its male counterpart, the Exos Professional. The ladies’s match is particularly designed for the curve of a feminine physique; barely shorter and narrower than the boys’s.
The design is what makes this pack distinctive when in comparison with different ultralight packs. With its 3.5mm powder-coated Lightwire body, it sits comfortably with the curve of my again, not like different ultralight packs I’ve tried on.
Most ultralight packs save weight by eradicating the body and padding on the again, leading to a horrible barrel formed sack. The Airspeed Suspension, tensioned again panel, is a pleasant addition to supply air flow and conveniently stops any lumps or bumps within the pack from digging in. So while the Eja Professional won’t be as mild as its frame-free opponents, such because the Hyperlite Unbound 55L (879 grams), it’s a notably higher match.
The pack has an adjustable torso and sternum strap heights, so you possibly can additional customized tailor the match to your physique form. The sternum straps have a safe eye loop system that may be adjusted to 3 totally different heights.
The again panel, alternatively, utilises a ladder-like system that slides up and down with a bar insert to maintain in place.
While it is a fast and simple mechanism to make use of, I discovered on my second use of the pack it popped open continuously when taking the pack on and off. It’s a straightforward repair, just by wrapping some duct tape across the bar to make it bigger and cease it coming out of its ladder rung, nonetheless I really feel the previous mechanism on the common Eja was a greater design, albeit heavier.
In placing a stability between weight and luxury, the Eja Professional sacrifices some padding for Osprey requirements but nonetheless outshines within the ultralight pack realm.
It has EVA foam padded hip belt and shoulder straps, that might not be as cushioning because the luxurious 3D printed lumbar help of the UNLTD™ AG 64 Osprey pack I’ve, however consider the Eja Professional is barely a fraction of the load with the UNLTD™ weighing a whopping 2.5kg.
The Material
The pack is created from bluesign® authorized Nanofly™; a mix of a 100D Nylon stretch material and a 200D UHMWPE (Extremely-Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene) ripstop material. The principle material is exceptionally robust, mild, and abrasion resistant. Nonetheless, I might make sure to take care of the stretch nylon facet panels.
While the Eja Professional did come out utterly unscathed via the head-high bush of Mount Jagungal, a phrase of warning from packs previous; the softer material of those facet panels can tear extra simply within the unforgiving Australian bush, as I learnt with the unique Eja on the overgrown trails of the AAWT.
While the outer material has a water repellent coating, like most packs, it’s not totally waterproof (seams are usually not sealed) so I might nonetheless use a rain cowl or pack liner. Osprey guarantee on their web site that the DWR (Sturdy Water Repellent) remedy is made with out PFAS which is a dangerous chemical that stays within the setting.
Weight
What really units the Eja Professional aside is its spectacular load vary. It’s able to shouldering 5-18kg whereas tipping the scales at a mere 930g (M/L). It is a notable improve over the Eja 58 which weighed 1280g (M/L) with solely a 14-16kg load capability. It’s 20% lighter and that’s an enormous deal.
Weight financial savings have been made with skinny compression straps and smaller buckles (amongst different issues), some might have considerations relating to the pack’s sturdiness. Whereas clips and straps might seem delicate, I’ve full confidence in Osprey’s high quality and their ‘All Mighty Guarantee’ (restore coverage) may supply some reassurance if points come up.
Aesthetic
Regardless of Osprey’s traditional vibrant backpacks, the understated color schemes of the ‘Pro’ vary; Dale Gray and Poinsettia Purple for the Eja Professional and Dale Gray and Agam Blue for the Exos Professional, left me feeling a tad underwhelmed.
Some manufacturers are opting to return to the boring tones of recent civilisation; greys, blacks, whites – however personally, I like the pop of color gear can deliver to my journey footage. Name me useless, however I might have cherished this pack much more if it seemed as cool as the brand new Tempest Velocity 20L, additionally from Osprey.
Efficiency
The Options
Regardless of its featherweight design, the Eja Professional doesn’t skimp on options. Boasting a detachable zip-up 9L lid (weighing 80g), it presents the choice to shed quantity and weight for shorter in a single day journeys.
There’s a built-in flap jacket to guard the primary compartment from the weather when the lid is off. It has a wide-mouth drawstring prime entry, nonetheless I might have cherished to see a roll-top as an alternative, as I do marvel how nicely the built-in flap jacket protects the packs opening at full capability. I’m a pack-liner kind-a-gal, so this isn’t a problem for me, nonetheless if it begins to rain, I might be throwing on a rain cowl ASAP, simply to be secure.
There are three outer pockets – two stretch facet panels and one entrance material compression pocket. The facet pockets are good for storing water bottles or a rain jacket, as they’ve an extra facet opening for easy-to-reach entry with out taking the pack off. These compression pockets have adjustable and detachable straps to make sure the contents are safe and the pack is compressed.
Not like the unique Eja, the Eja Professional has a bit of the primary ripstop material over the entrance pocket, a much-needed improve in the event you ask me. I discovered on the AAWT, I tore a couple of holes on this piece of stretch material from chucking the bag on the bottom or sitting on the pack at lunch.
The hipbelt pockets are a contentious matter. The pack has one elasticised and one zip pocket on the waist harness, that aren’t detachable just like the Osprey Ariel Professional improve. While some folks have informed me these are too small for his or her cellphone, the elasticised pocket snuggly suits my iPhone 13 Professional, and I discovered the zip pocket is the right stasher for my lip balm, sunscreen stick, satellite tv for pc cellphone, and a snack.
All pockets have a easy black wire pull tag, and there are ice-axe service straps too, nonetheless in my quest to turn out to be an ultralight hiker, I minimize these off nearly instantly, as I felt like the additional 10g weight was a bit of pointless.
Value
The Osprey Eja Professional 55 is priced competitively amongst ultralight backpacks. Most good high quality, ultralight backpacks of the same dimension would retail anyplace between $300, to upwards of $600 relying on the model and material. The Eja Professional/Exos Professional retail for round $459.95. It appears a good value for the standard of the pack, and it’s usually on sale at shops like Wild Earth.
For me, the Osprey Eja Professional epitomises the model’s dedication to innovation and luxury. With a stripped-back, ultralight design, it proves that weight saving doesn’t have to compromise match or performance. It’s poised to turn out to be a path favorite for thru-hikers and I’m thrilled to make it my sole companion on the Heysen Path, a visit the place each gram goes to rely.
