(Disclaimer: I purchased mine at Eastern Mountain Sports.)

I haul forty pounds of gear around for work and weather and a standard book-bag style backpack wasn't cutting it. After hemming and hawing over the price of the Kestrel 48 I finally bit the bullet and laid down the cash.

This is easily the most comfortable and versatile pack I've ever had. Between the nine pairs of straps and the fitting I got, it seems to be almost infinitely adjustable to whatever load you're humping.

The waist belt has two long zippered pouches, perfect for stashing trail snacks or other gear you'll want or need to to get to without having to shed the whole pack. For me and my short arms, the side mesh carriers are -just- out of reach. I don't use a climbing pole (most of my adventures are urban) and found the Stow-on-the-Go strap perfectly spaced for holding sunglasses. This may not be what Osprey had in mind, but it's it in the right place.

The back mesh panel doesn't eliminate back sweating, but it helps immensely giving the pack a much more comfortable ride. The rain cover keeps the pack absolutely dry, but even without it a light misting doesn't penetrate at all. It takes all of fifteen seconds to put into place and cinch down tight and even.

If you're new to hiking or just this pack and need more info, point your browser to [...] and you can find all the help you'd need for the pack.

tl;dr: Would unhesitatingly buy again.