Owner Review:

Osprey Helios 14 Daypack

Date: March 12th, 2004

Reviewer Information

Name: Jim Sabiston
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 3" (1.9 m)
Weight: 207 lb (94 k)
Torso Length: 22.5 in (57 cm)
Email address: JimSabis(at)aol(dot)com
State: New York
Country: USA

Backpacking Background:

I've been camping for several decades. I joined the Adirondack Mountain Club four years ago, the Appalachian Mountain Club a year later and am active in both. I have also expanded my backpacking to include more winter trips, mountaineering and backcountry cross country skiing, and participated in the AMC's Winter Mountaineering training program with Chauvin International Climbing Guides. More recently, I have actively studied ways to backpack lighter and more efficiently. During the summer months, my style tends toward very light, but not quite ultralight. I use a hammock or tarp for warm weather, and a small four-season tent for winter trips. Most of my other gear is very changeable, as I am constantly experimenting with gear and techniques.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Osprey Packs
Year of Manufacture: 2002
URL: http://www.ospreypacks.com/
Size: Medium/Large (Small/Medium also available)
Color: Nectar Yellow (Black also available)
Listed weight: 1 lbs. 13 oz (830 g)
Weight as purchased: 2 lbs. 0 oz. (1.53 kg)
Pack Capacity: size Large - 900 cu in (14 L)
Pack Features: Hydration sleeve, adjustable harness, Hypalon patch for light or reflector, front compression panel with side mesh pockets, webbing hip belt.
MSRP: N/A

Overview:

The Osprey Helios 14 is an innovative daypack with a number of unique features which make it stand out from the more typical daypack crowd. First, the shape of the daypack is long and relatively narrow for its volume. The next feature that stands out is the compression panel. The body of the panel is made of foam reinforced nylon which gives it a firm, flat shape. The mesh side pouches are attached to the pack body at the foam suspension panel and then to the compression panel, rather than the pack body. This results in a single, large continuous pocket, which wraps around the lower portion of the pack body. The panel curves underneath the bottom of the pack body and actually becomes the bottom of the daypack. At the very top of the panel is a Hypalon patch intended as an attachment point for a reflector or signal light.

         

The compression panel is held in place by a clever elastic shock cord system. Looking at the panel, one sees what appears to be a fairly typical X-patterned shock cord. Closer examination reveals that the shock cord does not terminate on the compression panel. Instead, the upper ends extend to the body of the pack, where the ends pass through webbing loops on either side of the pack and then travel to the top of the pack. At the top of the pack, the cord meets itself and passes through a unique cam adjuster. The shock cord ends are nicely finished with black plastic tips, formed to assist in grasping them. I guide the cords back to the nylon webbing loops and tuck them in for a neater appearance.

This design allows the compression panel tension to be adjusted with a single pull at the cam adjuster located right at the top of the pack body. The cam itself has a release loop at the top that will release the cam’s grip on the shock cord when pulled.  Immediately adjacent to the cam is a nicely designed and detailed lifting handle. The handle is made of nylon webbing with a handsome, soft rubber handle molded in place. The ends of the webbing are sewn into the pack body seaming. These numerous details highlight the high level of finish in evidence throughout the pack.

The body of the pack is divided into three pockets. On the top front is a small pocket, handy for storing small items, such as a compass or minimal first aid kit. The main body has two pockets, each with its own zipper, located at the very top of the pack. The pockets are separated by a panel of light nylon fabric. The forward pocket (the one closest to the back when worn, is intended to hold a hydration bladder. There is no dedicated exit port for a water hose, rather the zipper is left partially open where the hose would exit the pack. The main pocket is large enough to hold a considerable amount of gear.

The suspension is one of the places where the Osprey Helios 14 really shines. It is designed with a sliding yoke which allows a very wide range of adjustment. The yoke is held in place by a large hook and loop panel. The shoulder straps are anchored to the very top of the yoke, which is stiffened with yet another foam panel. The straps are anatomically shaped, made from thin nylon sheathed foam. A webbing strap runs through sliding buckles at the very top of the pack body, over the yoke and onto the outer face of the shoulder straps, where they are sewn into a daisy-chain loop on each strap. The webbing then continues to the bottom of each strap, where it terminates in an adjusting buckle. A sternum strap slides along this section. The right hand sliding buckle for the sternum strap has a hose clip permanently mounted to it. The webbing hip belt is another unique feature, in that it starts as a wide nylon panel (at the forward edge of the mesh pocket panels, where they meet the foam suspension panel) and splits, the bottom melding into the hip belt, and the top serving as the attachment point for the shoulder straps. The final item in the suspension is the foam back panel. Unlike most packs of this size, which use a simple panel of flat, unshaped foam (if they use anything at all) the Helios 14 has a thick, stiff corrugated foam panel which is covered by an open mesh, heavy nylon material, designed to promote air circulation.

All materials and construction details are of the highest quality.

Field Experience:

As a pretty big guy with a long torso, I have long had problems finding smaller packs that were comfortable. The Osprey Helios 14 is the first daypack I ever owned that solved this problem, simply because it fit properly. The thoughtful suspension design, more like that in a backpack, coupled with the sliding shoulder harness yoke, allows the pack to have a very wide range of adjustment. Adjusting the yoke position is a simple matter of separating the hook and loop attachment and sliding the yoke up or down in its sleeve until the most comfortable point is found. Then just press the hook and loop panel back together and cinch the shoulder strap webbing. The pack is very adjustable and supremely comfortable. A favorite trick is to occasionally loosen the shoulder straps a bit, letting the pack fall away from my back to promote air circulation, thus promoting cooling. The ‘hip wing’ design of the hip belt/shoulder strap attachment point keeps the pack very stable, even when worn loosely in this fashion. If the climbing should get a bit more technical, it is a simple matter to snug the shoulder straps back up.

Osprey describes the Helios 14 as a general purpose pack, good for hiking or cycling and this description mirrors my experience precisely. The well designed and secure suspension makes it an ideal pack for bicycle daytrips or errands around town. The Helios 14 sees weekly use on Sunday mornings when I grab my bike and go for a quick ride to the local bakery or deli for the family breakfast. The pack is extremely stable and it is easy to forget it is there. My Camelback Unbottle slides perfectly into the designated sleeve and the hose pops neatly into the clip on the right shoulder strap, where it is readily accessible for a quick sip.

The Helios 14 sees year round use on the local trails and Catskill Mountains. The size makes it perfect for day hikes regardless of the season. It is excellent for cross-country skiing or snowshoe day trips as long as I am not headed anywhere that might require that I carry either the snowshoes or the skis on the pack. The lack of a rigid suspension makes the Helios 14 less than ideal for this. It can be done, but the pack is clearly not designed for it. The pack is so comfortable that I sometimes tend to push its limits. The pack does reach a capacity limit for cold weather back country day trips, however. The full hydration bladder makes a pretty significant dent in the pack volume which competes directly with the space needed for cold weather insulating layers and emergency gear, so I reluctantly switch to a larger pack if much of this type of gear is called for.

I have come up with a system which allows for winter use when the day is to be spent in milder terrain, where there is little chance of having to carry skis or snowshoes, but this required a small modification (more of an addition, really) to the pack. Right where the hip belt meets the fabric hip wings, I sewed in a 3 in (76 mm) bit of nylon webbing, one on each side of the hip belt. This serves as a convenient mounting point for any number of items (such as a camera pouch or snack bag), but is most commonly used as an attachment point for a 16 oz (.47 L) Outdoor Research Water Bottle Holder and a 16 oz (.47 L) Nalgene Lexan water bottle. I leave the hydration bladder home and split the water supply between the hip belt location, a small 16 oz. (.47 L) Thermos and a single 32 oz (.95 L) Nalgene Lexan water bottle, the latter two items residing in the main pack. This combination leaves enough room for an extra fleece layer and minimal emergency equipment (a small self-inflating foam pad and a bivy) along with the usual day hike supplies. This has allowed me to use the Helios 14 for very long skiing and snowshoe day trips when the need to carry extra clothing and winter gear might have otherwise forced to leave it home. The pack is so comfortable that I decided it was worth the extra effort to make it work. The hydration sleeve also makes a perfect place to keep trail maps!

I usually keep a waterproof shell in the pouch created by the compression panel, with sundry items, such as a headlamp, knife, snacks, etc., in the mesh side panels. The compression is adjusted by pulling on the shock cords where they exit the cam lock on the very top of the pack. Theoretically, the tension is released by tugging on the pull loop on top of the cam lock. In practice, the operation of the cam lock is less than perfect, however. Tightening works fine, but when I pull on the release ring it very often pulls right out. I’ve gotten into the habit of ‘setting and forgetting’ the tension, but on the rare occasion when I do release the tension, these days I carefully loosen the lock and manually pull the shock cords from the bottom of the cam. This is a minor inconvenience.

The only other concern is the durability of the light nylon panel which divides the hydration sleeve from the main pack. Constructed of a light taffeta type of nylon, it has torn at the very top of the pack. There is a 3 in (76 mm) tear where the nylon has pulled from the top seam. This is strictly a cosmetic issue at this point and has had absolutely no effect on the function of the pack. A slightly heavier fabric might be better used in this high traffic area.

Things I Like:

1 – Well made with quality materials.
2 – Many clever, functional features.
3 – superior suspension and comfort.

Things I Don’t Like:

1 – That top cam lock needs some work.
2 - Needs a more durable fabric between the hydration sleeve and main pack.

Summary:

The Osprey Helios 14 is easily my favorite daypack. The combination of well thought out design, features and comfort make it a joy to wear and use, whether cycling, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or just getting the family breakfast! The suspension easily handles any load I am willing to cram into it. I expect to be happily using the Helios 14 for many years to come.