OSPREY Mutant 38 Backpack

Comments about OSPREY Mutant 38 Backpack:

I've been using this pack as a day pack for rock climbing. The approaches vary from 15 minutes to about a half an hour. It's got all kinds of space. I'm typically able to pack in my rope, rack, draws, shoes, harness, 1.5 liters of water in the onboard hydration "sack," snacks, extra clothing and various other small items. Getting the helmet into the pack, with all the other stuff, is a little too much. It can fit if I use the spindrift collar, but generally I clip it to the outside of the pack. The rope can be carried under the lid easily if you prefer that sort of set up.
The pack carrys very well. It's very comfy and doesn't encumber movement at all. The waistbelt can be tucked around the back of the pack to make room for the harness if need be.
The Mutanat is a top loader. Frankly, I'd prefer a design that allowed both top loading and clam shell access, but packs that had that sort of set up weren't in my budget. The pack's lid is very easy to access, the zippers are easy to grab. I love the "Z compression" straps, which make cinching the pack up a "one pull" exercise. The haul loop set up, though I've never used it, seems a good design. These extra loops have come in very handy when I want to clip items to the outside of the pack.
Did I say this pack was comfy....
Ok, one downside. At least for me, the framesheet didn't seem stiff enough for the pack. My torso just barely qualifies as "large," so this may have had something to do with it, but with all my climbing gear in the pack, it would "bend" away from my back, creating a good size gap between me and the pack. It wasn't uncomfortable, but the pack carried a little "weird" this way. I think Osprey was trying to defeat this problem when they designed in the "bivy pad" thingy. But, for me, it didn't add enough stiffness to the pack to defeat the gap problem. I ended up going out and getting some plastic sheeting (a "garage sale" sign), cut it to fit, and with this mod, I'm very happy. The pack fits and carrys great.
Please note, I am, as I mentioned, right on the cusp of needing a large sized pack, and also, I'm packing it differently than Osprey would recommend. The company suggests putting somewhat lighter stuff in the bottom, with the heaviest stuff in the middle. For me, this would mean putting the harness at the bottom with the rope on top of that, not ideal.
For some, my concerns might be a deal breaker. However, it is difficult to find such an otherwise great pack, at 38 liters, with the increadible gaurentee that Osprey offers, for the price point of the Mutant.

Comments about OSPREY Mutant 38 Backpack:

Bought this bag as an ice/alpine pack and its pretty awesome! The only Cons are the outdated Tool carry system (uses the old style loops) and the lack of a sturdy frame which isnt necessarily bad depending on how you look at things. Other than that its bomb proof, has great features and can also be used as a bomber crag pack! Oh and the durability is way above alot of other packs, You really cant go wrong with it!