GEAR | Tough & Capable – We Review The Osprey Men’s Archeon 45 Recycled Backpack

August 17, 2020 Mark Stuart

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We’re loving seeing more outdoor brands embracing recycled fabric, from the new Vango range of recycled tents and sleeping bags through to the new Osprey Archeon range which we’ve been lucky enough to try. Find out what we thought when we put it to the test.

Osprey Men's Archeon 45 Recycled Backpack

What is it?

Osprey Archeon 45 Men’s Backpack RRP: £220

Our Rating (4.5 / 5)

Stockists

Features

100% Recycled Fabrics
Adjustable AirScape™ backpanel
Compatible with Hydraulics™ and Hydraulics™ LT Reservoir
Dual access mesh side pockets
Fixed lid with dual zippered pockets
Integrated and detachable recycled raincover
Internal hydration sleeve
Internal key attachment clip
Internal mesh side pocket
Metal buckles and componentry
PFC Free DWR Coating
Side compression straps
Sternum strap
Top lid access
Twin ice axe loops
Twin zippered hip belt pockets
Under lid zipped mesh pocket
Walking Pole Attachments
Zippered expanded opening

The verdict

OK so before I get stuck in, let’s first talk about that price tag. £220 is steep for a 45 Litre backpack, so any bag with a price like that is going to have to work hard to impress, and after a couple of months of putting the bag through its paces, I’m glad to say that the Archeon delivered.

Honestly, I don’t think I could ever justify spending that much myself, but that’s because I’m not a hardcore backpacker and use backpacks mainly as travel luggage when camping and for the occasional, staying close to the car, wild camp.

This is a bag that’s packed full of features and it’s tough too. Like all Osprey packs I’ve ever had, you’re paying in part for quality and the build quality and durability of this bag is superb. You can drag it around and basically give it a good battering and it will simply take it.

One of the things I liked most about this backpack was the full-length zip panels which makes access to gear you’ve packed at the bottom of your bag particularly pain-free.

I honestly can’t understate how useful that feature is. During one use, it started to rain and I’d made the rookie mistake of packing my jacket right at the bottom of the bag. Usually, with most top-down packs, you’d need to frantically pull everything out to reach something nestled at the bottom, but the zipped access panel makes it easy to get to anything, no matter where in your pack you’ve put it.

It’s almost a shame that I’m not one for grand multi-day hikes and disappearing into the wilderness for days on end, so honestly, when it comes to performance, I don’t need the very best, but if you do, then I have no doubts that this pack would provide a capable choice.

Pros

Made from recycled materials
Good quality zips and hardware
Clever zipped access
Very comfortable to wear
It looks the business – really like the almost retro styling of the pack
Tough and durable

Cons

It’s quite expensive
It’s heavy

Final say

Our Rating

Quality 5/5

Styling 5/5

Practicality 4/5

Value 4/5

Overall Rating (4.5 / 5)

This backpack is a thing of true beauty and it’s packed full of intelligent features which make it extremely practical in use, it only really loses points in our rating for bulk and weight.

Osprey pack quality in my experience is always second to none, and this is a superb backpack that I have no doubt, will see me through a lifetime of travels.

An Osprey backpack is an investment piece, and whilst you might ponder the heavy price tag, take it from me, if you choose this, you’ll be glad that you did. It looks great, it performs brilliantly and of course, it has sustainable credentials too, so this pack has got an awful lot going for it.

DISCLOSURE | Thank you to Osprey for providing the featured product for us to test. We were not paid to write this review.