Outside’s Gear of the Year Award is given the very best in adventure gear. Each winning product has gone through a rigorous testing process by Outside and deemed to be the best in its category. The winners are all featured in the annual summer Buyer’s Guide, which reaches more than 1.3 million frequent gear purchasers.
“We tested a lot of great big haulers this year," said Outside’s Executive Editor Sam Moulton. “But the Xenith 88 was hands-down the best of the bunch. You get a bevy of user-friendly features in an impressively lightweight and breathable package, but what really sold us was the customizable fit: the heat-moldable hipbelt and shoulder harness allow you to truly shape the pack to fit your body.”
As stated in the issue: “With bigger packs, it’s all about suspension and fit. Testers raved about how easy it was to tailor the Xenith to their bodies: the pack comes in three sizes, and you can choose between four shoulder-harness and heat-moldable-hipbelt options. The result is downright clingy – in a good way…Despite the huge capacity and full array of features, the Xenith still weights a few pounds less than some of its competitors.”
"The Outside Buyer’s Guide is a renowned and highly-anticpated resource for outdoor enthusiasts, and we’re excited and gratified to be recognized with a 2013 Gear of the Year award,” said Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs founder and head designer. “The Xenith pulled together many of the best features and design elements embodied in proven styles like our Aether and Ariel. With the addition of innovative fabrics, new materials technology, and near custom-fit engineering, we created a pack that can painlessly haul big loads mile after mile.”
The Xenith 88, which retails for $349, provides deluxe features, optimal organization and gear access for extended or weeklong backpacking trip while providing comfort and superb carrying ability. It features the LightWire™ peripheral frame suspension for optimal load transfer, and the innovative BioForm4 CM™ hipbelt and harness, which provide a supportive and highly customizable fit. Specially trained staff at CM™ certified dealers use an Osprey oven to custom mold the hipbelt for each individual customer to deliver a precise, personalized fit, superior comfort, load control and long-lasting support. In addition, the Xenith 88 features a super-convenient new way to carry a reservoir. The external hydration sleeve in the backpanel simplifies refilling and protects the pack’s contents from spills.
The Xenith 88 is part of the Xenith series, which also includes the Xenith 105 ($379) and Xenith 75 ($319). Xena, the women’s specific series, is tailored to a woman’s body and includes the same feature set. Xena is available in two sizes: Xena 85 ($349) and Xena 70 ($319).
Osprey Packs
Independent since 1974 and anchored by the design genius of company founder and owner, Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs has long set the standard for creating innovative, high quality gear carrying equipment. The collection includes packs and bags designed to help adventurers enjoy their outdoor, biking and travel pursuits.
The location of company headquarters in Cortez, Colorado, near the rugged San Juan Mountains on the edge of desert canyon country, provides a constant inspiration and a superb testing ground for Osprey products. Osprey also maintains a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, near the factories where they manufacture their products, ensuring face-to-face relationships and transparency with their suppliers. In 2009, Osprey opened a design office in Mill Valley, California, a hub of design talent and the birthplace of mountain biking. All three of these offices play a crucial role in creating Osprey gear that lasts a lifetime.
To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2009, Osprey launched the All Mighty Guarantee, an enhancement of a lifetime warranty that was already one of the most robust in the industry. Free of charge, the company will repair any damage or defect in its product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Every Osprey product reflects the company’s commitment to protect the wild places its customers love to explore. For more information, visit www.ospreypacks.com.
Julie Atherton / JAM Media Collective / julie@jamcollective.net / 415-839-7546
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