Skip to main content

Osprey's ultralight Levity backpack wows judges at Europe's 2017 OutDoor show

Osprey is eyeing the ultralight market with its 2018 backpack lineup. The European division of the backpack manufacturer was showing off part of its 2018 backpack collection at the recent Friedrichshafen OutDoor trade show, one of the top trade events for the European outdoor community. The Winner of the OutDoor award for the best backpack was the company’s new ultralight Levity backpack.

Dubbed “The Ventilated Pinnacle” of design, the Levity is the lightest pack made by Osprey. The 60-liter version weighs in at 1.8 pounds, a featherweight backpack compared to Osprey’s standard packs like the Aether AG 60 which tip the scales at the five-pound mark. As noted by the panel of judges for the OutDoor trade show, the Levity “definitely lives up to its name,” and “packs of this volume don’t get any lighter.”

Recommended Videos

The Levity is a combination of innovative materials and design. The backpack is constructed using Osprey’s new lightweight NanoFly fabric and the company’s popular Airspeed suspension. The suspended mesh back system provides cooling airflow and helps to distribute weight evenly across the back and hips.

Light on weight but not on features, the Levity ships with lightly padded straps and a waistbelt that is similar in design to the company’s existing day backpacks. Both the straps and the waist belt are constructed with mesh for ventilation. The backpack has plenty of storage with a large center compartment for clothes and gear, a back panel mesh storage pocket for maps and other easily accessible items, and side storage pockets suitable for large water bottles. Unlike other ultralight backpacks that use a roll-top closure, the Osprey Levity has a roomy top-lid that can be used to store keys, headlamps, and other small items.

Osprey Europe showcased both a 60L version of the Levity that is designed for long, multi-day treks and a smaller 45L version suitable for short overnight hikes. In addition to the Levity, Osprey also unveiled an updated version of its Exos pack and a new female specific version dubbed the Eja. Both the Exos and Eja feature the company’s AirSpeed suspended mesh back system and ExoForm hip belt and harness. Though heavier than the Levity, the new Exos and Eja strike an excellent balance between comfort and lightweight design.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Aventon Abound SR e-bike (Winner Selected)
aventon abound sr e bike giveaway january 2025 dt

If you've been trying to save up for an electric bike but life keeps getting in the way, why not try your luck in this giveaway for the Aventon Abound SR? It's made by one of the top makers of electric bikes, and here's your chance to get one as a prize!

Joining the giveaway is extremely easy, so there's really no reason not to enter if you've always wanted an e-bike. We wish you the best of luck in this giveaway!
Giveaway Has Ended
Enter here to win the Aventon Abound SR

Read more
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more