Osprey has given its popular Stratos (men's) and Sirrus (women's) hiking pack ranges a 2026 refresh, and after putting the Sirrus 36 and Stratos 44 through their paces over multi-day walks, the testers at Wild Magazine came away impressed by the balance of comfort, durability and sustainability.
The range spans 24L, 34L, 36L and 44L, covering everything from light daywalks to multi-day trips. The new versions are built from Bluesign-approved 210D and 420D recycled nylon that's DWR-treated but free of PFC and PFAS — a meaningful selling point for hikers who care about forever-chemicals. Weights sit at 1.69kg for the Stratos 44 and 1.51kg for the Sirrus 36, with recommended retail prices of $399 and $380 respectively.
Comfort is where these packs earn their keep. The updated Airspeed suspension pairs a suspended mesh backpanel with a powder-coated Lightwire frame, which Osprey claims is up to 40 percent more breathable than the outgoing model — a claim the reviewer couldn't verify but did appreciate on sweaty climbs. The injection-moulded torso adjustment on the 36L and 44L sizes offers five fine-tuning positions, and despite concerns it might dig in, it disappeared under load. Die-cut EVA foam padding is slightly firm but sits in a sensible middle ground between thin-and-flimsy and bulky.
Storage is generous in typical Osprey style: a zippered front stash pocket, roomy hip-belt pockets, a hydration sleeve, reinforced bottle pockets, trekking pole attachments and an ice-axe loop. Everything except the 24L gets a zippered lower compartment with a divider, and the two larger sizes add hidden vertical side zips for internal access — less useful if you use a pack liner. All sizes ship with a removable rain cover stowed in the base.
The main criticism is fixed volume. Unlike Osprey packs with floating lids and stretchy external pockets, the hoods here don't expand, and the front quick-access pocket nibbles at internal space. So while there's plenty of organisation, you can't stretch the capacity when a trip grows beyond plan.
The verdict: subtle but worthwhile updates make the 2026 Stratos and Sirrus a smart pick for eco-minded hikers after a comfortable, hard-wearing pack that handles both weekend overnights and longer walks.
