Osprey Hornet 46 Pack...

[Buffalo Skipper]

The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well.

jeffbfox, can you tell me more about this suspension? And prehaps how it compares to other Osprey suspensions?

[Singletrack]

Thanks for the welcome! I do work for Osprey packs and would be happy to clear up any questions that may arise on the WhiteBlaze forums

Thanks Jeff, I once had the Exos 34. It was a size medium. It fit well. I am confused about what size would fit me in the Osprey Hornet 46. I have a 19.5 inch torso. If I were to decide to order, should I order the M/L? By the way, I found the Exos 34 volume, a little bit too tight for my gear.

[jeffbfox]

When are you going to put a functional, swappable hip belt on the Exos?

No plans for a swappable hipbelt on the Exos as it is designed to be really lightweight, minimalist pack. Look for a swappable hipbelt on the Atmos/Aura series which shares the same Airspeed suspension as the Exos in 2012.

[FamilyGuy]

Jeff - can you tell us about the suspension because my discussions with some of the testers of the prototype models indicate no suspension. However, you mention that it has two vertical rods. Thanks,

[sandylwes]

Jeff- How about the mesh hip pockets, any chance they will change those? Too much dirt and weather gets into them to be useful...
thanks
sandy

[jeffbfox]

Thanks Jeff, I once had the Exos 34. It was a size medium. It fit well. I am confused about what size would fit me in the Osprey Hornet 46. I have a 19.5 inch torso. If I were to decide to order, should I order the M/L? By the way, I found the Exos 34 volume, a little bit too tight for my gear.

With a 19.5" torso, I would recommend the M/L size in the Hornet 46. In general the packs that are sized as S/M and M/L come with a recommendation of S/M for torsos under 19" and M/L for torsos over 19". We do always recommend trying one on at an Osprey dealer to confirm which one is most comfortable for you.

[jeffbfox]

Jeff- How about the mesh hip pockets, any chance they will change those? Too much dirt and weather gets into them to be useful...
thanks
sandy

No planned changes for the mesh hip pockets at this time.

[mister krabs]

Thanks Jeff for your answers, I know a lot of people including myself are pretty exited over this new pack. I'll be looking into the 26 as a replacement for my 15 year old simplex, a great pack that has served well.

[FamilyGuy]

Well Jeff was wrong with respect to a suspension. There isn't one.

Here is the e-mail I received from Osprey directly:

"The Hornet has a "spacer mesh backpanel". Which consists of a "super light spacer mesh vented backpanel with a removable foam pad." So, there is not a frame. I have attached a link to the Hornet from our website that has some good photos for you to use as reference as well"

Makes me wonder if Jeff is correct on the other claims....

[jeffbfox]

Well Jeff was wrong with respect to a suspension. There isn't one.

Here is the e-mail I received from Osprey directly:

"The Hornet has a "spacer mesh backpanel". Which consists of a "super light spacer mesh vented backpanel with a removable foam pad." So, there is not a frame. I have attached a link to the Hornet from our website that has some good photos for you to use as reference as well"

Makes me wonder if Jeff is correct on the other claims....

The Hornet 46 does indeed have internal, vertical delrin side rods that provide a suspension to carry larger loads as I stated in my original post ("The Hornet 46 actually has vertical delrin side rods that help support the load and act as a pseudo frame making it carry comfortably to 30 lbs as well."). I have one in my hands right now and can confirm this to be true. The Hornet 24 and Hornet 36 do not have the Delrin rods. That may be the cause of some of the confusion here. To confirm this please click on the "Owners Manual" link on the Hornet page and read about the Suspension under unique features of the Hornet 46:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/detail.ph...specifications

I have deferred from answering the questions on details of how this compares to other suspensions until I hear a response from our product design team. I do know that the Delrin rods offer support and act as the suspension on this pack but want to make sure that I am fully informed before replying to that question.

[FamilyGuy]

Well color me confused. I received that e-mail from your customer service just this morning. Perhaps he / she was mistaken as to what version has what?

Thanks for the link.

[Buffalo Skipper]

I have deferred from answering the questions on details of how this compares to other suspensions until I hear a response from our product design team. I do know that the Delrin rods offer support and act as the suspension on this pack but want to make sure that I am fully informed before replying to that question.

Thanks for touching base on this Jeff. Though a technical and detailed answer is welcome, I was really just looking for some generalizations about the differences. Though I have several packs, I have as of yet paid little attention to the structure and design of the suspensions. I will take them out and take a genuine closer look. Again thanks and I am looking forward to your reply...

[jeffbfox]

Jeff - can you tell us about the suspension because my discussions with some of the testers of the prototype models indicate no suspension. However, you mention that it has two vertical rods. Thanks,

The delrin rods keep the bag from sagging in the middle area. With a load in the pack and no rods the bag will begin to collapse with the pull upwards on the lower shoulder straps – the delrin helps to keep the bags shape and prevent this sagging.

[Singletrack]

Yesterday I recieved the Osprey Hornet 46 that I ordered from REI. If for some reason I decide not to keep it, I can return it to one of their stores for a refund.
When I first opened the box, it looked smaller than the Exos 34, but it was not. I ordered the M/L, and it appears the size of 2760 seems about right, including the pack bag, and top pocket. It is very well built, and many ways similiar to the Exos. Weight 24.6 ounces.
There is a rod, about half the size of a pencil, inside a sleeve running from the top of the back pad, all the way down, and appears to be connected, to the hip belt. The back pad is a nice mesh with a 1/4" hard foam pad. The pad can be removed. But, I think it is necessary for the suspension. Behind the pad is a pocket for a water bladder.
The short wing hip belt, is made of mesh, with zip pockets on both wings. Mesh is only on the inside, where it touches the hips, and silnylon on the front where the zippers are.
The pack bag is roomy, with full length side mesh pockets. Both have a slit about half way down to place a water bottle. There is also a mesh front pocket, similar to the Exos.
By the way, the color is red and black.
I loaded up the Hornet with my base weight gear for summer. Immediately I could tell that the size seemed a bit small. I have a 19 1/2" torso, and a M/L is what is recommeded for my size. The mesh hipbelt felt like it was digging into my hips and sides. There is no foam at all in the hipbelt. Personally, I would of liked to have seen a foam hipbelt and no hipbelt pockets.
I drew a pattern for the inside of the two hipbelt pockets, and cut out two foam inserts to put inside the two hipbelt pockets. The inserts I made, were cut from remnants of an old Walmart convoluted foam pad.
This time I loaded the Hornet up with 19lbs., twice as much as before. This was the fix that was needed, and she hugged my hips, and transfered weight to the hips, like you would expect any good pack to do. No more mesh cutting into the hips and sides. The two foam inserts added 3 tenths of an ounce. Something I wish Osprey had done.
After playing around with the pack, I have gotten it fit better. But, if you have a 21 or larger torso, it may not fit.
I am beginning to like the Hornet, more everyday. I will probably keep it, replacing a Granite Gear Virga, I've had now since they came out. The hip belt on the Hornet, now with the foam I made for the pockets, is far better than the Virga hipbelt. Otherwise the shoulder straps and carrying capacity of the Virga is better.

[Singletrack]

I returned the Hornet 46 back to REI for a refund. The fit of the pack was too small (M/L) I never felt really comfortable, as I did with the Exos 34. Other than that, I really liked the pack.

[bigcranky]

I tried the Hornet 46 in M/L at my local outfitter. It's a well designed pack, very nicely built, and the right size for an ultralight backpacker. But the length is FAR too short for me. (I have an Opsrey Kestrel in M/L size, and it fits fine. Odd.)

[skinewmexico]

I tried the Hornet 46 in M/L at my local outfitter. It's a well designed pack, very nicely built, and the right size for an ultralight backpacker. But the length is FAR too short for me. (I have an Opsrey Kestrel in M/L size, and it fits fine. Odd.)

Seems to be a recurring theme, at least from what I've seen on several forums.

[MedicineMan]

I'm going to gamble on this pack thinking it will be too short as well, if only because of the elongated side pockets. On my ULA the lack of long side pockets is/has been its only detractor and ULA is too busy to mod an existing or make one from new-that's good for ULA but bad for the cf fly pole I carry or the Tenkara rod.
Thanks for the tip on adding some padding to the hip belt pockets-will do.

[Singletrack]

I have heard that Osprey were listening to the complaints, about the too small sizing of the Hornet 46. And will come out in 2012 with the Hornet in a new sizing, just like the Exos series. Anyone have any information about this?

[Big Dawg]

I have heard that Osprey were listening to the complaints, about the too small sizing of the Hornet 46. And will come out in 2012 with the Hornet in a new sizing, just like the Exos series. Anyone have any information about this?

An Osprey rep told me back in September of the same new sizing in 2012, but didn't give an exact date.