A "Lightweight" Backpack: Test of the Osprey Levity 45

Curiosity. That's what led me to test the Osprey Levity 45 backpack. I already own a bag (Osprey Aether) with a capacity of 60 L and another bag (Osprey Stratos) of 34 L. Yes, but the difference lies in the weight/volume ratio (0.83 kg for 45 L). At the expense of quality? That's what we are about to find out!

As you might guess, the first impression is the astonishment at the weight of the bag relative to its size. At just 830 g, the Osprey Levity 45 allows you to carry up to 1.5 kg compared to a classic backpack of the same size. Surprisingly, after a few hours on my back, this difference is definitely noticeable.

The carrying structure seems surprisingly rigid, but in use, it didn't bother me at all in the end.

The outer fabric feels a bit too light for long-term use, and right away it's clear that you'll want to avoid putting anything too angular in the bag if you don't want to end up with a tear in the middle of it. Good point: its texture is ideal against light rain and humidity in the absence of a rain cover.

We took the backpack for our 2-week trip to Japan to test travel even lighter and more efficiently than usual. The first step of the test was to protect the Levity 45 for transport in the airplane's baggage hold. Yes, unfortunately, the bag comes without a rain cover or storage cover like the Osprey Ultralight Pack Liner S. Since we didn't want to risk traveling for 2 weeks with a torn bag, we kept the baggage hold test unprotected for the return trip!

Over two weeks of use, the only thing that bothered us a bit, which is logical for such an ultra-light bag, is that it's only possible to retrieve something from the bag from the top. The AirSpeed system for the ventilated back is still as relevant and comfortable as ever.

This bag is designed for multi-day mountain expeditions, not for six-month journeys on buses in Asia or Latin America. Nevertheless, it can easily be used for short to medium trips as well as treks. It seems ideal for the Camino de Santiago or the GR20 trail.

The elastic side and front pockets are perfect for quickly sliding in or grabbing a water bottle, jacket, or sweater... So, it's perfect for not wasting time with each temperature change, rain, or thirst.

Upon return, the bag was not damaged during transport in the hold, even without protection! The fabric is significantly more durable than it appears.

The Osprey Levity 45 backpack is a version adapted to male morphology; the female version does not currently exist, but will likely arrive in the coming months.

If despite its lightness, the bag doesn't suit you when worn on your back (back, shoulder, knee problems...), have a look at my review of the Osprey Rolling Transporter.

The Osprey Levity 45 is a lighter and more robust backpack than it seems. A real pleasure to carry, sometimes frustrating to use when you need to retrieve an item from the bottom of the bag. Not providing a rain cover for an expedition bag is, for me, a significant flaw (but this rain cover Osprey Ultralight Raincover, which weighs 80 g, can easily remedy that). The only color available is gray, which is not my favorite color, and it's especially unfortunate for a bag originally designed for mountain expeditions.

The tested product: Osprey Levity 45

In partnership with Osprey Europe.