You may already be familiar with the Osprey line of hiking backpacks for women and men. Perhaps you’re looking for a backpack that is small enough to wear for only one day or overnight. Backpacks that have anywhere between 35 and 50 liters of volume capacity would be optimal for that purpose.
To help you find the best hiking backpacks, we have written this Osprey Stratos 50 vs Kestrel 48 review. We love these backpacks because of their features and quality that will provide you with many years of comfort and durability.
We will first be covering similarities between these backpacks so that you can understand what sets them apart from other models.
Related:Osprey Stratos 34 vs 36: For Night and Day
Osprey Stratos 50 vs Kestrel 48
What The Stratos 50 And The Kestrel 48 Have In Common
You may be wondering why you should purchase either one of these backpacks in the first place. We will give you a brief overview of what they have in common so that you can better understand what they’re all about.
- Pocket configuration: These backpacks have all of the pockets that you would want to organize your items. They have side mesh pockets that stretch wide enough to hold a water bottle. For quick access to your gear in the main compartment, these backpacks offer large panel access. And of course, as is common in the Osprey backpacks, there are about pockets so that you can store small items.
- Removable rain cover: Don’t get caught in the rain without any protection. The Stratos 50 and the Osprey Kestrel 48 have a rain cover that you can pull out from the bottom zippered pocket. Pull the rain cover over your backpack for full protection against downpours. For those who measure every ounce of weight in their backpacks, the rain covers can be completely removed to save some weight.
- Sleeping bag compartment: You may never have guessed that these backpacks actually have a sleeping bag compartment. This is a pretty awesome feature considering that they are small enough to be used as daypacks. They also have sleeping pad straps at the bottom.
Differences Between The Stratos 50 And The Kestrel 48
The Kestrel 48 is generally considered to be a higher-end version of the Stratos 50. It includes more bells and whistles than the Stratos.
Below are just some of the features that both of these backpacks have that make them unique.
Stratos 50 Features
- Side Pannel Zip Access: The main unique feature that the Stratos 50 has is the fact that it has side access to the main compartment. Maybe you have the compression straps since down and don’t want to actually undo the top zipper. Access the gear and you may compartment through the zipper on the side for convenience.
- AirSpeed™ Suspension: This feature provides maximum ventilation by creating an air space between the pack and your back. This makes the Stratos 50 a great pack for warmer climates or for fast-paced outdoor activities.
- Dimensions: 25.6h x 14.2w x 15d (s/m) and 27.6h x 14.2w x 15d inches (m/l)
- Volume: 47 liters (s/m) and 50 liters (m/l)
Kestrel 48 Features
The Kestrel 48 is thought to be more fully-featured than the Stratos 50. See below for the main differences.
- External hydration sleeve: One big consideration in terms of purchasing the Kestrel 48 is the fact that it has an external hydration sleeve. Do you want to purchase a hydration pack for this backpack? It does not come included with one but is compatible with any Osprey hydration pack. If you are interested in keeping hydrated through a hydration pack rather than water bottles, the Kestrel may be for you.
- Daisy chain: We love the fact that the Kestrel 48 has daisy chain attachments along with the front panel. This allows you to hang extra gear from it, such as a bicycle helmet.
- Front mesh pocket: One of the big considerations that people make when it comes to purchasing a backpack is whether there is enough space for large coats or wet gear. The front mesh pocket of the Kestrel 48 serves to allow you to store large items away from the rest of your gear.
- Lightwire frame: The light wire frame of the Kestrel 48 makes carrying this backpack a little bit easier. It gives the impression that you are carrying a lot less than the actual load that you have in your backpack.
- Dimensions: 26h x 15w x 16d (s/m) and 28h x 15w x 16d inches (m/l)
- Volume: 46 liters (s/m) and 48 liters (m/l)
Osprey Stratos 50 vs Kestrel 48: Price Comparison
If you’re interested in comparing prices between the Stratos 50 and the Kestrel 48, please see the links below:
The Verdict
As you can see from the features above, the Kestrel 48 has more features than the Stratos 50. An important feature, in particular, is the external hydration sleeve. If you want to have more compartment space, the external hydration pocket will let you attach a water reservoir even though your pack is full.
