Osprey Packs Scarab

Review Date
March 9, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Darren L(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Provo UT USA

Price Paid:  $120.00 at Out N Back, Orem UT

Summary:
This is also the best daypack I have ever used/seen, and I've had a few. It's got the most awesome yet simple design, allowing for a variety of load sizes and weights.

It just hugs your back so well -- I have even taken it rollerblading and you know how much side to side motion you can get doing that. The pack didn't shift at all or upset my balance either. It's like an extension of your back.

It didn't cost much more than other even smaller backpacks I was looking at. I bought this for school mostly, to carry my books around (them zoology/bio/chem books get big), which it did very well. I was able to carry all my big books very comfortably, much more so than I could even in a less loaded smaller daypack (the North Face one). This meant I could go all day on campus and not have to make another sortie to my office to get my other books.

Now that I'm done with school, I go on a lot of business trips. I like to travel light so I don't have to waste time waiting around to check/claim baggage. The Scarab is the right size to let me carry what I need for even longer business trips (week long jaunts to Japan, Taiwan, and Canada for example), and still fit it in the overhead bin on a plane.

With my small and light sleeping bag, I can even use this pack on an overnight sleep under the stars summer backpacking trip.

Not only is it very comfortable and versatile, it's a looker too. You would not believe how many comments I get on how cool (or different) looking it is.

Long story short, this is my favorite pack, even more than my 'real' backpacks (Dana Astralplane and Arc'teryx Bora 70), which are better suited for (much) bigger loads but just don't have the all-around versatility and "cool factor" of the Scarab. Even the name has kind of a mystique about it...

Similar Products Used:
North Face, Jansport

Review Date
December 26, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: KLD(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from SLC, UT, USA

Summary:
Simply stated this is my favorite pack. Initially I didn't like the look of it, and lack of external pockets and in turn tried on day every pack I could find in Salt Lake. Nothing came close, this thing STICKS to your back. As for my initial concerns, they are gone, I would buy this pack again if this one ever gets damaged.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
July 23, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Seb(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper , from montreal, canada

Summary:
My Scarab simply is the finest pack that I have owned so far... here is why:
- This pack is comfy to the point that i wonder if a custom made daypack could fit any better.
- Their unique foam panel system and the overall design of the pack allow to compress the load you carry in every directions, it really surround the stuff that you carry contrarily to casual load compression designs based on straps.
- The pack is extremely stable and simply don't move no mather the kind of moves you make.
- The built quality is topnotch (so is the quality of the material used by Osprey)
- The design of this pack is extremely refined. There is absolutely no flashy frills on it.
- The hipbelt and the shoulder straps are very well made.
- This pack can be overloaded and still fell really really (should i say anormaly?!?) light.
- It seem to be built to last a long long while.

Now let see the (very very minors!!!) drawbacks...
- The design of this pack is well... extremely refined. You got the main compartment and a tiny pockets for very small items on the top of it and that's it. That's not much of a problem for me but people used to packs with plenty of pockets and bellies may be concerned about this.
- At 170$ cdn (around 115$us), this pack is probably one of the most expensive daypack that I can think of (but still, you get what you pay for.....).
- I miss the integrated pack cover of my Cerro Torre.
- This pack look quite weird (some people think that it is ugly although i personaly think that it is original).

Customer Service:
I never experienced Osprey customer service and will most likely never have to : )

Similar Products Used:
- I have owned a Cerro Torre Gecko 35 for over a year. It's a very nice pack especially considering that I have paid only 90$cdn (around 60$us) for it. Up to competitor of the same price range but simply not in the same league than my Scarab.

I have considered some other daypacks such
- the LoweAlpine's Contour 30 and 40
- some others Cerro Torre (don't exacly the specifics model though....)
- the Dana Design bigsky (quite impressive)
- Few Salomon models
- Few SubDivo models (an high end canadian company)
- An Arc'Teryx model that I dont quite remember (probably real new, not featured on their website).

Review Date
April 21, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: theysay(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from lawrence, kansas

Summary:
I was looking for a pack that would work for an overnighter/mountainbike excursion. The Scarab is roomy enough to carry the necessities for camp, and the overlapping foam side feature allows you to compress the size when all you want to do is haul on a little singletrack. That way you can carry whatever tools/accessories and a lot of water (in the bladder sleeve) for your typical death march. Will not flop around on your back no matter how little you have inside. Good product, Osprey.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
February 10, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Wendy Newman(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Laramie, WY

Summary:
This pack has been perfect for my needs. You can COMFORTABLY carry skis on your pack. It is very low stress on the back. I ski with mine all the time (makes a nice seat too). It seems to work well for the female because my friends try it on and they are so impressed by how nicely it fits. I have a short torso so a small worked well for me. Osprey has been so good to me.