Last summer, when our Outdoors and Fitness Desk attended the biannual tradeshow called Outdoor Retailer — a showcase of thousands of upcoming products and gadgets — we were especially impressed with one backpack out of the hundreds that we saw: the Osprey Levity.
Why? Because it’s an ultralight backpack — Osprey gave it the slightly more hyperbolic “superultralight” descriptor — that packs plenty of features for mainstream hikers to appreciate. Like a pocket-equipped lid, a large expanding front sleeve, side holsters for a water bottle and other gear, and exterior paracord that can be used to lash essentials to the outside of the bag. And the Levity has a mesh back panel that emphasizes comfort and breathability.
Most backpacks that weigh in under two pounds (the Levity is 1.85 pounds in the 45-liter version and 1.95 pounds for the 60-liter) make sacrifices to get there — that often means fewer features and comfort, or expensive materials that drive the price up. These backpacks are often designed by custom makers and have hardcore enthusiasts in mind. However, Osprey has found a firm middle ground in the Levity; it’s still an ultralight bag that won’t be for everyone, but it can also act as an affordable and user-friendly introduction to the often-intimidating world of lightweight backpacking.
Speaking of price, the 60-liter Levity retails for $270, and because it’s a brand new product, it won’t be found in the sale section any time soon. But, right now Backcountry is holding a sale in which you can take 20 percent off one full-priced item using the code MEMORIALDAY20. That can be applied to the Levity, bringing its total down to $216.
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