Osprey Mutant 38 Pack Review

I seem to have an obsession with packs. The last time we moved, I realized we had packs I hadn’t seen in years (but of course I couldn’t get rid of them, what if I needed it later?) That being said, it seems that a lot of packs aren’t all that great, instead marketed to the masses who don’t really know better and will buy whatever the sales rep at the local gear shop tells them to. Every now and then, however, you come across a great pack that actually does what it’s supposed to, and in that category I would put the Osprey Mutant 38, loaded with features designed specifically for climbers.

The Good

I’ve been using this pack since last August for everything from casual cragging, to full on sport development, to ice climbing. It has held up to the abuse rather well, minus a puncture in the bottom that nothing outside of a haulbag could have withstood. As far as carrying capacity, it’s listed at 35L, but the floating lid allows it to be expanded to 48L, and it felt like it held significantly more than my Black Diamond Sphinx 45L. Maybe there is some shoddy math going on here, but whatever the reason, this is one of the few climbing packs that I feel can carry everything I need for a day at the crag, plus a rope on top. The outer fabric is durable but light, and the pack’s shape makes it easy to pile stuff into it. The suspension is nice and carries really well, even with heavier loads like, say, a drill, bolts, rope, etc.

As far as other features I like, there’s an inside pocket for a hydration bladder, as well as ice axe loops, and 3 haul points should you be bringing it up on a route with you. The hip belt is designed so that you can wear it climbing and rack gear on it, or clip it out of the way so it doesn’t interfere with your harness. And there’s also a removable bivy pad that’s part of the back panel, leave it in for comfort, or take it out to go fast and light. And speaking of fast and light, the top lid is removable if you are trying to strip the pack down to a bare minimum.

The Bad

Not too many gripes here, but I do feel that a climbing specific pack should have a good system for carrying a helmet. A simple cord on the top lid would enable this,which is much nicer than having to stuff it in the pack or clip it to the outside where it can bang around or get caught on stuff. The only other complaints I have come from using the pack in the cold and snow. One chilly morning I broke one of the pull tabs, which was really brittle in the low temperatures.  And the small waist buckle seemed to get easily clogged with snow, which then prevented it from snapping shut.

The Fun

Now, these were originally intended for racking gear, but of course I found an excellent alternate use for them: bolt bandoleer. Never again fumble around in your satchel for the right bolts, this keeps your handy implements close and allows for rapid route development. Other suggested uses include a holder for cigarettes, if you are more Euro, and licorice if you have a sweet tooth.

All joking aside, this is a very worthy climbing pack. For cold weather pursuits it seemed to have a few quirks, but for rock climbing, it’s a great bag. If they add a better way to carry a helmet, it would be a contender for one of the best out there.

Disclaimer: The FTC wants you all to know that this product was provided to SplitterChoss.com for the purpose of reviewing. We beat the hell out of gear and don’t post about it unless it’s up to our standards.