You can adjust the sternum strap too, just slide it up or down and get it the height you want. The hip belt is wide enough and adjustable, which is always nice. However, what the Kestrel 38 has over the Exos 38 is its slimmer and more environmentally conscious design. During our product testing, we discovered that it features a side loophole mount, also known as “stow-on-the-go,” for attaching trekking poles. I personally found this feature to be quite handy.

Offered in a nice array of capacity options including 38- and 48-liter variations, as well as women’s-specific designs. The build and the materials feel very sturdy. It feels very good overall. Better yet is that Osprey has a great insurance policy called “ All Mighty Guarantee”. As a consequence, the larger and more wide Exos 38 may make travel around these areas more challenging.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can tell the Osprey Kestrel 38 was made with the weekend hiker and camper in mind, with a feature-rich design for outdoor use.

The Osprey Kestrel 38 has side zippers so it is easier for you to reach your stuff in the main compartment. Speaking of the main compartment, you can access using the sleeping bag compartment as well, which is very convenient. It’s not sewn to the bag and can be detached if needed, so you can take it out and dry separated from the bag. Or if you just want to use the pouch for other stuff.When out camping I use a very compact 1 man tunnel tent, with no gear porch. So I have to sleep with my kit inside my tent, which considering I often have valuables in my bag, is no big issue. On previous trips when lugging around my 70 litre osprey, my space inside the tent would be severely compromised by the sheer bulk of the bag and its stiff, heavily padded waist straps. With the Exos 48 there was no such issue. The lightweight nylon compresses well and the super flexible hip straps can easily be compacted flat against the bag, meaning it really didn’t intrude too much on my space at all.

On the bottom, you again have several lash points, and one narrow and removable compression strap which you will use to attach a sleeping pad or tent poles. However, when compared to the Osprey Exos 38, you will find that the Kestrel 38 suffers from some disadvantages, such as being much more weighty and having a slightly dated harness system. Or maybe an epic one-day hiking trip, when you need a lot of extra supplies and you are not sure if you are going to need to stay for the night too.Big bump in sustainability with the latest model: PFC-free DWR coating and recycled and bluesign-approved materials. Side tension straps are linked to the hipbelt. By tightening these straps you can stabilise the load but reduce the hipbelt flexibility. Where balance is critical tightening them can help you feel more secure. However, if you are striding out over easy terrain it’s better to loosen these straps to allow full hip flexibility. If you’re tossing up between the 38 and and the Osprey Exos 48 in most cases I recommend going with the 48. Especially if you envision being at or near capacity most of the time. Whereas the Stratos 36 tends to compress gear when you’re making certain motions or carrying certain types of items, the Kestrel 38 does not. Overall, I would recommend the Kestrel 38 over the Stratos 36 due to its versatility in various hiking situations. Osprey Kestrel 38 Pros & Cons