This Osprey pack is an amazing pack that is perfect to grow with a teen as they mature into a serious hiker. The pack comes with Osprey's advanced suspension frame that makes the straps super comfortable while keeping the pack mostly raised away from the back, enabling air to flow between the body and the pack. This pack also comes with notches that allows one to change where the top end of the straps come off the bag, making it super adjustable and able to continue to size up as your teen grows. It also comes with all the organizational pockets and adjustable straps, plus a rain flap, that you would expect on a high end camping pack, especially an Osprey.However, some have stated that this works well with petite women. Based on that, I initially picked this up as a gift for my martial arts master; she is approximately 5' and probably 100lbs. at most. She is a serious hiker and mountaineer; she has done extensive ice climbing for decades and lost friends doing that. Needless to say, she is very serious about her gear and vocal about it. When she tried on this pack, she was very complimentary about the adjustability, organizational capacity, build-quality, and overall look. However, she was very clear that the pack should not be used by anyone her size and is clearly intended for smaller, if you are using it seriously.She spent about half an hour adjusting the pack in multiple ways to try and get it to work, but in the end, no matter what she did, the pocket flaps and belt strap would not sit right on her waist. She said that they were both too far back on her body and also not at the right height. She said that after a day or two carrying the amount of gear that she carries typically, that positioning would cause the pack to likely chaff her body. She did acknowledge that someone her size doing more casual hiking and carry very little gear could use the pack without huge issues, but then that raises the question about whether it is worth spending the amount on a casual use pack.Due to this, I ended up giving the pack to my daughter, who is 15. On her it appeared that the pack fit perfectly when adjusted almost to the most extreme top end. She is approximately 4'8" or 4'9". What makes the biggest difference though is that being a teen, she is super skinny and lean, with a less wide back as most adults. The flaps and belt strap appear to sit more properly on her frame. She will be able to put it to good use for a season or two, but may outgrow it before she heads out to college.So basically, this pack is extremely high quality, beautifully made, offers many of the advanced features Osprey puts into more expensive adult packs, but it really is meant for teens. Due to the adjustability, it is a worthwhile investment for a teen hiker because it will size up with them. If you are a petite adult, it may fit sort of but will likely chaff if you carry any real serious gear.

This is a really well-constructed pack. I actually got it for myself, a full-grown female (37" bust; US size 6/27" waist), and it fits me very well. I have a long torso but I'm short, so I thought the adjustability of the torso length here would be great, and it is. I do wish I'd gotten the larger size only for capacity, but I'll be able to fit more in here that it looks. All the straps/buckles are super adjustable, saving space or making it - just depends on what you need. I have a 27" waist and I don't have the straps all the way extended - I'd take a guess it would fit up to a 32" waist possibly. The rigid back is super comfortable, and the hip pads feel so nice and stabilizing (I have hip issues, among others). I mistakenly thought the rain cover was removable altogether, but it just neatly stows away in the top. This is a great pack that will last me probably the rest of my life.Purchased through Vine for a discount (2/14; arrived 3/17/25); $160/38 liter

This backpack is probably the nicest one I’ve ever had. (and I’ve had a few, including pro surfer bags.)While this might not be the right bag for heavy rock climbing gear, it’s perfect for lighter activities like birdwatching or light hiking / lunch on a mountainside.Plenty of room in here for some food, camera gear and jackets.I live in the desert, where everything has to be super rugged and stand up to intense heat. Anything flimsy or cheap won’t last more than a year.This Osprey pack is super thick, nice construction on the straps. I can tell it will be here for the long haul and I love that!Taking it to the mountains this weekend before we head into summer.

One of the most useful features on this backpack is the adjustable harness. I prefer the ability to alter the torso length quite a bit for my daughter, you just have to pull and adjust it on the velcro. It has kept the pack comfortable, and secure. The back ventilation is nice. It's a mesh back style that lets air through, eliminating that sticky sweaty sensation. My daughter took it on a trip recently, and it was comfortable and light!

The adjustable straps are great and there's definitely room to grow. I'm a fan of this brand and I love the quality so much that I want to use it for my child, too. This is the perfect fit for growing children - with a 4-inch adjustable torso length, the Ace 38 can be adjusted as the user grows. Children can use it for at least 3-5 years if it is not damaged!