Test Osprey Eja Pro 55 – Ultralight AND comfortable hiking bag

Test video summary

My summary

How do I use the Osprey Eja Pro 55 backpack?

The Osprey Eja Pro 55 is an ultralight bag for multi-day touring, particularly in hot environments. Its low weight, high level of comfort, exceptional ventilation and specific fit for women make it an excellent hiking companion, provided you have fairly compact equipment.

If you’re going hiking in winter or have bulky equipment, it’s best to opt for a bag with a little more volume.

Features

• Volume: 52 L in size XS/S and 55 L in size M/L
• Dimensions: 31 cm (H) × 36 cm (W) × 67 cm (D) for size XS/S, 31 cm (H) × 36 cm (W) × 72 cm (D) for size M/L
• Weight: 875g in size XS/S and 930G in size M/L.
• Material: NanoFly™: 100D x UHMPE 200D “ripstop” nylon, PFAS-free DWR treatments.
• Maximum load: up to 18 kg
• Color: gray and red
• Price: €260

Our full review of the Osprey Eja Pro 55

I discovered the Eja Pro 55 on a hike in the Dolomites, where I’d brought along the Forclaz MT 500 Air backpack. Two of the participants had the Eja Pro and I was amazed at its (very) low weight for a touring backpack: when they told me it was indeed one of the lightest on the market (they’d studied it well before they bought it!), I was intrigued because it still seemed comfortable. I immediately wanted to test it!

Bag weight

This is clearly one of this bag’s major strengths. At less than a kilo (only 875g for mine, in size XS/S), it’s the lightest backpack I’ve tested with such comfort. In general, when looking for a backpack, there’s always a trade-off between comfort and lightness.

Some bags are very light, but you couldn’t imagine setting off for several days with them, while others are comfortable but also quite heavy, which can be a bit of a hassle if you’re not going on a huge trek. In my opinion, this is a particularly good compromise, as you’ll see in the rest of this review.

As an added bonus, you can even make it lighter by removing the bag’s top pocket: you lose volume (around 9L) but gain around 74g. Handy when you don’t need a lot of cargo space! It’s also a pretty versatile bag: you don’t feel like you’re lugging around a huge bag if you’re doing a shorter hike.

Bag adjustment

A bag can’t be comfortable without the right adjustment, and the Eja 55 can already be fine-tuned:

• On the back, the adjustable frame offers 5 different settings (in addition to the choice of bag size between XS/S and M/L).
• Belt and shoulder straps are adjustable (straps themselves and load reminder)
• The chest strap can be fixed at 3 different heights (less fine-tuning than when the strap can slide freely on a rail, but it’s something).

On my 1st hike with this bag, I made a few stops to change a few things and find the setting that suited me, but it’s now the case and I find that this bag adapts well to my female morphology.

Backpack comfort

From the very first kilometers with the Osprey Eja Pro 55 on my back, I could feel the bag’s appreciable lightness, but I was also relieved to see that comfort wasn’t sacrificed.

I immediately took it on a hike with a bivouac, just to make sure I was well loaded, and it’s still a pleasure to wear, with good weight distribution and balance on the hips, and a stable carry. This was confirmed on my subsequent outings in its company.

I also appreciate the soft, lightly padded straps : they offer good comfort without weighing down the whole. The waistband does its job, too. Of course, you can’t expect as much padding as on a lighter bag, but I find the compromise really excellent in this case. I’ve never felt any discomfort with it.

Another important point: the back is suspended from a 3.5 mm Lightwire aluminum frame. It’s light and flexible, yet rigid enough to distribute the load evenly over the hips.

I particularly appreciate the AirSpeedet suspension and the back ventilation it provides: the taut mesh structure lets air circulate between the back and the contents of the bag, which is a real bonus when hiking in the sun or climbing hard.

Mind you, this doesn’t mean you won’t sweat either, but I’d say you keep your back dry for much longer, and the overall feeling is more pleasant , in my opinion. Having said that, the issue of the stretched back is sometimes debated, with those who love it and those who don’t see the point, so you can judge for yourself. For my part, I’ve chosen my camp 😉

The bag is specifically designed for women, and it shows: with a snug fit, an adapted back and straps that don’t bother the chest, you’ll feel right at home with it.

Compartments and storage

When it comes to organization, we’re all about well-thought-out minimalism. Here are the various compartments, pockets and straps:

• main compartment with space for a water bag (and central hose port)
• large, expandable front pocket
• two strech mesh side pockets, accessible from the top or side
• two belt pockets, one of which is zipped
• two side compression straps and one inside strap.
• several attachment points on the bag, including loops for sticks and ice axes.
• with removable top pocket in place: one zipped compartment and 4 fabric attachment points

Even though the mesh on the back is curved, it doesn ‘t get in the way of loading the main compartment, unlike other bags in the same style. How nice!

I really like the fact that the side nets, where you can put water bottles, are accessible from the side, as this allows you to place a water bottle more horizontally (or almost), making it easy to reach when walking (vertically, on the other hand, you really need a flexible arm!).

The two pockets on the waist have the merit of being there, but aren’ t ultra-practical because they’re a bit small: my Iphone 16 doesn’t fit in the zipped pocket (well, just about, but you don’t want to close the pocket). The non-zipped pocket is useful for small snacks.

The front compartment is practical, even if it could have been a little more expandable, as it’s more difficult to access once the bag is full. This is even more the case if you use the side straps to attach a floor mat to the outside of the bag, for example.

On the accessories front, I’m disappointed by the water bag attachment system, which is specific to Osprey. So you’ll have to use an Osprey water pouch, which is a bit of a shame.

Note: when the top pocket is removed, a flap still closes the bag properly. It’s both efficient and aesthetically pleasing, and well thought-out!

Rain protection

The bag does not come with a rain cover, nor is it waterproof. Even though the fabric has a PFAS-free water-repellent treatment, I advise you to take a rain cover with you, or to pack your gear in waterproof bags if there’s a risk of rain during your hike.

Resistance and durability

Of course, ultralight means compromise. The materials are fine, and you have to take care of them. I don’t have enough kilometers under my belt with this bag to give you feedback, but I’d generally avoid rubbing it on abrasive rocks or “throwing” it against bushes.

Not that I do this in general, but it feels like a bag that needs to be handled with a little more care than a more robust model… although I must admit I’m pretty confident, given the quality of Osprey materials in general (I have many of the brand’s bags that don’t move at all).

Conclusion

The Osprey Eja Pro 55 combines everything I look for in a modern hiking bag: lightness, surprising comfort for its category, and top-notch back ventilation. Of course, you have to accept its compromises: thinner materials, therefore a little less sturdiness, and a few less features than the classic Eja.

But if, like me, you like to travel light, optimize your gear and prioritize comfort on summer hikes, this is a choice well worth making.