Osprey Eja Pro 55 Backpack – Reviewed & Tested

Thru-hiker and serial adventurer Kate Donald has recently upgraded to Osprey’s Eja Pro 55 after many years with the previous Eja 58. Gram counting, meet features and comfort – we reckon you two will get along just fine.

On my first ever long-distance hike along the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT), Osprey’s Eja 58 was my sole companion. It was the perfect backpack to take me 650km+ across the rugged expanse of the High Country.

It was lightweight, breathable, reliable, but most importantly, comfortable. Now, as I prepare for my next thru-hike, 1100km on the Heysen Trail, I’m thrilled to embrace the next evolution in ultralight backpacking: the upgraded Osprey Eja Pro 55 backpack.

Note: The Eja Pro is the women’s version of this pack, the men’s is called the Exos Pro. The features are the same but some weight and size specifications vary, as do colours.

Read more: Overnight Hiking Packing List with 20+ Essentials

Who is Osprey?

If you’ve ever experienced the sheer bliss of backpack comfort, chances are you’re familiar with Osprey. Renowned for their ergonomic and high-quality designs, Osprey creates packs and bags that cater to nearly every outdoor adventure.

Other than utilising materials with a low environmental impact including the use of recycled fabrics, their commitment to sustainability features a stellar repair and warranty program, ensuring gear longevity and better bang for your buck.

Read more: First Look: Osprey’s Exos/Eja Pro is the Optimal Thru-Hiking Backpack

Quick Specifications of the Eja Pro

Weight: 870g (XS/S) and 930g (M/L)
Capacity: 52L (XS/S) and 55L (M/L)
Load range: 5-18kg
Price: $459.95 RRP

The Design

The Eja Pro embodies a sleeker and lighter version of its beloved predecessor, the Eja, retaining Osprey’s signature features like the fully adjustable fit and volume flexibility.

It’s available in two sizes – XS/S 52L and M/L 55L, alongside its male counterpart, the Exos Pro. The women’s fit is specifically designed for the curve of a female body; slightly shorter and narrower than the men’s.

The design is what makes this pack unique when compared to other ultralight packs. With its 3.5mm powder-coated Lightwire frame, it sits comfortably with the curve of my back, unlike other ultralight packs I’ve tried on.

Most ultralight packs save weight by removing the frame and padding on the back, resulting in a horrible barrel shaped sack. The Airspeed Suspension, tensioned back panel, is a nice addition to provide ventilation and conveniently stops any lumps or bumps in the pack from digging in. So whilst the Eja Pro might not be as light as its frame-free competitors, such as the Hyperlite Unbound 55L (879 grams), it’s a notably better fit.

The pack has an adjustable torso and sternum strap heights, so you can further custom tailor the fit to your body shape. The sternum straps have a secure eye loop system that can be adjusted to three different heights.

The back panel, on the other hand, utilises a ladder-like system that slides up and down with a bar insert to keep in place.

Whilst this is a quick and easy mechanism to use, I found on my second use of the pack it popped open frequently when taking the pack on and off. It’s an easy fix, simply by wrapping some duct tape around the bar to make it larger and stop it popping out of its ladder rung, however I feel the old mechanism on the regular Eja was a better design, albeit heavier.

In striking a balance between weight and comfort, the Eja Pro sacrifices some padding for Osprey standards yet still outshines in the ultralight pack realm.

It has EVA foam padded hip belt and shoulder straps, that may not be as cushioning as the luxurious 3D printed lumbar support of the UNLTD™ AG 64 Osprey pack I have, but keep in mind the Eja Pro is only a fraction of the weight with the UNLTD™ weighing a whopping 2.5kg.

The Fabric

The pack is made from bluesign® approved Nanofly™; a combination of a 100D Nylon stretch fabric and a 200D UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) ripstop fabric. The main fabric is exceptionally strong, light, and abrasion resistant. However, I would be sure to look after the stretch nylon side panels.

Whilst the Eja Pro did come out completely unscathed through the head-high bush of Mount Jagungal, a word of caution from packs past; the softer fabric of these side panels can tear more easily in the unforgiving Australian bush, as I learnt with the original Eja on the overgrown trails of the AAWT.

Whilst the outer fabric has a water repellent coating, like most packs, it’s not fully waterproof (seams are not sealed) so I would still use a rain cover or pack liner. Osprey assure on their website that the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment is made without PFAS which is a harmful chemical that stays in the environment.

Weight

What truly sets the Eja Pro apart is its impressive load range. It’s capable of shouldering 5-18kg while tipping the scales at a mere 930g (M/L). This is a notable upgrade over the Eja 58 which weighed 1280g (M/L) with only a 14-16kg load capacity. It’s 20% lighter and that’s a big deal.

Weight savings have been made with thin compression straps and smaller buckles (among other things), some may have concerns regarding the pack’s durability. While clips and straps may appear delicate, I have full confidence in Osprey’s quality and their ‘All Mighty Guarantee’ (repair policy) might offer some reassurance if issues arise.

Aesthetic

Despite Osprey’s usual vibrant backpacks, the understated colour schemes of the ‘Pro’ range; Dale Grey and Poinsettia Red for the Eja Pro and Dale Grey and Agam Blue for the Exos Pro, left me feeling a tad underwhelmed.

Some brands are opting to return to the dull tones of modern civilisation; greys, blacks, whites – but personally, I love the pop of colour gear can bring to my adventure footage. Call me vain, but I would have loved this pack even more if it looked as cool as the new Tempest Velocity 20L, also from Osprey.

Performance

The Features

Despite its featherweight design, the Eja Pro doesn’t skimp on features. Boasting a removable zip-up 9L lid (weighing 80g), it offers the option to shed volume and weight for shorter overnight trips.

There’s a built-in flap jacket to protect the main compartment from the elements when the lid is off. It has a wide-mouth drawstring top entry, however I would have loved to see a roll-top instead, as I do wonder how well the built-in flap jacket protects the packs opening at full capacity. I’m a pack-liner kind-a-gal, so this isn’t an issue for me, however if it starts to rain, I would be throwing on a rain cover ASAP, just to be safe.

There are three outer pockets – two stretch side panels and one front fabric compression pocket. The side pockets are perfect for storing water bottles or a rain jacket, as they have an additional side opening for easy-to-reach access without taking the pack off. These compression pockets have adjustable and removable straps to ensure the contents are secure and the pack is compressed.

Unlike the original Eja, the Eja Pro has a piece of the main ripstop fabric over the front pocket, a much-needed upgrade if you ask me. I found on the AAWT, I tore a few holes on this piece of stretch fabric from chucking the bag on the ground or sitting on the pack at lunch.

The hipbelt pockets are a contentious topic. The pack has one elasticised and one zip pocket on the waist harness, that are not removable like the Osprey Ariel Pro upgrade. Whilst some people have told me these are too small for their phone, the elasticised pocket snuggly fits my iPhone 13 Pro, and I found the zip pocket is the perfect stasher for my lip balm, sunscreen stick, satellite phone, and a snack.

All pockets have a simple black cord pull tag, and there are ice-axe carrier straps too, however in my quest to become an ultralight hiker, I cut these off almost immediately, as I felt like the extra 10g weight was a little unnecessary.

Price

The Osprey Eja Pro 55 is priced competitively among ultralight backpacks. Most good quality, ultralight backpacks of a similar size would retail anywhere between $300, to upwards of $600 depending on the brand and fabric. The Eja Pro/Exos Pro retail for around $459.95. It seems a fair price for the quality of the pack, and it’s often on sale at stores like Wild Earth.

For me, the Osprey Eja Pro epitomises the brand’s commitment to innovation and comfort. With a stripped-back, ultralight design, it proves that weight saving doesn’t need to compromise fit or functionality. It’s poised to become a trail favourite for thru-hikers and I’m thrilled to make it my sole companion on the Heysen Trail, a trip where every gram is going to count.