Product Review: Osprey Sportlite EF

Osprey Sportlite EF Backpack Review

There are more people on the trails these days and that means more body types. Bigger folks have been out wearing gear that didn’t fit exactly right. I know. I was one of them. Osprey has put together a line of packs to help more people be comfortable on the trails. The Sportlite EF is one of these packs. The Sportlite EF is marketed to the biking community. However, I have been using it to hike for the last few months with good results. Here is my Osprey Sportlite EF Backpack Review.

As a disclaimer I would like to mention that I have an affiliate agreement with Osprey and any purchase you make from this website results in me getting a small commission. All opinions on this page are my own and based on my own experiences with this backpack. This review is for general informational purposes. Your experience with the pack may be completely different.

Specs on the Sportlite EF Backpack

Before I get into my review I always like to show what the brand is saying about their product. Here is Osprey’s description of the Sportlite EF pack. “Confidently step out on the trail with the Sportlite 25 EF, one of our most minimalist technical day packs. Carry all of your essentials with the convenience of panel-loading design and simple, clean internal organization.”

Here are the rest of the technical specs directly from Osprey before I give my opinions down below.

Spec Sheet*

Cost$125.00

ColorsPine Leaf Green, Dark Charcoal Gray

SizesS/M EF, M/L EF

Dimensions (inches)19.29H X 11.81W X 9.45D IN. S/M

20.87H X 11.81W X 9.45D IN. M/L

Volume1526 IN 3 / 25 L

FEATURES

• Padded hipbelt with one zippered pocket and one open stretch mesh pocket
• Direct access external hydration sleeve
• Lower V-compression straps keep load stable and secure side pocket contents
• Front stretch compression pocket provides quick storage for extra items
• Zippered middle compartment is full height with mesh pockets to organize smaller items
• Front panel zip pocket with key clip keeps small items handy
• Two size unisex fit: S/M fits 15-19″ torso, M/ L fits 18-22″ torso
• Designed to fit up to 70-inch hips
• Extended hipbelt and shoulder straps
• Repositioned pockets

*All specs from Osprey.com. Subject to change.

What I Liked

I have always liked Osprey Packs and have been using them for most of my time hiking. The only problem is they don’t always fit exactly right on my bigger body. As a heftier hiker, I always just assumed that gear wasn’t going to fit exactly right. Osprey solved that problem with the new Extended Fit line that helps bigger hikers find a backpack that fits properly and gives the same advantages as normal sized hikers get. Along with the new line I really love the durability and comfort of the Osprey packs. Here is a bit more of what I liked about the Sportlite EF back pack.

The Extended Fit Line

Osprey’s Extended Fit line is done the right way. So many times I have seen it where a company is trying to make gear for a bigger person and they make a comically large item, or over exaggerate things that just look goofy. Osprey took their already popular lines and made the adjustments necessary to fit better on bigger people like myself. The changes are subtle but exactly what needed to be done to make the packs fit comfortably and to carry the weight in a proper way to help avoid pain or injury. In my opinion this is the best way to do it, they didn’t need to recreate they just needed to resize and make those of us who hike in the gear, feel comfortable by the function but also how it looks on our bodies.

Chest Strap

As a broad shouldered, barrel chested guy I have found it hard to find a chest strap that fits. IF I can strap it together the strap is usually as tight as can be or needs to be slid up to the top of its limit where it is sitting near my neck. The Osprey Sportlite EF has a longer chest strap so that I can place the strap in a comfortable place across my chest and allows me to have flexibility if I am wearing a jacket or layers so it isn’t cutting off blood flow. The chest strap fits me and my 46 inch chest with ease and there is plenty of room for larger chested folks to have a comfortable fit as well.

Harness

Along with the increased chest strap, the Sportlite EF also has a redesigned harness. I don’t know exactly what they did with the harness but from my experience it feel like they made it a bit rounder and bit bigger. With broader shoulders and a thicker chest, previous packs I had worn were at their limits and didn’t wrap around my body like the arm straps should. Instead it was like cinching the straps on and hoping for the best.

The previous harness didn’t allow for the pack to sit in the right spots and it made me rely more on the adjustable tension straps for support and less on the main padded shoulder straps. With the Sportlite EF, and all the EF lines, the harness is built wider and the main straps can do their job in distributing the weight from the pack. This was another one of those subtle changes that really made a big difference for me.

Hip Belt

For me the hip belt is the best improvement in the Extended fit line. Also, I think all sizes would appreciate the new belt. Most packs the hip belts were inaccessible to heftier people. The hipbelt was so small that a bigger person had to reach nearly behind their back to get to the pocket and it just wasn’t funcitonal.

With the new Sportlite EF, the hipbelt has been extended to about 15 inches! This allows the belt to come to the side of larger bodies and allows for a bigger more functional pocket to be included. I am not going to lie, this is amazing. It seems like such a small thing but to have a functional pocket and hip belt to help with weight distribution and keep the pack in place is amazing. Plus, having the extended belts mean there is less of a reliance on the strap, which could dig into the skin for bigger folks if it even could connect at all. This is a great new feature in the EF packs!

Belly Strap

Finally, the strap that connects the hipbelt has also been extended and now fits hips up to 70 inches. This is such a big deal because it allows the hipbelt to actually be tightened and used by a bigger person. This helps to control the swing of the bottom of the pack and keeps the weight centered on the back. It allows for a more comfortable and safer fit for the pack as a whole. Plus, a more enjoyable hiking experience for people with bigger bodies. Extending to 70 inches opens the EF line up to so many new people to explore the outdoors and to get the mental and physical benefits of hiking.

Overall Fit

I think the most complimentary thing I can say about the Osprey Sportlite EF is that it fits like a backpack should. I know this pack is marketed to the biking crowd but I have been using it for hiking for the last few months and I really love the way it fits on a hike. This pack fits in all the places that packs usually don’t fit me so and it is really nice. As someone who has had packs that don’t fit right because of my size, it is pretty nice to know how the other half lives.

If you have ever struggled with a pack because it just didn’t feel right and you are a bit bigger, I would really strongly suggest testing out one of the Osprey EF lines.

Storage – Main Pocket

Getting a pack to fit is only the first box to check, the next thing is to be able to carry everything that you need on a hike or a bike ride. The Osprey Sportlite EF comes with 3 zippered pockets on the back, 1 open pocket and another open space for a water bladder.

The main pocket for storage has a lot of space. By my tape measure and very unofficial this main pocket measures 18-19 inches tall at the highest and 10 inches across (on the M/L size) As someone who does a lot of photos and videos on my hikes, this is a great pocket for mini tripods and selfie sticks. The tall space is also great for stuffing some sweatshirts or raingear and making sure it all is ready when you need it.

Storage – Secondary Pocket

The cool thing about the secondary pocket is that it is just as tall as the main pocket. Again, my unofficial measurement has this one at 18-19 inches with just a slightly less wide 9 inches across. This secondary pocket also has a key ring and mesh organizing smaller pocket inside. Another great spot for some extra clothes sun and bug sprays and anything else you can fit in there.

Storage – Small Zippered Pouch

There is also a smaller zippered pouch that is available on the Osprey Sportlite EF. This one measures unofficially at 7.5 inches by 7.5 inches. This is my snack pouch. This fits several full size energy bars, gum, candy, and I even leave a compass and headlamp in here as well. Its also a good size for sunglasses or any other small items that you may have to get to more often.

Storage – Open Pouch

The Osprey open pouch is something that I really take advantage of lately. It is perfect for storing jackets for super easy access. I currently keep a rain jacket and lighter wind breaker folded up this open pouch and then I can easily grab it out and throw it on as soon as the weather changes. I have also seen people throw dirty/muddy clothes back there and even bigger items like a stove and fuel to keep it outside of the pockets. A very nice a versatile pouch.

Back Panel

Osprey uses a special back panel that they call the Airscape. This is available on the Sportlite EF as well as a lot of their packs. The Airscape is a ridged foam panel that is covered in mesh. The ridges and mesh allow for airflow between your back and the back of the pack and helps to keep you cool and ventilated. Because of the ridges in the foam the pack still stays close to your body though and helps maintain the load balance while providing the additional ventilation. It is a really nice feature that really improves the comfort of the load and helps reduce the sweaty back.

Style

One of the things that I keep getting back to is how I love that the Extended Fit line keeps the regular pack styles and just make it fit better. This is true of the Sportlite EF. The Sportlite looks sleek and modern. The Pine Green that I have almost gives a metallic sheen to the recycled nylon. The main pack uses a 100D high-tenacity nylon bird eye and the bottom uses a bluesign® approved 100% recycled 420D nylon.

The pack just looks cool and, if this is possible, I look pretty cool wearing it. Like I keep saying, it is a normal pack that is designed for bigger people. Otherwise it is the same sleek, efficient and effective pack that is available for everyone.

Durability

I have only been hiking with the Sportlite EF for a couple of months so I can’t talk about long term durability other than to say that every pack I have from Osprey has held up extremely well. What I can say about the Sportlite is that I am not easy on gear and this pack can take a beating. I throw my packs around, set them on rocks, have them barrel roll in the back of my car and nothing has been even showed up as a scrape on the pack.

I also hike in the woods and rocks of Colorado a lot. This pack has been beaten up by tree limbs every time I have taken it out and nothing bothers it much. I think the only damage I have taken is when a thorn got into the mesh of the open stretch pocket on the hipbelt. The only result was a tiny spot of mesh that stretched where the thorn grabbed it. Otherwise it has held up really well.

Water Resistance

Osprey uses a Durable Water Repellent system on the Sportlite EF. Their treatments are made without PFAs. I don’t know anything more about that or the technical process but I can tell you it works to resist water. I haven’t hiked in any big rain showers with this pack. Colorado is mostly dry. I have been out in the snow though. I have had this pack snowed on and had it sitting in the snow while I had lunch and nothing inside the pack got damp at all. To my knowledge, this pack is not rated as fully waterproof. However, it has worked as water resistant for me in several snow tests I have done with it so far.

What I Didn’t Like

While there is a lot to like about the Osprey Sportlite EF, they will take away my blogger card if I don’t find something that I didn’t like!

For me the only thing that I can find that I didn’t love is that one of the hip belt pockets isn’t an zippered pocket but more of an open mesh slide pocket. While I have never lost anything that I have kept inside of this pocket, it just doesn’t give me as much confidence as the zippered pockets. That being said, the Sportlite is popular with bikers and I can see how there would be an advantage to having the open pocket for easy access to snacks or drinks without having to stop and unzip a pocket.

I have put together a quick video review of the Osprey Sportlite EF for those of you who like to videos. If you enjoy the video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free and you will get updated for all of my outdoor content.

Wrapping up the Osprey Sportlite EF Backpack Review

I really enjoy the Osprey Sportlite EF. This pack allows me, a bigger guy, to hike comfortably with gear that fits. My overall impression is that Osprey did really well making small adjustments that allow more people to use their packs. The small adjustments worked and they now have a great line of packs for the plus sized outdoors.

As far as the Sportlite EF, it has some really impressive storage for a 25 liter pack. Two big packs and one smaller. Plus an open pouch in the back for jackets and a separate external water bladder pouch. This allows for longer trips on a bike or on a hike.

The style is also something I really enjoy. It is a sleek design, even for a bigger pack. I really enjoy the pine green color that is available too. Plus, the Sportlite is made with recycled Nylon so you can feel good wearing it.

Overall, a great option from Osprey for plus-sized hikers with a lot of options and great features.

More Product Reviews from The Fatman

If you like this review, you can see other products I have reviewed on my Product Review Page. If you have any items you would like me to review or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. Or, you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!