James Turnbull at Outside recently took the new Osprey Mutant 38 on a rigorous test in the Swiss Alps, climbing the Westgrat on Salbit in 33 pitches over two days.
How many bags have you trashed in the last five years?
None; I keep picking really good bags! I reckon I’ve changed bags around four times in the last five years but only because things keep getting lighter and better, not because I’ve destroyed my old one.
What’s your priority when you’re choosing a new bag?
First comes durability, then weight, then fit and finally features. Without the first three, it doesn’t matter how clever the features are.
What did you like about the Osprey Mutant?
I love that it’s more strippable, it’s got more (and more useful) features but they don’t get in the way. It works the way I was trying to get my old bag to work, particularly the adjustable hip belt and the floating lid. It’s as if Osprey came and asked me exactly what I needed!
Tell us about how it performed on the Westgrat.
Well there’s a three hour walk in and you have to take climbing and overnight gear on your back so anything too flimsy isn’t an option; comfort is important. But once you start climbing, you don’t want anything too big or structured which might restrict your movement. The Mutant can handle either of these scenarios easily.
The Westgrat has everything; run out slabby arêtes, laybacking, chimneying, face climbing, even a nasty off width, though laybacking is the main flavour for 35 pitches. On this trip, I tore a pair of alpine trousers and shredded one of my ropes, but the Mutant came through it pretty much unscathed.
Read James’ full Mutant review here.
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