Cortez, CO, July 13, 2020 – Osprey, the leader in creating top-quality, high-performance, innovative carry solutions, is launching their most advanced backpanel design to date. The rethinking of Osprey’s signature Airscape backpanel has been a long-term innovation project coming out of the brand’s Alpha Lab, an advanced concepts team lead by Osprey Co-Founder and Director of Innovation, Mike Pfotenhauer.
“The AlphaLab frees Mike from the constraints of the traditional product cycle so he is able to focus on technical innovations, new production solutions and sustainable initiatives,” said Erik Hamerschlag, Sr. Product Manager, Osprey Packs. “The all-new Spring 2021 AirSpeed backpanel is a result of the freedom and creative space the AlphaLab affords.”
The new Airscape features an injection-molded frame sheet with die cut foam that maintains a comfortable and breathable contact surface, flexibility for dynamic movement and improved carry performance. The position of the Airscape channels are dependent upon the intended usage of the individual packs. In the case of the Spring 2021 Aether/Ariel series, designed to carry heavy loads, the horizontal plane channels prevent barreling under a full load to ensure consistent fit and optimal stability while vertical planes follow the contours of the back preventing collapse under heavy loads. By contrast, the Spring 2021 Talon/Tempest series, designed for fast and light pursuits, features horizontal channels to allow flex in the vertical plane while staying flat horizontally.
From a production point of view, the injection molding process reduces plastic waste to near zero. This was a critical consideration in development process of the new backpanel moving Osprey one step closer to their goal of becoming the most progressive, transparent and sustainable hardgoods brand in the world through chemistry, materials and CSR.
The new Airscape backpanel debuts with the Spring 2021 Aether/Ariel series available in October 2020 and the Spring 2021 Talon/Tempest series available February 2021.
