Osprey Mutant 38 Impressions?

Has anyone had a chance to get some firsthand interaction with this pack?  OGL gave it rave reviews and seems to think it's the best thing since sliced bread, I'm looking for a 2nd opinion.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/climbing/mountaineering-backpack/osprey-mutant-38

My BD Speed 30 is pretty thoroughly worn out and needs to be replaced.  I would definitely buy another one of those, I like mine quite a bit.  Basic features, simple, light, fairly inexpensive.  I like having the option of a lid and the expandable collar.  But, if the Mutant is as good as they say it is, I'd give it a shot!

I bought into the OGL review hype (and the cheap price) and got one last year.

Pros: carries weight better than my old Patagonia Ascenscionist, and climbs fairly well. 

Cons: everything else. It's over-engineered, which shouldn't be a surprise from Osprey. In particular, the side straps are the worst!! They're impossible to adjust to carry a rope, and there's also no strap on the top of the pack to secure a rope. There's lots of little annoying things that add up, like every time you buckle in the brain, the top shoulder strap adjustment buckles get caught and extend all the way out. Also not all that durable so far...lots of holes all over the mesh-like back panel. Hip belt can't be removed, which is annoying when actually climbing with it (you can clip the belt backwards around the pack to get it out of the way, but then it catches on things). 
Overall, I think Osprey needs some more time making climbing packs before they nail it. I think simple tends to be better for climbing packs. 

Fall 2018 brings a new series of Mutant Packs. 

Alyssa K wrote: Cons: everything else. It's over-engineered, which shouldn't be a surprise from Osprey. In particular, the side straps are the worst!! They're impossible to adjust to carry a rope, and there's also no strap on the top of the pack to secure a rope. There's lots of little annoying things that add up, like every time you buckle in the brain, the top shoulder strap adjustment buckles get caught and extend all the way out. Also not all that durable so far...lots of holes all over the mesh-like back panel. Hip belt can't be removed, which is annoying when actually climbing with it (you can clip the belt backwards around the pack to get it out of the way, but then it catches on things). 

Thanks a lot Alyssa.  Too bad, some of those things are probably tolerable but others not so much.  From the video posted below you, it looks like the did away with the crazy side straps for next year, maybe I'll limp along with my Speed 30 until fall and try the new version.

I have the same un-adjusting shoulder strap problem with the brain on my Speed 30.  I don't actually remove the hip belt for climbing either, I have some partners that like to do that but I prefer the way a pack rides with the belt cinched tight.  However, inability to easily carry a rope is a show stopper for me, I do that very often.  There is one picture of carrying a rope in the OGL review, but it looks like it's just flopped over the top like you describe, which isn't that great.

Osprey has the “all mighty guarantee” - send something back and they’ll repair it for free! I’ve been told they’ve repaired packs dropped in camp fires!

Kyle Tarry wrote:

I don't actually remove the hip belt for climbing either, I have some partners that like to do that but I prefer the way a pack rides with the belt cinched tight.  

I always climb with the belt too, but what I like about the BD is you can take the padding off (which gets in the way when you're wearing a harness) and still have the webbing. A lot of packs don't do this. 

Other than durability I actually think the Speed packs are almost perfect. Just smartly designed packs, simple and easy to strip. Mine is a 2015 model I think, whatever the last year is that they had an actual L size not M/L.

I like the hip belt like I mentioned. I like the velcro + quick connect tool attachment (I can reach around with one hand and take a tool out while wearing the pack which is nice sometimes). The quick cinch cords to open/close the main section one-handed are great (I actually don't use the brain, I like simple). 

It all comes down to how much someone values load carrying ability, comfort, and features over getting the pack that is the most lightweight, simple, stripped. I think that OGL review and rankings was spot on but packs are like rock shoes - very specific to each person. And, it is also becoming apparent to me that alpinists have certain pack brand and style biases ("Cilo's are sooooo cool, and they are the made-in-PDX little guy, and so rare and hard to get, and only REAL climbers own them, I want" or "Opsrey? Don't they sell those to everything-but-the-kitchen-sink backpackers? Way too strap-y" which was my previous impression of Osprey)

Packs I own/owned in the 30-40L range (yes, I have a pack problem): ColdColdWorld Chernobyl (my favorite about 10 years ago, dated now), Blue Ice Warthog 38 (used every day for an ice season in the CAN Rockies a few years ago but not enough features or expandable enough for a lot of objectives), AlphaFL 45 (nice pack, great fabric,  but didn't carry weight great, not enough features), Cilo 30:30 (most annoying, fragile pack I have owned, hated), new Patagonia Ascentionist 40L (light and well featured but sucks at carrying loads, several flaws in the design), and older Mammut Trion Light 40L (my previous favorite pack, almost perfect but lacked a modern tool attachment system).

The Mutant 38 beats all these for ME. It is not perfect (yes, the side compression straps are annoying, which are fixed on the new Mutants out any day now) but the Mutant has every feature an alpinist needs, just a little extraneous weight, and carries really well. The way it carries is not just about the suspension system it is also about the sweet foam and material Osprey uses on the back panel, waist and shoulder straps that breaths really well and makes it as close to disappearing on my back as any pack I have ever worn. Long approaches in the North Cascades have a way of providing a lot of pack evaluation time. I never understood saving 100 grams in pack weight for a pack that makes 25 lbs feel like 45 lbs on the back. I liked the 38 so much I turned around and bought the 28 (which I may like even better) and can't wait to get the new Mutant 52.

Packs are super important and relatively cheap. This is not a tough decision. Wait until the new Mutants come out (as early as July 15 Backcountry.com told me) buy it and see for yourself, or return.

I just bought one to climb east buttress on mount Whitney and it was fantastic. I could pop off my ice axe with one hand (which I probably thought was was cooler than it really is...) The hip belt design is also a nice feature, a larger one with two gear loops which you can fold back for a smaller one for when you are wearing a harness.
It's also just a bomb proof pack. Really well built. And osprey has a really good repair and replacement program.
I'd say yes, buy it.

The new ones look pretty interesting!  

I bought a Mutant 38 about 5 years ago before they went to the dyno green color, and the back wasn't the mesh back of the newer models, it is more a solid foam back panel
I added a mammut crampon pocket and helmet holder and it's great. 
It's been my go to pack for alpine climbing and ski mountaineering.  I also use it for backcountry skiing.
It carry's skis really well, I like the ice ax carry system and the gear loops on the waist belt. And my pack carries rope fine.

My pack gets 25 plus days of hard use every year , and it's definitely not new anymore but a far cry from worn out and like Mark stated Osprey warranties there packs for life
My biggest complaint about my pack is with the foam back, if it's not packed right it tends to carry weird and didn't breath super great but I think they fixed thet with the newer models but may have sacrificed some durability?
I just bought last year model of the Mutant 28 and I'stoked about it 

I had a chance to do a side by side with my lowe alpine ascent 35:45, they were very similar but the lowe seemed burlier (not heavier).  I prefer the single lid strap on the lowe compared to the traditional 2 strap lid on the osprey.  There's also a rope compression strap that will lock the coils down but still allow access inside the pack.  Highly recommend giving them a fondle at next adventure. (the packs, not the staff)

New Mutants starting to sprout up across the interwebs...presale at REI now but shipping from ebags.com

I had a mutant about 8 years ago and really liked it until the foam framesheet permanently deformed.  That pack only had a foam framesheet without a metal tube frame, I think the newer design has a metal tube frame.  If not don't put a lot of weight in it.   After the mutant I bought a cilogear pack which was the worst pack I have owned in 40 years.  Since then I have gone through 2.5 black diamond speed 40 packs which I like a lot but have been thinking the next pack will be another mutant.  They are pretty similar.   Both are lightweight about the same volume and carry pretty well.  I always buy last year's model on sale.  I probably use my packs close to 75 days per year a lot off trail so I am pretty happy getting 2 years out of a pack.  Boulder hoping though granite looking for new routes in cochice stronghold will wear out almost anything.

Hey all about to get into backcountry skiing and have been eyeballing the latest mutant 37. I've never carried skiis on my back before so I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into this packs A-frame carry ability? All the reviews I've read both old version and revised pack don't really mention ski carry. Most pics in reviews don't even show skiis. I'm thinking this is less ski-mo and more mountaineering. As mentioned before I'm a newb and don't plan on buying a rope for some time. (Less technical objectives to begin with)
Backcountry skiing excites me and I'm looking forward to a pack I can grow with. 
Also, and I guess I'm asking if this is a concern but there is no dedicated Avalanche gear pocket. How important is this?i would think organization is key out in the wilds. I feel like just tossing shovels and probes in the main compartment along with everything else is not ideal.
Thanks everybodyWinters almost here on Colorado!!Thoughts?

In the event of any avy recovery you have 15 minutes to get air to your partner and digging in debris isn't easy, seconds count. Your pack should absolutely have a separate avy tool compartment that is fast to access as possible, your tools should not be buried inside with other gear.

I've actually changed objectives to hippie turns in mellow trees because climber focused partners show up wanting to use their dead bird FL or speed packs to ski tour. I've also asked a few of those partners to not contact me about riding in avy terrain until they get a proper pack. To me it's no different than showing up with a plastic shovel blade or ancient single antenna beacon. 

Thanks Kyle and Nick, it looks like having a proper ski touring bag instead of skimo bag is a must. I appreciate the response. 

phillip Poulakis wrote: Thanks Kyle and Nick, it looks like having a proper ski touring bag instead of skimo bag is a must. I appreciate the response. 

FYI skimo=racing. What you're describing is ski mountaineering (yes it's confusing that those are two different things).

I use the BD Speed 30 for climbing, and the Osprey Camber 32 for ski touring. For ski mountaineering I would choose one of the two based on what the objective was. Climbing packs will be lighter and expand more easily. Skiing packs are more durable and carry better.
And FWIW I avoid zippers on my climbing packs since that's a potential failure point, but the convenience of a panel loader is important to me when skiing. So I would suggest two separate packs (ski edges are also likely to shred the sides of your climbing pack, skiing packs are usually built with beefier fabrics).

Skimo

Ski mountaineering

I have the Mutant and wouldn’t hesitate to take it on an overnight tour somewhere but for my daily pack I use the Thule Upslope which I highly recommend. Carries great, huge pockets that can fit a nalgene and/or skins, and moves well with your body on the way down.

These days if looking for a dedicated ski touring pack I'd take a serious look at getting one with an airbag.  Ups the weight and cost, but they are getting way better and it also significantly ups the utility of the pack. Especially if you're going to be out on days where you are seeking out powder and not avoiding it like a pure climber would do.

I think it’s worth noting you can use certain packs in both roles. I tried skiing with my bd speed 40 once, atrocious. However, my mammut trion  zip 28 works very well in both roles for me. Zipper access and small size mean that rescue gear can not get buried unless you really try and I find it is big enough for alpine climbs with one night if you put stuff on the outside/pack light etc... I used this pack when climbing liberty ridge and skiing the emmons and spending one night. I prefer a small pack for this type of endeavor because, while unwieldy on the approach, once you’re on route you have small pack that’s nicer to climb with. 

I bought the BD Speed 40, Lowe Alpine Ascent 40, and the Osprey Mutant 38 and posted some pics here.

I wouldn't go by what people say about a pack that has been redesigned from any manufacturer. I mention this as I see a comment about the Mutant from 8 years ago.

Also, a lot of people don't like straps. I guess is does add some weight, but, straps are great to carry things on the outside. It's one of those things that you don't know you needed until you need it. I think it's a minor in regards to complexity*, weight, and cost.

* How are people who climb, and have to determine the route, perplexed by straps?