By the second hour of climbing out of Vigo, I was questioning every life decision that had led me to Spain’s north-west coast. My calves were screaming as the trail tilted relentlessly uphill without shade from the sun. But I was thanking myself for the light 32-liter daypack floating on my back instead of the full trekking pack I almost lugged along. As someone of average fitness, I’m fairly certain an extra 10lbs would have broken me before lunchtime.
For the next week, as I hiked 90 miles (145km) on the Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago, my backpack became so comfortable I could almost forget about it. Walking between 9 and 16 miles a day for six to eight hours sounds like the kind of thing that might leave your shoulders aching and your hips rubbed raw. But the Osprey Mira 32’s adjustable torso length let me dial in the fit, while the suspended mesh back panel kept air flowing even during long stretches through humid forests. I finished the trek with zero hot spots or friction points, something I didn’t expect after wearing the same backpack for seven days straight. And it served me well for the following week exploring Santiago de Compostela and Madrid.
