Backpacks for hiking (40-50l) - front vs top opening?

[413x]

Looking for a bigger backpack to carry a bit more stuff.

Been looking at osprey exos 48.

Why?
-its very light
-It has a mesh 'trampoline' or 'suspension' back. Where the pack is suspended away from back to help airflow. Have this on my 18l hikelite and it's amazing.

But I forsee it being a pain due to only being top loading. In my head I'm thinking the front loading look a lot more practical. But I'm struggling to find something light and suspension back

Anyone advise on whether the top load only is a pain? Or a non issue?

 

[413x]

I think that (unless things have changed since I last bought a pack) decent hiking packs are generally top-loading? Front loading packs tend to be wider and therefore less stable along your back and on your hips, so less good for hiking. They're a bit more of a pain to access stuff from (but presumably anything you need quickly you can find in front/side/top pockets?), but I'd rather be hiking with a heavy pack which fits me well than one which is easy to access.

So if you're genuinely buying it for walking, get the top loader. If it's more for travel but with a bit of walking, find a front loader.

This is what I was wondering as offerings seem slim.
If there really isn't an option for this ill just go for the exos. It's about 500g lighter than most good 40-50l packs. And that makes a difference!

 

[413x]

Yeah I've always though the non top loaders were more for people traversing cities for an hour in lieu of pulling a suitcase. I started using little weather proof packing sacks and its a game changer. Group similar items together in each sack for easiness. Load your bag from the bottom with sleeping bag first then more regularly used stuff on the top (snacks, tea and coffee, wet weather gear) then you are only pulling a few things out the bag a time before you stuff em back in, wet and dirty or not.

This is the first link I found but I paid about a third of that for mine on ebay.

Kathmandu AU

www.kathmandu.com.au

Probably a lot of Thai planning I don't do. Just throw it all in.. Crap.. My power bank is at the bottom!

As weight is critical to me and almost all bags seem to be top load it can't be an issue. Otherwise bags would be different.

I'll Probably just get the exos in that case.

As I kayak a lot I'm well Used to bagging things up in dry bags! Keeps dirty stuff from clean too.