The perfect daypack is the one you don’t even think about once you’ve bought it. As hikers and travellers, a daypack is probably our most essential item, it goes with us everywhere.
With hundreds of packs out there from many different companies, it can be really difficult to work out which is the best. We’ve been through our fair share, looking for a pack that is hard-wearing, comfortable and can carry everything we need without being burdensome.
We also have a pretty unique need: Cat has a broken disc in her neck. She suffers from soreness in her neck and shoulders that are easily aggravated by carrying weight.
Before buying the Talon 22, we needed a pack that could be taken up mountains, could distribute the weight away from her shoulders, had enough space to carry the essentials and was hard-wearing.
You’ll see from our unsponsored review below, it passed the test with flying colours.
Review of the Osprey Talon 22 backpack
The Talon series of backpacks from Osprey are designed for day-use. We use it when we need to pack light and you can just about get away with it for an overnight hike too if you’re sleeping in a hut.
At 22 litres, the Talon 22 is one of the bigger daypacks. You can fit a lot in there, especially if you make use of the outer pockets like we do for the flip flops!
Here’s a quick summary of the pack:
Features:
22 litre capacity
1 main compartment, second smaller internal compartment
2 bottle holders
Wide waist belt with 2 pockets
Water bladder slot
Pros:
Very comfortable
Great shoulder & waist straps
Durable
Good amount of space & pockets
Ventilation on the back for warm climates
You can attach hiking poles to the side of the pack
Cons
Not waterproof - needs a rain cover
Main zip catches on the outer cover a lot
Here’s more detail on how we’ve found the pack after extensive use.
Comfort
As you can see from the brief above, comfort was paramount for this pack, and it is certainly the most comfortable daypack we’ve ever bought. The problem we have often faced with a daypack is a thin waist strap that does nothing for taking the weight off your shoulders, and straps that cut into your shoulders if worn for a long time.
The Talon 22 takes a lot of the features from the bigger packs and incorporates it into the design. The waist straps are thick, sturdy and do a brilliant job of distributing weight to your waist. This alone has reduced the amount of pain Cat suffers from hiking with a pack.
The shoulder straps are also great. They are wide, easy to re-calibrate and fit really well. The chest strap is small, but does the job in helping with the fit of the pack.
It’s hard to understate the difference this pack has made.
Space
Space is also another important factor in a daypack for us, and the Talon 22 definitely has enough room for everything we need. The main compartment has ample space for everything we need for a day, and sometimes we even choose to put our camera gear in this pack - it’s a lot more comfortable to carry than any camera bag we’ve owned.
The main compartment has a mesh pocket, which is a useful place to store keys, wallets or important belongings that you need quick access to, but don’t want to risk falling out. It also has a top compartment which is another place to store smaller belongings you need easier access to.
On top of this, there are two side pockets which are perfect for water-bottles, a large pocket on the back (we often slip flip flops, a rain cover and even a camera lens in there) and pockets on the waist straps for keys or small items.
There’s also an attachment on the back for a bike helmet if you need one, as well as a compartment for storing a bladder pack. You can attach hiking poles to the sides when you’re not using them too.
Durability
We’ve had this pack for over two years and it’s showing no signs of letting up. Osprey offer an “All Might Guarantee” offering to repair damage or defects on any pack and you can read up about it on their website. This bold guarantee shows you how confident they are that their packs are designed to last.
We’ve taken the Talon 22 on hundreds of day hikes and on day trips when travelling around the world as well as the odd overnight hike.
Problems with the Talon 22
The biggest problem with the Talon 22 is the zip for the main compartment. Sometimes this pack can make you feel like you’re at school again, struggling with the zipper on your coat. We’ve found that it frequently gets jammed on the lip that covers the zip, and it’s infuriatingly hard to undo! This isn’t an insurmountable problem, but it seems to happen a lot with this pack, particularly if you fill it to the max, which is something we’re guilty of.
Another issue we have is the fact that the pack isn’t waterproof. We’re still surprised with all the amazing things this pack can do, that it can’t keep out any rain. It means you have to buy an additional rain cover, which isn’t ideal.
This may be industry standard, but it’s not ideal when you hike a lot in places like New Zealand, Canada and the UK where it rains all year!
Should you buy it? Yes!
Apart from a couple of small frustrations, this pack has been great for us, especially if you have neck and shoulder problems. It is as comfortable as they get, as well as having storage to carry everything you need for a day trip.
We thought hard about buying it as it is by far the most expensive day pack we’ve ever owned but it’s been great over the last two years and has proven a solid investment.
We won’t be using any other daypack.
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If you have any questions about the pack, please feel free to ask away!
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