Osprey Talon/Tempest 22 Daypack Assessment

Backside Line

The Osprey Talon 22 (males’s) and Tempest 22 (girls’s) are CleverHiker’s high daypacks on our finest daypacks for mountaineering information. These versatile luggage earn high marks for consolation, group, user-friendliness, and sturdiness – which is why they’re a favourite on our staff. The Tempest has been Editorial Assistant Annie Hopfensperger’s go-to daypack for years as she’s racked up hundreds of miles from the Pacific Northwest to the Peruvian Andes to Yoho Nationwide Park in Canada. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer additionally has liked the Talon for peakbagging in Colorado. 

Osprey up to date the Talon and Tempest in late 2024, and testing reveals they’re higher than ever. The most important change was shifting the hydration reservoir pocket inside and widening it to accommodate larger fashions. Additionally, the ladies’s Tempest is now 22 liters as an alternative of simply 20.

That mentioned, the Talon and Tempest land on the heavier aspect, which could deter ultralighters. Additionally, these packs are among the many costliest on our checklist. Nonetheless, if you happen to want a rugged, extremely organized daypack constructed to deal with tough use on the path and in on a regular basis life, these are among the longest-lasting, top-performing backpacks available on the market.

Consolation

In case you love a traditional daypack for brief jaunts to all-day treks, the Talon and Tempest will verify each field. Their ergonomic, padded shoulder straps with an adjustable sternum strap are comfy for all-day put on. Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer hundreds the Talon with 20+ kilos of drugs each week when he’s mountaineering laps on Mt. Morrison, a steep 4-mile hike with 1,850 ft of elevation achieve close to Denver. He selected the Talon as a result of the pack distributes weight evenly, making heavy hundreds really feel manageable.

Our favourite factor concerning the Tempest and Talon’s design is Osprey’s Airscape again panel. This design swaps a steel inside body for a semi-rigid foam sheet with ventilated air movement channels. Throughout testing, Ian hiked 38 miles in Caprock State Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park within the Texas Panhandle along with his Talon 22. The backpanel stored airflow shifting from his neck to his decrease again, decreasing sweat because the solar baked the desert.

The Talon and Tempest have an adjustable torso harness that accommodates a variety of physique sorts, so you possibly can dial within the match exactly for you. Plus, Osprey’s inclusive sizing vary for women and men consists of an prolonged match for wider our bodies – which makes these packs an excellent match for nearly anybody.

The draw back of such a cushty pack? Its measurement and bulk might miss the mark for ultralight and minimalist hikers who discover lighter packs extra comfy. Nonetheless, in case your high precedence is consolation, it is a negligible tradeoff that’s properly definitely worth the little bit of added weight. 

Group

Maintaining your gear in verify is a breeze with the Talon and Tempest. They characteristic two giant hip belt pockets completely sized for quick-access gadgets like snacks or perhaps a telephone. Our assessments confirmed they match an iPhone 14 or Google Android. A stretchy stash pocket on the entrance panel makes it senseless and quick to entry cumbersome gadgets like gloves, a hat, or perhaps a puffy jacket to keep away from rummaging via the principle compartment.

For difficult terrain, these luggage have all of the gear attachments we want.  Ian Krammer has climbed greater than 50 Colorado excessive factors over 13,000 ft with the Talon, together with routes filled with scrambles, lengthy ridge crawls, and steep, free gullies. He liked the a number of trekking pole storage choices, together with a loop system on the again of the pack and a shoulder strap choice to unencumber your arms. These packs even have ice choose pockets and an exterior helmet clip – good options for harmful class 4 terrain or biking round city. Nonetheless, there aren’t many lash factors on the surface of the bag.

In case you’re on the lookout for a pack with excellent group, the Talon and Tempest often is the pot of gold on the finish of the rainbow.

Consumer-Friendliness

Relating to considerate, user-focused design, these Osprey fashions’ are filled with intuitive and purposeful options. Loads of pockets and intuitive storage make it straightforward to maintain your necessities inside attain whether or not you’re mountaineering, biking, or touring. The hip belt pockets are our favourite for roomy and easy entry providing a handy spot for snacks and a telephone. Zipper tabs are giant and straightforward to seize, including to their trail-friendly performance. On-the-go trekking pole storage and a sternum strap whistle improve their practicality – and security – for tackling technical routes. They’re extremely adjustable and are available in a wide range of volumes and sizes for anyone and any journey. And these packs’ versatility shines with extras like a motorbike helmet clip and a blinker mild attachment level for navigating town or rugged trails.

On the newest replace of those fashions, the hydration sleeve was moved from the surface of the pack to the within. We choose this new design for ease of entry and for a greater match with wider hydration reservoirs. This method is now suitable with any model of hydration reservoir. In case you choose water bottles, the twin water bottle holders are angled for a handy attain with out eradicating your backpack. 

That mentioned, the abundance of straps and technical options could also be much less user-friendly for shorter, informal hikes. Ian typically has the Talon in his rotation, however for only a few hours on the paths – or mild and quick journey the place simplicity and light-weight design is essential – he prefers a extra minimalist pack just like the REI Flash 22 or the Salomon Trailblazer 20. For customers who lean ultralight, the Talon and Tempest could also be a bit cumbersome, and the sheer variety of pockets and options could also be pointless and go unused.

Weight and Compressibility

At 2 kilos, 6 ounces for the Talon and a couple of kilos, 4.3 ounces for the Tempest, these daypacks are among the many heavier choices on our daypacks information. Our staff typically gravitates in direction of lighter, frameless luggage for day hikes, so these are a bit heavier than the others, particularly for less than 22 liters. Osprey pulls out all of the stops, combining a robust framesheet, sturdy ripstop nylon, and robust elements, which contributes to their general weight. That mentioned, Senior Gear Analyst Ian Krammer has hiked 20+ mile days with the Talon and barely seen the additional ounces, and so they additionally supply a reasonably slim profile. 

These luggage aren’t as compressible as equally sized backpacks, although. Compression straps on either side allow us to cinch the pack down for extra of a low-profile carry. Nonetheless, the structured framesheet prevents the Talon and Tempest from folding, rolling and compressing small, so that they’re not probably the most packable. 

In case you’re on the lookout for ultralight gear or prioritize packability for touring or storage, these packs is likely to be a bit a lot. These are finest for people who need stability and cargo administration over portability. That mentioned, the Talon and Tempest carry weight so properly, they really feel as agile and versatile as luggage that weigh far much less.

Sturdiness

Relating to sturdiness, the Osprey Talon 22 and Tempest 22 rise above the competitors. Constructed with rugged nylon, these luggage can stand up to relentless use. Editorial Assistant Annie Hopfsenberger has used her Tempest for worldwide journey, lengthy day hikes, and household hikes. Her pack has held up superbly to common tough use. 

Each element is thoughtfully designed for longevity—clean, snag-free zippers, strengthened nylon straps, and a dense mesh that resists tears from branches or tough terrain. Annie discovered that after hundreds of miles, these packs present minimal put on, making them a dependable selection for hikers who push their gear to the restrict. Ian’s testing within the backcountry additionally discovered these supplies shine in harsh circumstances – the pack stored his gear secure in the whole lot from rain to thick bushwhacks.

In case you don’t thoughts a barely larger price ticket for a premium daypack, these items will stick round for a particularly very long time everytime you want them.

Do you have to purchase the Osprey Talon/Tempest 22 daypack?

The Osprey Talon 22 and Tempest 20 are perfect for hikers, bikers, and adventurers who need a versatile, feature-packed daypack that’s comfy and sturdy. With a supportive body sheet, plush hip belts, and an adjustable match, these packs conform properly to completely different physique sorts, making them a dependable companion for prolonged trails and numerous actions. Their intuitive group – together with loads of pockets, trekking pole storage, and hydration compatibility – caters to individuals who need accessible and environment friendly gear storage. Furthermore, the packs’ burly development means these packs might be your go-to for years

Nonetheless, these daypacks is probably not for everybody. At over two kilos, their weight is pretty excessive for his or her 22L capacities, and their structured design lacks the packability of frameless alternate options. Minimalists or informal adventurers would possibly discover their heft, robust body, and abundance of options pointless. Nonetheless, if you’d like one bag that may go the gap, this one is a good selection for nearly any upcoming journey.

What different day packs must you contemplate for mountaineering?

In case you’re not bought on the Talon or Tempest, head over to our information to the Finest Daypacks for Mountain climbing.

Gregory Citro 24 H20 / Juno 24 H20 Assessment: These Gregory fashions share the Osprey’s glorious group, user-friendly design, and a dependable body  however weigh a number of ounces lighter and incorporate extra mesh for consolation. 

Osprey Stratos 24 / Sirrus 24 Assessment: The Osprey Stratos 24 / Sirrus 24 present superior consolation, with extra again air flow and an much more sturdy body that ensures longevity and help beneath heavy hundreds. 

REI Path 25 Assessment: The REI Path 25 is extra versatile, provides a bigger capability, and weighs much less – for a a lot cheaper price level than the Osprey packs.