Osprey Talon 22/Tempest 20 Daypack Review

[best all-around]

Definition of a good daypack: Your stuff disappears into it, and it disappears on your back. The Talon (Tempest is the women’s version) did just that for our crew on hikes from Hawaii’s Kona Coast to France’s Chamonix. Credit the smart organization, low weight, and adjustable suspension—the latter extremely rare in daypacks, especially one this light. (Four inches of play let all testers fine-tune fit.) A slightly stiffened backpanel delivers excellent load support for up to 20 pounds. After a long day on the Mont Blanc Royal Traverse, one tester reports: “My puffy, raingear, and lunch all fit neatly in the zippered, top-loading main bag. I stashed my sunglasses in the 9-inch-deep top pocket; its dimpled polyester material prevents scratches. And the stretchy shoulder strap pouch proved ideal for GU packs and my headlamp.” Bonus: An external hydration sleeve*—nestled between the backpanel and shoulder straps—makes refilling quick and easy. Nitpick: The stretchy mesh hipbelt pocket on one sample sustained a pea-size hole. $100; 1 lb. 9 oz. (w’s M); 22 liters; 2 m’s and 2 w’s sizes; ospreypacks.com


*External hydration sleeve This allows you to access the bladder from the outside without rummaging through the pack.