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For some hikes, you can get away with the bare minimum. But for life-list trips and big days out, it pays to treat yourself to a sturdy, plush, fully-featured daypack like the new Osprey Talon/Tempest 33. With all the qualities of a multiday pack shrunk down to just 33 liters, this was one of the cushiest daypacks we tested this season. Between the plush ride, comprehensive feature set, and high degree of adjustability, it handily won our best-in-test designation.
Osprey Talon/Tempest 33
$190 at REI (Talon) $190 at REI (Tempest)
Weight: 2.8 lbs (men’s), 2.7 lbs (women’s)
Sizes: men’s and women’s; one size each
Pros and Cons
⊕ Plush comfort
⊕ Best-in-test adjustability
⊕ Extended fit options
⊕ Tons of organization
⊗ Small pockets
⊗ Not the most water-resistant
The Talon/Tempest 33’s outstanding comfort can be partially credited to a thick layer of EVA foam lining the hipbelt and shoulder straps. Broad hipbelt wings curved seamlessly around our iliac crests, spreading weight over the hips. We never felt any rubbing or chafing, even when the pack was fully loaded. Of course, padding is only half of the comfort equation; the other is fit. The Talon/Tempest addresses that with a whopping five inches of adjustable length—a full inch more than previous editions and more than any other daypack we tested this year. The system does add weight, but it allows Osprey to make just one version each of the men’s and women’s packs, which helps keep costs down. Testers loved it: the system is easy to use and allowed testers ranging from 5’4” to 5′ 8” to dial in their perfect size. Behind the adjustable backpanel sits a stiff plastic framesheet, which is molded to follow the curves of the spine and integrated into the hipbelt for more effective load transfer.
Tester Tracey Perillo says the pack carried weight so easily she was able to tote 24 pounds of snacks and gear on a 43-mile hut-to-hut trek in the Italian Dolomites without issue. She only wished there was an included raincover: The pack’s DWR coating deflected light drizzle, but was no match for a freak snowstorm.
Another tester—a volunteer wildlife monitor—was even able to trail-run with the Tempest in Colorado’s Flatirons carrying 10 pounds on her back. “Between the backpanel adjustability and robust compression straps, it was easy to ratchet this pack down until it was flat and wobble-proof,” she said. “I was running late to a bat-monitoring shift this summer and jogged up a loose, off-trail ascent with a pack full of scientific instruments. It moved with my body just like a running vest. I even got to my spot in time for sunset.” Upon arrival, she was pleased to find the 100-percent recycled high-tenacity nylon (100-denier on the body, 420 on the bottom) free of holes, even after stumbling down a cactus-covered hillside.
She was also impressed with the pack’s breathability: even after running, her back was barely damp. Credit goes to a set of horizontal cutouts behind a translucent mesh panel. The cutouts allowed some air flow, which testers could feel when there was a slight breeze. It wasn’t enough to prevent shirt-soaks on 80°F hikes, but it did help.
Organization was solid: Two hipbelt pockets fit several bars or a small iPhone (though not a large Samsung), and we squeezed a reservoir into the hydration pouch and Nalgenes into each of the side bottle pockets. We could not, however, reach those Nalgenes without taking the pack off. Though the dorsal shove-it sleeve felt a touch narrow, it fit a rain shell and light fleece in a pinch. A roomy toplid kept essentials organized, and twin bungees and a single ice-axe loop were available to provide alpine adventurers with a few extra stowage options.
For a deluxe daypack that can handle the longest, most-demanding days out on the trail, it’s hard to beat the Talon/Tempest 33 for comfort, support, and organization.
For a full list of our favorite daypacks, check out our latest Gear Guide