Osprey Talon 22 Pack

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

I've used this on 4 hikes of varying length (2-12 miles), a cross-country "wolf run" of 22 miles, and mountain-bike rides up to 29 miles. It performed fabulously in each application! In fact, unlike most packs, I didn't even notice it! It hugged my back during highly action-packed activity, and never became a distraction, as most other packs do.

I've owned close to a dozen day- and hydration-packs from big-name manufacturers (Chouinard, North Face, Kelty, Mountain Hardware, Gregory, REI, Camelback, etc.) over the last 20 years, and this is the best-fitting and best-performing of them all. I truly am amazed at its fit, its function, and its attention to detail.

LOAD BEARING: On some outings it has held: a gallon of water (in two 2Liter hydration pouches, 1 in reserve + 20 oz Gatorade); + wind shirt, pants, cap, sweater; + medicines; + two point-& shoot cameras; + lunch; + energy bars; + mp3 player; + GPS. This about tops out the Talon 22, but it worked great. Compression straps really hold the gear tight. Side pockets will hold a 20-oz. power drink. Hip pockets will hold cameras, energy bars, etc. and are easy to access, though sometimes it takes two hands to fully zip them closed. Shoulder-strap pockets are good for MP3 player or radio, maybe small cell-phone (not my BlackBerry 8830).

I like the placement of the hydration sleeve between the pack and the back panel. Easy access.
Two "hidden" pockets work nicely for wallet and cell-phone (one is in main pocket, other is inside hydration-sleeve).

COMFORT: Shoulder straps and waist belt adjust easily over the course of the day's activities, to fine-tune the fit, but really haven't needed much adjustment, it fits so comfortably.

While the back does breathe some, and seems well-designed, you can still expect to sweat extra on your back if you are really cranking, or if you are just doing ANY kind of activity in the South in the summer. I've yet to take the back-panel out for cleaning, but there is a zippered-pocket to access it.

CONCLUSION: All-considered, I could not be more pleased with this pack. Anyone looking for a nicely-sized day/hydration-pack that would serve both general purpose and multi-sport use would do well to consider this one. Bottom-line: If I had to be limited to only one pack for all my day-long activities, this is the one I will carry!

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

My first day hike with this pack was 11 1/2 hours and it worked well. It was comfortable, didn't shift around, and didn't get in my way while bouldering. I carried two 3-liter reservoirs, lunch, and extra layers in it and my shoulders hardly felt any weight. It's easy to take on and off for rests and snacks. The small pockets on the hip belt were very handy for a camera and necessities like eyedrops and chapstick, and I took more photos than usual because I didn't have to stop walking. The material is very thin and lightweight but seemed to hold up fine while being scraped on volcanic rock. The stretchy outer pocket was good for stuffing that final extra shirt layer in.

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

I use this pack for everything shy of extened backpacking trips. It is the best pack I have owned. I purchased it for an unsupported 4 day Mt. Bike trip (Kokopelli) for the large hydration capacity and comfort and was amazed at what I could put in this thing. Gear just keeps going in. The stretchy fabric allows for far more than the 1,200 cu. in. capacity.

The pack is extremely comfortable. You can barely tell that it is on. I no longer use any of my other daypacks or camelbacks and will soon be selling them along with my backpack and will be getting the Talon 44. I have had this pack for about a year and it still looks like new.

Other nice features are that a mt. bike helmet fits securely in the front flap pocket, hip belt holds camera and bars and the shoulder strap pockets hold gps and cell phone all within easy reach.

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

This bag is great. I have a Gregory Z55 and it is amazing as well, but it is just too big for day trips. This pack is almost infinitely adjustable and the back ventilation is amazing. This bag has every feature you could possibly need, there may be stuff you could add, but that would most likely only detract and take away from the beauty of this pack. It has everything you need and nothing you don't. Get this pack!

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

Great pack for me, I'm 6'5" and had trouble finding a daypack that adjusts to fit me. I spent a little extra money on this pack because it fit me well, and I'm extremely happy about my choice. The only con I've found is that the padding at the top of Osprey's torso adjustment system produces two uncomfortable pressure points at the top of my back when I first put the pack on. It's not enough pressure to cause any pain, and I don't even notice it after a short time. It's just an annoyance that could probably be fixed by making the board the straps attach to a little stiffer. Other than that minor annoyance though, I couldn't be happier with this pack. I noticed another reviewer wrote about the shoulder straps stretching out because they're made of a mesh/neoprene construction. I'm going to disagree with that unless he's really loading his pack down. I haven't noticed any stretching or anything even with a full day's worth of books and stuff. Pack seems very sturdy and well made to me.

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

My wife's favorite pack has been on its 'last legs' for years. She wanted to replace it, but couldn't find a pack that was as comfortable. Until now. We stumbled upon the Talon 22 [...]. I picked it up and was immediately wowed by the weight - its featherlight. As soon as my wife put it on her shoulders it was a done deal. The old purple pack is history, the talon pack has replaced it! These are excellent packs for light loads (they don't have an internal frame). But, for carrying a jacket, fleece, some food and water on the trail its just about perfect. Very adjustable, with the right amount of pockets and ease of access. The shoulder straps are superb, they seem to mold them selves into place, to the extent you don't feel you are wearing a pack. Much, much better than some of the highly padded, but somewhat rigid straps on other similar sized packs. And did i mention its light, really light? I was so impressed that I went out last night and bought a Talon 44. I'm delighted with it (albeit i've not used it yet). The downsides? Well I don't think these packs will be able to take much abuse. To keep it so light the materials used are clearly can't be really 'heavy duty'. But, given the comfort factor this pales into insignificance!

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

Osprey has a winner with the Talon series of packs. After more than 30 years of backing I have found the ultimate day pack in the Talon 22. The comfort of this pack is unbelievable. I barely notice that it is on even when loaded to as much as 19 lb/8.6 kg of gear and water. (I like it so much that I just ordered my third of the series.) I have put over 200 miles/322 km with this pack since March.

It is very comfortable. The hip belt and shoulder straps are the best I have ever used in a pack of this weight, and better than many at twice the weight. The air-channel backpanel works very well to keep me somewhat cool (I am a hot hiker). I really like the between-the-backpanel hydration pocket for easy access to my bladder. The pockets are actually useable while I am wearing it, without dislocating my arms. The hip belt pockets are nice for things I want close at hand.

The only thing I do not like is the way that the side compression straps interfere with the side pockets when pulled tight.

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

Finding this back was very exciting, and a huge relief. I think I may have tried on every daypack at every camping store in Seattle with no luck. Packs that were narrow enough were too short and put pressure on my lower back, and packs that fit my torso length were too bulky or big. This pack is slender, and long, and what's even better is the fact that you can adjust torso length to fit you perfectly. I went with the M-L option for length, and it still fit my small frame. The pack is fitted to hug your back, so there's not a lot of bouncing or swaying. The close contact makes it even more preferable to other day packs. The hip belt is probably my favorite feature, it's thin and flexible, so it follows the shape of your hips and sits snuggly. The zippered compartments on the hip belt are also handy for cameras or snacks. I use this pack for day hikes, long walks, and biking. Excellent purchase, and a good find for someone with a hard-to-fit torso!

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

Just got this bag and so far am loving it. I use it to haul stuff to/from work and go on single-day hiking trips up to 15 miles. It carries the load well, the straps are comfortable. It is light weight yet feels very strong. The elastic outside pocket seemed kinda silly at first but it turned out to be very convenient. My only complaint is that the pockets on the waist strap are kinda far back and require two hands to zip them closed.

Comments about Osprey Talon 22 Pack:

I recently purchased the Osprey Talon 22 after auditioning the competition. Again, Osprey made the best-designed and best fitting pack for me. Super comfy, and great for organizing my stuff. The Talon carries like it is part of me: great for general hiking, trail running, rough trail hiking, and speed.
There are pockets everywhere! I am totally addicted to the hipbelt pockets. Also, I can put an mp3 player or energy bar/gel in the shoulder strap pockets so I can easily access without slowing down.
I have not bicycled with it yet, but I expect that it would perform better than my camelback, as it rides better and is more comfortable.