In this review, I will walk you through my honest opinions on two of Osprey’s hiking day packs. The Tempest 20 and the Talon 22.
My partner and I have been using these bags for quite some time now so I wanted to give my honest feedback on how it fares compared to other bags out there.
When I started planning my two-month trip, the most important thing for me was making sure I had a decent day pack or rucksack that I could use every day.
On previous trips, usually, the city break guides, carrying a weekend’s worth of stuff in my rucksack would give me back pain (pathetic I know). As it wasn’t particularly heavy, I put this down to the bag itself as it obviously wasn’t appropriate for what I was using it for.
Thus started my mission to find a bag that was more supportive so that my physical pain would be no more!
What felt like days of research, I finally came across the Osprey Hiking Packs. At first, I was unsure whether they’d be suitable for everyday use (I use my rucksack for literally anything) but upon reading their reviews, I found many women who were praising them for ‘curing’ their back pain and calling them “everyday bags.”
They were so highly recommended that I needed to check them out for myself.
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At a Glance
These two small day packs are two of Osprey’s most popular model and understandably so as it has lots of great features.
Take a look at the chart below to see the difference and a few of their specifications.
| Bag Name | Image | Features | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest 20 (Womens) |  | - External hydration sleeve - Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment - Zippered hip belt attachments |  |
| Talon 22 (Mens) |  | - External hydration sleeve - Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment - Zippered hip belt attachments |  |
Tempest 20L and Talon 22L Review
Weight: 0.70kg (tempest), 0.75kg (talon)
Pack Volume: 20-22L
To suit our needs, we each chose lightweight, all-rounder packs that we could use for hiking, as a weekend bag for city breaks and as an everyday bag whilst we were living in Malaga. This is why I choose the Tempest 20, a 20L pack designed for females weighing only 0.70 kg.
My partner David is using the Talon 22, the 22L male version of the Tempest weighing 0.75 kg.
When we received them, we were so happy. We actually spent a while loading our bags with various items just to test them out, they were amazing.
Not only were they aesthetically impressive, but they also didn’t weigh anything and no matter how much we filled them, they felt the same while on your back as the weight distributes evenly.
Features of the Tempest 20 and Talon 22 Packs:
• AirScape™ backpanel with foam ridges for ventilation
On my trip, I found that the AirScape back panel pretty handy. As we were doing a lot of hiking and even just walking around a city, the back panel really helped ventilation between my back and kept my temperature down without soaking my back from sweat.
Sounds gross but it really makes a difference after you rest and put a dry bag on instead of a wet one.
• Stretch mesh side pockets with InsideOut™ compression – this is really useful to carry large bottles of water as the straps hold them securely at your side.
• Side compression straps
• LidLock™ bike helmet attachment – very handy for cyclists. I used this to tie my running shoes to the outside of my bag.
• Stow-on-the-Go™ trekking pole attachment
• LED light attachment point
• Single ice axe loop
• Twin zippered hip belt pockets – these really cushion your hips when the bag is heavy.
The other feature that really made a difference was the hip belt pockets and the body straps. This is the genius invention that transforms the bag from dead weight carried on your shoulders to evenly distributed carried on your whole torso.
• Stretch pocket on harness – surprisingly you can fit a lot in this compartment.
• Sternum strap with emergency whistle – I didn’t personally use this but many people that hike have said it has saved their lives!
• Zippered panel access
Tempest 20: Women-specific Features
A Shaped Harness
The Tempest 20 is specifically designed to take into account the female bust. This together with the adjustable hip straps ensures a perfect fit for the female form, whatever the measurements.
A narrower yoke
The top panel, that curves around the bottom of the neck, is narrower on the Tempest to ensure a better fit as a woman’s shoulder area tends to be narrower than a mans. This also allows improves the weight distribution further as the bag sits nicely between the shoulder blades.
An opaque inside pocket rather than netted
I love this feature! As women typically have bits that they would rather not share with the world (e.g makeup, we naturally look like this you know!) this pocket is specifically for those hidden items. Although not a major need, little features like this make the bag all the more special.
Want to read reviews about the Tempest 20? Click the buttons below to see what others are saying.
