How to Choose a Backpack
Osprey Talon 44 Pack
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
Adding a lighter harness and more comfortable back panel to its already popular design, this ultralight pack is perfect for geared-up day hikes, speedy overnight backpacking and minimalist thru-hikes.
Shop newer version- Lightweight Osprey AirScapeâ„¢ back panel features molded foam ridges with air channels and a vertical "air chimney" covered in soft, airy mesh for ventilation and comfort
- Mesh-covered, die-cut slotted foam BioStretchâ„¢ shoulder straps and hipbelt offer light and breathable comfort; hipbelt tightens with easy ErgoPullâ„¢ closure
- Harness accommodates a variety of back lengths with an adjustable torso: just rip it, adjust it and stick it
- Peripheral aluminum frame adds structure support and effectively shifts load weight to your hips
- Top-loading main compartment holds lunch, an extra layer of clothes and tools; lower sleeping bag compartment features separate zippered access
- Removable top lid contains a zippered top pocket and mesh under-lid pocket
- Hydration compartment opens between the torso adjustment and main pack compartment, making it easily accessible from the outside (reservoir sold separately)
- Front stretch pocket stashes a jacket, helmet, book or other often-used gear
- Two zippered stretch mesh pockets on the hipbelt keep a compact digital camera or snacks at your fingertips
- Stretch pockets on the shoulder straps stow a cell phone or GPS, or conveniently secure the end of your hydration tube
- The Osprey Talon 44 pack features a rope-carry strap under the top lid, ice-axe attachment points, tow loop and a blinker patch (blinker light sold separately)
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Frame Type | Internal Frame |
| Ultralight | Yes |
| Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
| Material(s) | Ripstop nylon |
| Frame Material | Aluminum/molded foam |
| Number of Stays | 1 peripheral hoop |
| Pack Access | Top/bottom |
| Number of Exterior Pockets | 6 + main compartment |
| Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Served Well for 2 Caminos
Jim Barber11 years ago
I am a 5'10' 60 year old 200 lbs male who wore the Osprey 44 from Pamplona to Santiago De Compostella (5 weeks 450 miles) and from Lisbon to Santiago De Compostella (4 weeks 400 miles). This bag just plain worked for me. I liked the bottom access for sleeping gear storage. I got the medium rain cover which is a bit large for this bag but it allowed carrying gear on the outside of the bag. The rain cover also provides a bit more theft deterent in the cities.
I carried 20 - 22 pounds not including water. The bg held up to abuse, heat, rain, snow, you name it. I considered this bag a bargain for the price and saw a lot of Osprey bags on camino.
If you can, I would advise going into the bricks and mortar store for fitting for this or any bag. The staff was very helpful and carrying diffent bags that have been adjusted by someone who knows his onions makes a world of difference.
Jim Barber
Gloucester, Massachusetts
36 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Light... but not comfy
VikingBlast11 years ago
I loved this pack up until just recently when I finally took it out on its first real overnight trip.
Before then, I would load this up with the kids' sweaters, maybe some lunches, a few essentials when going on an extended day hike or trip out of town. I've even used it as my main luggage on some 2 or 3 night business trips. It's great for this.
It was not great when I loaded it down with 32 pounds of backpacking gear. I am trying to embrace the ultralight thing (which I why I bought this), but I'm still a bit of a noob, so I had a pretty hefty pack for an overnight trip. So sue me... but at 44 liters, this thing should be able to handle a one night trip regardless of what I decide to bring. The shoulder straps dug into me and the belt did not do a good job of keeping the weight on my hips. I found myself constantly tightening the waste belt and trying to loosen the sternum strap to get the shoulder pads off of my tender zones.
Otherwise, I love the pockets, the streamlined looks, the gear attachments, the super light weight... everything but what really counts, the comfort.
VikingBlast
Los Angeles, CA
11 people found this review helpful
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Reg1
Minneapolis, MN, United States
Comfortable up to 30 pounds
11 years ago
Originally bought this pack for through-hiking in Europe (less than 20 lbs.), but since then I have taken it on three 5+ day backpacking trips (28-30 lbs.) and many shorter trips. Pack choice depends solely on personal fit. I am sure this one is not for everyone. But by the end of the hiking day it feels like nothing to me. I had some shoulder discomfort early on in a 6 day trip where my starting weight was more than thirty pounds. But after a day of eating it settled down, and I never noticed it after that. I'm about to buy another for air travel, simply because the current one is unsightly dirty. It's still in great shape though.
Yes , I recommend this product
Jim Barber
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Served Well for 2 Caminos
11 years ago
I am a 5'10' 60 year old 200 lbs male who wore the Osprey 44 from Pamplona to Santiago De Compostella (5 weeks 450 miles) and from Lisbon to Santiago De Compostella (4 weeks 400 miles). This bag just plain worked for me. I liked the bottom access for sleeping gear storage. I got the medium rain cover which is a bit large for this bag but it allowed carrying gear on the outside of the bag. The rain cover also provides a bit more theft deterent in the cities. I carried 20 - 22 pounds not including water. The bg held up to abuse, heat, rain, snow, you name it. I considered this bag a bargain for the price and saw a lot of Osprey bags on camino. If you can, I would advise going into the bricks and mortar store for fitting for this or any bag. The staff was very helpful and carrying diffent bags that have been adjusted by someone who knows his onions makes a world of difference.
Yes , I recommend this product
YumaPav
Yuma, AZ
My go to pack
10 years ago
I've owned this pack for at least 3 years. It is my 3-4 night and SAR pack. I have hiked the Sierra, Oregon, Utah and Arizona in all the seasons. I love this pack. The only reason I didn't make this a 5 star is the liter water holders on the sides can not accessed on the fly, you have to take the pack off or have help.
Yes , I recommend this product
adrian93
Middle of the mountains, oregon
Best bag in the weight class by far
11 years ago
I have over 800 miles on this bag. I did a 500 miles trek over 19 days through oregon for my first encounter. It is extremely comfortable IF you know how to pack and adjust it. It gets uncomfortable when carrying over 50 lbs...this was with an axe and shovel, and sledge strapped to it...for a six day unsupported trip bushwhacking up a siskyou creek...not typical, but she help up beautifully. Expected to see a lot more wear and tear, however it held up surprisingly well given the amount of stick and bramble i was literally crawling though. Pretty water resistent...if youre expecting a week of non stop rain you should use something additional. A trash bag and the osprey kept my ipad dry for a beach hike in oregon, in march, for three weeks...which is saying a lot! If you are finding it uncomfortable it is one of three things. You havent adjusted it properly. You bought the wrong size. You loaded it inefficiently. Cons... Only one, You may have a hard time adjusting the straps if you are a 28 inch waist on the medium size. That is all. Buy this bag. Its light. Its durable. Its very reasonably priced. You will love it!
Yes , I recommend this product
MyD0j0
St Louis, MO
Great Transitional Bag
10 years ago
I'm 5'11" with a slender build @ 162 lbs. I bought the bag at the beginning of the 2014 Spring season with the intent of doing lightweight trips up to 5 nights. On a 1-2 night cool-weather trip, I carry 27 lbs of gear (including a full 3 liter hydration bladder and 1 change of clothes), minus food. For longer cool weather trips, an additional change of clothes brings it to 30 lbs of gear, minus food. The good: The bag handles this very well and is durable. The straps allow for cinching down and I have no load shifting. The lid compartment offers quite a bit of space for things you want quick access to but are too large for the belt pockets; it also can be fully removed from the bag if you don't need the space and want to save a couple ounces of weight. The sleeping bag access that unzips at the bottom is handy for any top loading bag, and if your sleeping bag compresses really well, it is handy for more than just access to your sleeping bag. The outer pockets offer decent additional storage, and is where I keep my rain gear, pack cover, and plastic alcohol fuel bottle (better for any leaks that might occur). The not so good: I find the load lifters on the shoulder straps will loosen if I'm not careful about how I pick up the bag when putting it on, but are easy enough to re-tighten. The outer pockets would be better if they had a little more stretch to them so that my travel coffee mug or water bottle fit a little better. These are annoyances, however. What would make this a 5 star bag is if the removable lid could also double as a waist pack or small day pack for doing some exploring after getting to camp; I suppose with a little ingenuity, that could still be accomplished, but I haven't taken the time to investigate. Conclusion: I like this bag. A lot. As with any backpack, you must make sure it is adjusted properly for your body -- the first time I had this out on the trail I was certain I was going to return it because I was in a fair amount of pain inside just a couple hours. Realizing it just needed to be adjusted properly solved that problem and all 4 trips I've taken in it have been good ones, including a 5 day hike on the Ozark Trail.
Yes , I recommend this product
Cincy hiker
Cincinnati, OH, United States
good lightweight pack
10 years ago
I used this on a 25 mile hike and it served me well. It is a VERY lightweight pack and it's compact with good compression so you don't feel a lot of awkward pounds on your back. It seems durable enough. More padding in the shoulder straps and hip belt would improve comfort. As with any pack, the trick is to get it fitted and adjusted properly. Once you find the sweet spot, it will feel like you are carrying nothing.
Goat Guy
Seattle, WA
Just Off The PCT
8 years ago
I bought the Talon 44 and after a couple of trips gave it to my son for the Camino - he used it for the entire route and loved it and is now traveling the world with it. I bought another identical Talon because I love this pack. Just came out of the wilderness after hiking from Canada to Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State. The pack worked really well, the outside stretchy pockets held a ton of gear, and I was loaded with at least 40 pounds at my resupply points (including an Osprey bladder holding 2 liters of water). The only wish I would have is for slightly beefier shoulder straps, but that would undoubtedly add weight. This weighs less than the packs made by ULA, designed specifically as ultra-light packs for through-hiking. I was putting in some 20 miles days, and this pack held up well, still looks like new.
Yes , I recommend this product
Matt Warner
Salem, VA, United States
Plenty of room for an overnight!
9 years ago
I searched long and hard for a UL bag, just a little over 2 pounds. This thing has plenty of room for my overnight trips and i could easily add enough gear/food for a multi-day hike. The padding on the shoulders could be a little softer, but then it would add some more weight. Buddy of mine used the same bag and he was loaded down with close to 30 pounds, since his dog was hiking with us. He said you probably wouldn't want to carry over 30. Very impressed with this bag and i can't wait to use it again!
Yes , I recommend this product
trekker22
Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Very lightweight but Doesn't work for longer treks
10 years ago
I bought this pack 2 years ago and have been on many treks with it. One including Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I took this on philmont and it was a stretch to bring. 44L is probably too small to last on a long trek but I was very good at packing my bags and I made it. a bigger pack would of been better. The pack itself was very light but with my 45 lbs load on philmont, it made it feel much heavier. I am 5'4" and 14 years old and the pack didn't fit well. On the trail I constantly repositioned my pack and that was a bit of a drag. Bottom line, for small treks and light loads it would be a great pack but if you go for more than 2 nights, I recommend the Aether, which is the pack I am ordering for myself.
No, I do not recommend this product
JESSE RAY
CHATTY TN
Fast,Fit,fierce
8 years ago
The light weight pack is great for long backcountry trips and long weekends. I pairs well with other light weight gear and worn right will slope you to plow through miles
Yes , I recommend this product
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