Osprey  Escapist 25 Pack

For most people, this is the right backpack. Pull the trigger and get it. Love the many pockets; it helps keep me organized without it being too much. My only qualm with it, is that it feels a little too long for my frame, although I understand it is unisex and I’m short (5’1, 140 lbs). I adjusted the backing of it and still feels like I’m too short to fit it correctly. And with the shoulder straps tightened extensively, it’s a bit of an inconvenience to get out of the backpack, dinosoaring my arms out to get out of it. Because of my build, I’d give the backpack an 8/10. I’ve tried backpacks build specifically for a woman’s frame and while they fit just right- (deuter for example), the osprey backpacks blows comfort and quality out of the water. I’ve tried the osprey’s tempest that’s for women but I really love the pockets this has and that it’s 25L.

I was bought an Escapist 25 in 2014 for cycling to university. By 2017, after three years of daily commuting in London, plus being bashed around on ski lifts and hauled up mountains, it was looking fairly worse for wear. Osprey replaced the snapped buckle, posted me new zip pulls, and stitched up the broken webbing for free. Back on the road it spent a year in Australia, crossed Tongariro, became engrained with dust at the top of Sigiriya, hiked through monsoons between Thailand and Myanmar, and got squashed against a load more ski lifts. After finding it languishing at the bottom of a wardrobe, misshapen, ripped and surely irreparable, I sent it back to Osprey again thinking at least that it might get recycled. Instead they honoured their 30-year guarantee and sent me a brand new 2025 model in replacement. I’m blown away by this company’s commitment to their products.

If you had an Escapist from a few years ago (the one with the yellow back) and loved it, don’t think for a second that this is a replacement. It’s an inferior product in almost every respect. The only “improvement” might be the side pocket, but beyond that… I really miss my old Escapist. The list of drawbacks is long: bottle holders that are far too shallow, no back pocket near the neck, a back support that bulges, no real divider between the top and bottom compartments (there’s no zipper), and the two buttons that are supposed to hold the so-called divider come undone at the slightest pull. The front compartment is also far less useful than in the previous model… and the list could go on. I bought it a few months ago and decided to keep it, even though I wasn’t thrilled, to give it a fair chance. But after this summer holiday, I can’t defend it anymore. Very disappointed in Osprey for coming out with such a downgraded product.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I'd rather have had my old 1 repaired. New pocket design is poor. Doesn't hold water bottles. Great service for replacement, poor quality product. Feels cheaply made compared to previous product.

User for daily commute with a 15 inch laptop. Plenty of space for waterproofs, tools and flask. Cool back now in warm weather and more stable than the laptop backpack.

Wouldn't consider buying any other make of rucksack. They're excellent. They adjust to fit and I never get any aches or pains from my Osprey.

Exactly what I needed for day hikes, cycling and city day visits.