Osprey  Talon 22 Pack

I have only used this pack for a couple of months on day hikes and have been very happy with it. I purchased the Talon 22 to replace my REI Flash 18. I was looking for something close to the same capacity, but wanted the weight of the load to be supported by the hip belt. This pack is better suited for carrying a water bladder vs. water bottles. Removing the bottles and replacing them in the two side pockets while hiking is easily done, but the compression straps are limited in compressing the load properly when using water bottles. Other than that this is an excellent product. When using a hydration bladder it is near perfect for its intended use.

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.

I love this pack. It's the perfect size for a day pack. Plenty of room and lots of useful compartments. Great design! The only reason I gave it a 4 star is because the elastic side pockets are too small/short for some water bottles and sometimes the water bottle falls out. The compression straps help with that problem but then you have a difficult time taking it out and putting it back in. I also take it with me to work everyday. It's just the right size and my laptop fits in it. Overall it's a wonderful pack!

I liked that this pack had mesh straps and back, it kept me cool and comfortable. The padding is definitely adequate for the pack size. I've loaded this pack down with 20lbs of gear for a ski trip and was fine all day. The hip belt and compression straps help the pack stay close to the body, which is great for active sports like trail running or skiing. The only reason this pack doesn't get 5 stars is that the top mesh pocket is a weird shape and in an odd place. If I put much in it it becomes hard to reach into the main pocket. It works okay for small objects like keys or lip balm, but snacks or my wallet needs to go in the larger compartment, making it hard to find.

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.

This is a great pack that I have owned and enjoyed for about 3 years now. I primarily use it mountain biking and on short hikes. The waist belt and shoulder straps keep it riding close to the body, and the compression straps allow you to cinch the load down and keep things tight. The pockets and organization are good. I personally sometimes like a few small pockets to place things like a snack, camera, or other items in that I need to grab on the go. The shoulder strap and waist belt pockets are great for this. This brings me to one of my minor gripes. The pockets on the waist belt usually require two hands to zip closed. My only other complaint with the pack is that I wish the waist belt was detachable or stowable. In my opinion, this should be standard on this sized pack. It is a great bag for around town and school use, but the waist belt is a little annoying to have dangling around. Bottom line is that this is a great lightweight pack with strong design features. The only two downsides are mentioned above. I love this bag and would recommend it to anyone.

I had to update a lot of my gear, as I haven't been camping/hiking in the last 10 years, as much as I used to. Recently I've started again, and my old pack was simply beat down. I must have tried on every pack in the store, and when I put the Osprey Talon 22 on, off the rack, it was noticeably light and comfortable, so I took a chance with it. I was planning on using it for a surf trip in Oregon, where I'd be hiking down some steep and long trails to get to secluded spots. I was worried it would become abrasive, as I would also be carrying a surfboard. Man, was I happy I picked this pack. I stuffed it so full, and it still felt comfortable, and lighter for the load compared to my old packs. I had sandals, a wetsuit, food, water, books, a 35 mm digital cam + lens, small digi cam, various small surfing equipment and an iPod in it - it fit just fine. It was so snug to my body, that it really seemed to support itself, despite the lack of an overly prominent frame. Since then, I've used it for everything. Carrying items to work, to picnics, my carry on bag for air travel on and on. I love this bag. It looks cool too.

I was very drawn to this pack at first as it was very comfortable and easily adjustable. However, I found that the shoulder straps would tend to stretch when I had a textbook and a laptop in the bag. This is due to the fact that the straps are mesh with a sort of neoprene core. That design makes them exceedingly comfortable but I found myself worrying how long they would last. I am sure that this pack would be fantastic for those wishing to use it for light hiking and the like, but I would advise against its usage for school or work.

you can read about all the good things of this backpack in other reviews, so I would just say what I don't like about it I am petite (5'3" and 105 lbs) and have a hard time finding a comfortable backpack. most backpacks are just too big and too heavy for me. this one is still a little too long and too big for me, but it is the best I can find so far. it is high quality and I like the 2 small sacks on the hip belt, although I would hope it to be a little bigger because I can't fully zip it up when I put my canon digital elph camera, (which is very compact size), with the camera case on. The one thing I hate the most is the 2 side sacks. They are made of silky, stretchy materials and water bottles just slip right off everytime I bend down, or even just squat down to tie my shoes.

This pack is everything I ever wanted. It's so light, extremely comfortable AND stylish. It's important to feel cool! Its so adjustable that I am still figuring out more ways I can change and adjust it to me. The straps never hurt or rub against my shoulders like other packs. This pack is a great investment tool for school, hiking, walking, and well, living!!! With this pack I feel that I can perform in life at the optimal function!!!! I am syked to have this tool/investment in my future travels.