Osprey  Talon 44 Pack

Having taken this pack on several 4-to-5-day trips including Olympic National Park and the Superior Hiking Trail, I absolutely love the way this pack fits and performs on the trail. While lightweight, the pack does not sacrifice comfort nor space. The fabric can withstand abrasions and has performed flawlessly. Due to the open nature of the main compartment, all items pack well with plenty of space (compared to the annoying, curved intrusion of the Gregory packs). The Talon adjusts well and features breathable straps allowing air to flow and reducing moisture build-up. This is my go-to pack for multi-day backpacking trips as well as general travel. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a high-performing, lightweight, and comfortable pack.

ok so after living with this pack on my back the past 7 months (2000+miles) i feel the need to write a review, will start with negative, belt pockets could be bigger, but then i would just carry more stuff, side pockets for the water bottles take a "LONG" time to break in as does the front stretchy pocket, i am a pack rat and this pack makes sure i dont collect too much stuff, i used trash bag liners inside the pack and did not have a pack cover, from climbing through caves on my stomach to vertical climbs and descents, this pack followed me into a river and survived many a heinous weather, i owe a very uncomfortable snuggle to whoever designed this pack!! i love you, i want to have kittens with you

Used this bag for the JMT in August 2011, worked perfect. Spent 13 days on the trail, with 7 of them between Muir Ranch and Whitney Portal. The bag was slightly overloaded on my first day out of Muir Ranch but even then it was still comfortable. The rest of the trip it was a perfect fit. Very easy to adjust, and easy to pack. The external pocket put up with a little abuse when I had to stuff propane bottles and a Jetboil into it to save space. Was able to fit the extended size carbon fiber bear canister in the bag along with a trekking pole tent and some clothes and supplies. Couldn't be happier with this bag. It was awesome!

I used this pack for a 4 week trip to Europe and wouldn't do it again without it. I used it as a carry-on and it fit in almost all overhead bins even when fully stuffed. The durability was surprising, after the airlines lost it (when I had to check it due to no overhead bin space) I got it back two days later and not a single thing was missing, broken, or torn. It survived Paris, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria without a single thing wrong with it. Thanks Osprey!

This pack has been the best all around pack for me. I've trail run down to Havasupai with 40# in it without the suspension feeling overloaded, and still allowing me to run without feeling locked up. I'm a PT and a biomechanics nut and up until the Talon 44 hadn't found anything that allowed me to run well. The suspension, at first, looks insufficient to hold heavier loads, but has been better than anything I've found. It is the vertical stays that make it work so well. Osprey, for some INSANE reason, took the vertical stays out of their 22 and 33 models for this pack, and I'd have to say they are total junk unless you overload them so they are heavy enough to stay in place, and even then why take more than you need? Otherwise the bottom rides up off of your hips while running with lighter loads that the 22 should be designed for.

I took this pack with me on a two week trip to Spain, and it worked great. I loved not having to pull around luggage and having my hands free. The pack comfortably fit a pair of jeans, three shirts, a sweater, two pairs of shorts, a dress, a skirt, two pairs of shoes, and a large camera case. I like that you can access your stuff from the bottom, and that there is a seperate pouch on top (I kept a map and guide book there). I am 5'2, and this was the perfect size for me; not too big or bulky. It will be great for overnight camping trips and longer hikes as well. Osprey always delivers quality products.

This is a really nice pack from Osprey. I have tried the Hornet 46 and the Exos 46, and for some reason this pack hit the 'sweet-spot' of comfort with about a 14 - 22 lb load that I will be carrying, ( including food and water ). It seems to hold more gear in it than either the above packs as well. I'm not sure why that is, because the specs show it as being smaller. The top lid will hold alot of stuff that you need for quick access. My only 'quibble' with this pack to keep it from a 5 star rating is the oversized and abundant use of straps that could be pared down in size. I still say if Osprey could pair this suspension with the simplicity of the Hornet, they would have a 5 + pack!

Bought this pack about a year ago when I was first transitioning from car camping to backpacking. I couldn't be happier with it. It has been used a lot since then and I've yet to show any substantial wear outside of expected dirt/debris. I try to keep my loads below 30 lbs. and this pack is perfectly comfortable at that weight. I've gradually lightened my load and gear from a heavier tent to a tarp, lighter sleeping bag, and fewer clothes. However, even with somewhat heavier, bulkier gear, I think this pack is suitable for 2-3 day outing. With a more minimalist system, it can easily take a week-long trip. I love the stretch panel pocket on the front, access to the bottom despite it being a top loader, and well designed zipper pockets throughout for easy access (no velcro on any frequently used areas of the pack, thank goodness). All of the webbing is light but durable as are most of the buckles, etc. Easily compressible for smaller loads and perfect fit. More than anything, I love the fit and comfort. I've scrambled over rocks and boulders and forged rivers with this pack with no problem. I'm trying to think of something critical to say for the sake of credibility, but I've simply had no problems or complaints. Well, ok, I'd prefer an earthier color than the meteorite I have...? That's the only "complaint" I can think of. This is by far the best gear purchase I've made after spending LOTS of time and money buying and researching gear over the past 18 months. This is the only item I never second guess or look to upgrade (and I can be a pretty neurotic, over-thinking consumer.)

I'm a student of Adventure Education and spend time climbing, hiking, playing the harmonica and going to classes. This pack allows me to do all those things with ease and not a lot of fuss. while in school my rock gear is in the bottom of my bag with my hiking shoes and my school books are at the top and because of the bottom zipper i can easily get some hiking or buldering in between class. I spent the summer on a trail crew hauling tools so yes it's durable, unbelievably comfortable, easy to adjust, and ways nothing. This is my second Osprey bag and I am excited for my third.

This is, hands down, my favorite pack for long dayhikes and backpacking trips. I've taken it on a number of strenuous dayhikes up in the North Cascades, and a few 2-3 night backpacking trips (maximum pack weight was 25lbs). The frame is stiff enough to provide excellent load transfer to the hips while being flexible enough to allow for natural body movement. I believe this is extremely important when hiking long distances. There are a lot of "bells and whistles" on this pack in the form of straps, clips, etc. At first I was skeptical of all these features, but after using them I have found most of them to be highly useful. For example: The stow-on-the-go pole storage is awesome for when you want to need to stash the poles for a quick scramble; the little pockets on the shoulder straps are very useful for things like chapstick, bug spray, snacks, even a small gps; the hip belt pockets are big enough to be useful; the side compression straps can be routed inside or outside of the side pockets; the hydration bladder pocket is between the framesheet and main compartment (rather than inside the main compartment); etc. I could go on and on. If features aren't for you, you can remove them all pretty easily without harming the structural integrity of the pack. You could probably shed at least 1/2lb by removing the lid and all the extra features. The framesheet and curved aluminum stay are also removable. If your base weight is in the 10lb range, and you usually carry less than 30lb, I would highly recommend this pack.