Osprey Talon 12 Day Pack

This is a pack mainly for those hiking between 1-8 hours. This is the pack I have been using for most hikes I do where there is no running involved and I need to carry extra items. It has served me well over the years and is very sturdy considering some of the hikes I have had to put this pack through. It has survived hours of bush whacking, heavy rainstorms, extreme heat and humidity among many other extreme conditions. Very resilient and the best thing is I can just throw it in a wash bag and put it through the laundry machine to clean it.

Apart from the main compartment which is pretty roomy, it also has an inside zipped pocket for things like keys, wallet etc. The outside has another zipped pocket for which I normally put snacks, hydration tabs, earphones, power bank or other small items I might want to access quickly. The hipbelt has two zippered pockets for fast access to a smartphone, GPS or trail snacks. There are an additional 2 open side pockets which I usually use to carry additional drink bottles which can easily be accessed without having to take the pack off your bag. The hydration pocket can take up to a 3 litre hydration bladder and is separate from the main compartment which stops leaks, condensation etc. The tube for the bladder can then be attached to your chest belt via a magnet which gives easy quick access to water. There is also a whistle built into the connecting strap of the chest belt.

There are a few things that could be improved. I would like mesh pockets on the front of the shoulder straps big enough for either a smartphone or extra bottles of fluid. Also some other more simple way to stow away hiking poles whilst on the move and also is kind of annoying when I have to get on public transport with the way it swings around. The Airscape™ mesh backpanel, whilst does bring some air between the pack and your back, it still gets soaked when hiking in the summer heat.

All in all I love the bag, I have used it to carry camera equipment and tripod, portable stove and kettle for hot drinks, etc. Although normally I would carry just a first aid kit, change of clothes in a dry bag, snacks, power bank and in the summer heat, a large frozen 1.5 litre bottle of water in a thick wool hiking sock.

I wouldn’t use this bag for running though as it does have a certain amount of bounce which some might find annoying but then again, if you are a serious trail runner this wouldn’t be the bag you would go for.

Would I buy another one? Most certainly YES!