Osprey Talon 22 Review: The Classic Daypack, Now in One Size
The Talon 22 has been the default answer to “which daypack?” for years. The current version is a different pack from the one most reviews describe: one adjustable size instead of two, and about 150g heavier. We set the reviews of both generations side by side so you know which one you are reading about, and which one you are buying.
Where the reviews line up
Our evidence comes from three places. CleverHiker, a US specialist hiking site, has tested the current model. Live For The Outdoors took the previous generation up fells in the Lake District, the North Pennines and Dartmoor. And REI has 93 buyer ratings on the current model. All three agree on the important points.
First, it is comfortable and fits a wide range of people. The harness and hipbelt move with you, and the back length adjusts. Second, it is packed with useful features: hipbelt pockets, a stretch front pocket, a helmet clip, a stow for walking poles and an ice-axe loop. Live For The Outdoors scored features 5/5. Third, it is not light and does not breathe especially well. The foam AirScape back sits against you rather than holding the pack off your back on a mesh panel. Live For The Outdoors and several REI buyers both make this point.
The main thing to know is that the 2025 model changed the sizing. The old Talon 22 came in S/M (20 litres) and L/XL (22 litres). The new one is a single size, 22 litres, with a back length that adjusts from roughly 43 to 56cm. It weighs 1.08kg according to Osprey, against roughly 0.87–0.93kg for the old sizes. A few REI owners of earlier versions say the new one has less usable space and breathes worse. That is a minority view, but an informed one.
Two practical points: a rain cover is not included with either generation, so budget for one. And the All Mighty Guarantee is now 30 years from the date of manufacture, not the “lifetime” promise older reviews quote.
The three reviews this summary is built from
- CleverHikerUS specialist hiking site, field-tested the current generation. Published Feb 2025, updated Oct 2026.
- Live For The OutdoorsUK fell test of the previous generation, S/M size. 4.5/5.
- REI4.7/5 from 93 ratings, 81% recommend, current generation. A US retailer’s own reviews.
Before the review: which Talon 22 are you looking at?
Current generation (2025 on): one size, 22 litres, 1.08kg, adjustable back of 17–22in (about 43–56cm), internal hydration sleeve. Osprey UK sells it at £125. Previous generation (2021–2024): two sizes, S/M 20 litres and L/XL 22 litres, 0.87–0.93kg, external hydration sleeve. This one is still on clearance in the UK at about half price. Plenty of UK listings still show the old two-size figures, so check the size options and weight before you order. The women’s version is now the Tempest 22, also one size, with a shorter 14–19in (about 36–48cm) back length. Its previous-generation equivalent was the Tempest 20.
Specification at a glance
| Spec | Figure | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (current) | 22 litres, one size | Osprey UK and EU product pages, 4 Oct 2026 |
| Capacity (previous gen) | S/M 20 litres · L/XL 22 litres | Past-season retailer listing. Trekitt lists 22 litres for both sizes, so the sources disagree |
| Weight (current) | 1.08 kg | Osprey. Absolute Snow lists 1,030g for the Tempest 22 |
| Weight (previous gen) | S/M 0.87 kg · L/XL 0.93 kg | Past-season listing (1.91 / 2.04 lb). Trekitt says 938g / 1kg. Live For The Outdoors weighed its S/M at 901g |
| Back length (current) | Talon 22: 17–22 in (about 43–56 cm). Tempest 22: 14–19 in (about 36–48 cm) | REI spec. Osprey’s own pages say only “one size” |
| Back length (previous gen) | S/M 43–51 cm · L/XL 48–56 cm | Trekitt. Another listing gives wider ranges, so check the chart for your size |
| Hipbelt fit (current) | 29–50 in. Extended Fit version: 40–70 in | REI spec |
| Dimensions (current) | 56 × 29 × 29 cm | Osprey. Absolute Snow lists 51cm tall for the Tempest |
| Load range | 4.5–13.6 kg (10–30 lb) | Osprey US page, current model |
| Hydration | Internal reservoir sleeve. Reservoir not included | Osprey and REI. The previous generation had an external sleeve |
| Rain cover | Not included. Osprey sells them separately (Small size) | Osprey EU, REI, Trekitt, Live For The Outdoors |
| Fabric | Recycled 100D nylon ripstop, bluesign approved, DWR without PFAS | Osprey EU |
| Guarantee | All Mighty Guarantee: free repair of any damage or defect for 30 years from manufacture, or replacement if it cannot be repaired | Osprey UK guarantee page |
| UK price | RRP £125. £105.95 at Cotswold Outdoor. Previous-gen L/XL £67.49 at SportsShoes (RRP £134.99) | All checked 4 Oct 2026 |
CleverHiker
CleverHiker is a US specialist hiking site, and this is the most up-to-date hands-on review we could find. Its weights match the current model: 2lb 6.1oz for the Talon 22 and 2lb 4.3oz for the Tempest 22. Its conclusion is a clear yes for anyone who wants one versatile daypack and values fit, pockets and support for moderate loads. It does not see the Talon as a lightweight or minimalist pack.
Its criticisms are specific. The internal hydration sleeve has been redesigned to take more reservoir shapes, but CleverHiker still finds it narrow and calls it its least favourite feature. The side pockets suit wide Nalgene bottles better than tall, thin Smartwater bottles. And the pack does not compress down well when it is half empty.
Watch: Osprey Talon 22 Backpack Review
A straightforward walkthrough review. We could not open YouTube to confirm which generation it shows, so check the size options on screen against the box above.
Watch on YouTube ↗Live For The Outdoors
This is the UK test, done on demanding walks in the Lake District, the North Pennines and Dartmoor. It covers the previous two-size pack: the S/M sample weighed 901g empty and the RRP was £135. The scores are 5/5 for features, construction and performance, and 4/5 for comfort, value and sustainability. The reviewer calls it “a remarkably clever rucksack” that copes as well on technical ground as on a simple walk, and praises the adjustable back length and the eight extra pockets and compartments.
The criticisms still apply to the current pack. There is no rain cover even though the fabric has a DWR coating. The back is not as breathable as a suspended-mesh system. And for some walkers it is simply too fussy: if you want a plain sack, the straps and attachment points get in the way. Keep in mind that the current pack is heavier than the one tested here and comes in a single size, so the comfort score may not carry over exactly.
Watch: Osprey Talon 22 Rucksack Review - The BEST Hiking Backpack?
The word “rucksack” in the title suggests a UK-made review, which is the closest match to the magazine’s fell test. We could not confirm the channel or the generation shown.
Watch on YouTube ↗REI
These are buyer reviews hosted by a US retailer that sells the pack, so they are owners’ opinions rather than tests. The sample size is decent and the score is high. The positive reviews are consistent: the right size for a day out, a helmet clip one Colorado guide calls “genius”, a handy pole stow, and hipbelt pockets that buyers find easier to use than on earlier versions.
The useful part is the criticism from long-time owners. One reviewer who had used a Talon 22 for about fifteen years says the new back “does not breathe” and that your back will be “as sweaty as ever”. Another says it has less usable space than earlier generations despite the same 22-litre rating. A third points out that the pack weighs 2lb 6oz when lighter frameless 22-litre packs exist. These are minority views in a 4.7/5 average, but they come from people with something to compare against. Cotswold Outdoor’s UK listing shows 20 reviews, but we could not read their average score.
Watch: Inside Look: Osprey Talon 22 (New & Recycled!)
A close look at the pockets and attachments. “New & Recycled” points to the recycled-fabric relaunch, which may be the 2021 pack rather than the current one-size model.
Watch on YouTube ↗Strengths and weak points
What holds up
- Comfort on the move: the harness and hipbelt are praised by both testers and most buyers.
- The back length adjusts across roughly 43–56cm in a single size, so you are less likely to buy the wrong one.
- A lot of storage: hipbelt pockets, a stretch front pocket, a mesh pocket with key clip and a top slash pocket.
- Helmet clip, pole stow and ice-axe loop make it work for cycling, fell walking and winter days alike.
- Recycled bluesign fabric with a DWR coating that does not use PFAS.
- A 30-year repair-or-replace guarantee that covers damage as well as defects.
What people complain about
- At 1.08kg it is heavy for 22 litres, and heavier than the previous generation.
- The AirScape back sits against you, so expect a sweaty back on warm climbs.
- No rain cover in the box, which is a real gap for UK hills.
- The hydration sleeve is narrow, and the side pockets suit wide bottles better than tall ones.
- Some owners of older versions say there is less usable space now.
- Minimalists find all the straps and attachments fussy.
Who it actually suits
Buy it if you want one pack for fell days, bike commuting and the odd scramble, and you value fit and pockets more than saving grams. It is a good choice if you have found two-size packs awkward, because the single adjustable size covers most back lengths. Women and shorter walkers should look at the Tempest 22, which has a shorter back range.
Look elsewhere if you hike mainly in summer heat and want a mesh back that holds the pack off you, or if you count every gram. And if you liked the old Talon’s lighter weight, a previous-generation pack on clearance at around £67 is arguably the better buy, provided you check the size chart first. If neither the Talon nor the Tempest is in stock in your size, Lowe Alpine’s AirZone Active 22 is the alternative we would look at next. We have not researched it for this page.
What we could not check
- The videos were confirmed by search listing, not by opening them. YouTube blocks our checks, so each video’s watch address and title had to appear in two differently worded searches. The listings did not name the channels, and we cannot tell you which generation of pack each video shows.
- A UK editorial test of the current one-size model. The UK test we found covers the previous two-size pack. The only current-model test we found is from a US specialist site.
- A UK buyer rating with a sample size. Cotswold Outdoor shows 20 reviews, but we could not read their average. The 93 ratings above are from US buyers.
- Previous-generation capacity and weight. One listing gives S/M 20 litres and 0.87kg, while Trekitt gives 22 litres for both sizes at 938g and 1kg. We have printed both.
- The current back-length range on Osprey’s own pages. Osprey says only “one size”. The 17–22in and 14–19in ranges come from REI’s spec.
- The full fine print of the guarantee. We confirmed 30 years from manufacture, repair or replacement, and an online claim with photos. We could not read the detailed exclusions or find out who pays return postage.
- Independent breathability or capacity measurements. The “less usable space” and “does not breathe” claims come from individual owners, not measurements.
- No community or forum source. We found no forum or Reddit discussion of the current model with enough replies to count, so REI’s buyer comments stand in for one.
Sources last checked 4 October 2026. Prices change and older two-size stock is still being cleared, so check the size options and weight on the listing in front of you before ordering.