Osprey Talon 22 daypack review: the do-everything hiking pack
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A daypack is the bag you actually live out of on the trail, so fit and comfort matter more than any single feature. The Osprey Talon 22 is our pick for an all-day hiking pack that also doubles as a travel carry-on: it carries beautifully, adjusts to your back, and is built to last. Verified owners give it 4.5 stars and keep coming back to the brand.
The verdict
A comfortable, well-built 22-liter daypack that carries loads far better than its size suggests. Great for day hikes, fast-and-light overnights, and travel. It runs premium in price and light on internal organization — but the fit and durability earn it.
What it does
The Talon 22 is a 22-liter panel-and-mesh daypack with an adjustable harness, a supportive hipbelt, trekking-pole attachment, and Osprey’s signature stretch pockets on the hipbelt and shoulder straps for on-the-move access. At its size it swallows a day’s water, layers, food, and the ten essentials with room to spare, and it is trim enough to fly as a personal item.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, the themes are consistent:
- Comfort and fit. One repeat Osprey buyer — on their fifth pack from the brand — said it “fits me like a glove” and is “incredibly comfortable,” praising the thought put into the design.
- Build quality that lasts. Another owner reports years of hiking trips and flights on theirs: “super high quality materials and build… I see this bag lasting me a very long time.”
- Easy to dial in. The adjustability gets specific praise — “super easy to dial in the size once you learn how.”
- Handy strap pockets. The shoulder-strap and hipbelt pockets are a favourite for quick access to a phone, snacks, or a camera.
Worth knowing
Two honest trade-offs from verified buyers: it is a premium-priced pack, so several suggest waiting for a sale; and it has a fairly open main compartment with minimal internal organization. That keeps the weight down, but if you like lots of dedicated pockets, plan to use stuff sacks.
Who it is for
If you want one pack for day hikes, minimalist overnights, and travel, this is a superb all-rounder. Hikers who carry camera gear or want heavy internal organization may prefer a more structured pack, and budget shoppers can find capable daypacks for less — but few match the Talon’s carry comfort and longevity.
Specs at a glance
Capacity: 22 L · Type: adjustable-harness daypack · Features: hipbelt + strap stretch pockets, pole attachment · Best for: day hikes, light overnights, travel
Bottom line
The Osprey Talon 22 is the daypack we recommend to hikers who want to buy once and carry comfortably for years. Dial in the fit, use the stretch pockets, and it disappears on your back. Not sure what to load into it? Start with the ten essentials in our pre-trip safety plan.
