The One-Quiver Daypack to Do (Almost) Anything: Osprey Talon 22 Daypack Review

You really ought to see my gear closet. Or rather, my gear storage unit, as I’ve now runneth over in my house, drowning in sleeping bags, camp mattresses, and tents of all flavors. But more than anything else, the thing I have in embarrassing quantities is backpacks.

That’s why, in recent years, I’ve begun gravitating toward the one version of nearly anything outdoors, which is exactly what the Osprey Talon 22 is: the daypack. Osprey has been tweaking the formula on this bestseller for years now, and its latest iteration has nailed the all-around daypack formula.

Just about the perfect size, rigged with all of the multi-sport attachments to use it for just about anything, and built around a proven Osprey suspension system, this pack seems to do it all, and fit dang near anyone.

In short: The Osprey Talon has been around for a while, which explains why it’s so dang well-rounded. This do-most-all-of-it daypack packs on functionality that won’t leave most adventurers wanting for much more, and without sacrificing much in any metric to get there.

Looking for a new daypack? Check out how the Talon 22 compares to the rest of our recommendations in GearJunkie’s Best Daypacks Buyer’s Guide.

Osprey Talon 22 Daypack: Review

First things first, this review is for the most recent version of the Talon daypack. (Check out our almost-decade-old review of the same pack!) If that says anything, it’s that the design has staying power. It’s actually one of the interesting things about buying “the one” example of anything: going with a product that’s seen iterative change is always going to be a safe bet.

Second, here are the headlines on the pack: 22 L of storage in one main clamshell design, with the usual pockets (large stuff pocket, two bottle pockets, a zipper-closed option, and hip belt pods). The pack suspension is near-overbuilt and is designed to carry the load with ease (and adjustability). I’ve been testing this pack for a year now, and here’s what impressed me.

Raiding the Pro-Series Closet

The most recent Talon (and Tempest 22, the women’s-specific version) was updated to borrow most of the good stuff from the brand’s splurge-tier “Pro” versions of the same packs. This included a new framesheet, upgraded and recycled materials, and, maybe most interestingly, a sliding yoke for the shoulder straps.

By making the suspension system adjustable for different torso lengths (something you really only see in true backpacking packs), the Talon is one of the most adjustable daypacks on the market. For some, it’ll be unnecessary, but for others, a lifesaver. 

I played around with a few different torso heights during testing. I found that with heavier loads, I relied on a longer length (with good hip contact), while simple day trips could see the torso snugged up. This adjustability also came in clutch when using the pack for mountain biking, when I want a bag high up my back.

A Strong Backbone

Osprey knows how to make a robust backpacking pack frame. So it’s unsurprising that the brand doesn’t need to be tee’d up on a diminutive daypack frame to knock it out of the park. The AirScape back panel is a sandwich of foam and spacer mesh layers to create a breathable plane of support for the pack.

By using die-cut foam ridges layered beneath a moisture-wicking mesh, it carves out dedicated air channels that allow heat and humidity to escape without pushing the load away from your center of gravity.

Unlike trampoline-style suspended mesh panels (which can sometimes make a pack feel like it’s pulling backward), the AirScape design keeps the weight pinned right where you want it: flush against your spine. During high-output pushes up steep switchbacks, it manages heat build-up impressively well while delivering a locked-in fit.

The panel flexes naturally with your torso, whether you’re hunched over bicycle handlebars, reaching for a handhold on a scramble, or powering through flat trail miles. It strikes that elusive balance between structural load transfer and body-hugging flexibility, ensuring the pack moves with you rather than riding against you.

Multi-Sport Ready

The pack is covered in little accessory widgets to wrangle your kit on your back when you aren’t using it. The span of possible activities is really what impressed: you could conceivably hike, mountaineer, and mountain bike all in the same day and not overcrowd the pack.

The trekking pole securing system is also a highlight. Deemed “Stow-And-Go,” it’s rightfully simple (just a shockcord and rubberized loop), but placed perfectly to hold your poles out of the way. I found my poles unobtrusive when rigged up for transitioning to scrambling in the pack.

For cycling: both a pad on the rear of the bag to mount a blinky light, as well as a bike-helmet toggle that held both cycling and climbing helmets in my testing. The logos and appliqué on the front stretch pocket are both reflective prints to catch the light of traffic, and there’s a whistle on the sternum strap.

(Always) Room for Improvement

Like all jack-of-all-trades, the trade-off is always there, and the pack can feel a little overwrought with all of the accessory functionalities tacked on. For those who like their kit to be specialized for exactly the adventure they are going on, it’ll be more noticeable.

For example, the Talon 22 wouldn’t be anywhere near my first choice as a light and fast daypack for activities where I expect to get my upper body involved (mountain scrambling, running, etc.). The back panel, which supports so well on the trail, hinders the pack’s flex at these extremes, and it stretches a bit beyond its comfort zone.

Finally, a detail that will be make-or-break for some hikers: with the new back panel redesign, the hydration bladder sleeve has been moved into the pack body, rather than tucked in behind the straps as it was previously. This isn’t ideal for a few reasons, mainly weight distribution and the potential for accidental soaking.

Osprey Talon 22 Daypack: Conclusion

The Osprey Talon 22 has earned its spot on the hook in my gear closet, and really, because it makes gear choices simple: Paint with the broadest brush and you’re going to cover a whole lot of canvas. 

It’s the rare piece of kit that effortlessly bridges the gap between a high-output cycling bag, a stable mountain-scrambling rig, and a dependable weekend dayhiker. You don’t have to overthink which pack to grab when your outdoor plans shift on the fly; the Talon simply adapts.

Minimalists might find the feature set a little busy, and the fixed hip belt means it won’t disguise itself as a sleek urban commuter. But out on the trail, those exact design choices (the AirScape back panel, continuous-wrap harness, and intuitive pocket layout) deliver a level of carrying comfort that few daypacks in this weight class can touch.

If you’re looking for one do-it-all workhorse built to handle years of multi-sport abuse, the Talon 22 remains the standard by which all other daypacks are measured.