Review: Osprey Talon 36L Rucksack

Review of the men’s Osprey Talon 36L Rucksack gratefully provided by Mark! 

I have been after a day pack for a while. I had a brief dalliance with a Rab Aeon Ultra 28l pack – which incidentally failed on its first outing, the shoulder strap stiching came undone. So I tried an Osprey Talon 36l. Very different pack to the Rab, but lets be honest, it’s what Ospey do, and they do it well.

This is a great pack. The hydration pack is external, between the pack’s moulded back and the actual pack itself – great idea. The straps are a good size and the tabs and buckles can be adjusted while wearing mitts (something my Big Agnes 63L pack could do with – bigger buckles).

At 36l as a day pack, I struggle to fill it. It has all the usual gear attachment points, and they are easy to use, not fiddly like some packs. The waist belt pockets are very big for the pack size, and it has a useful stretch fabric pocket on the LH shoulder strap. But the really great thing is it doesn’t have the usual flappy-up top lid. It’s a simple zip up top, which folds down, giving more direct access to the contents, particularly good if your hiking partner needs access without removing the pack. The adjustment on the packs position is easy and the first real test was Ben Nevis, up the mountain path. I barely knew it was there.

Close-ups of the Osprey Talon 36L:

What Osprey says about the Talon 36: 

The Talon 36 is adept at overnight trips and ultralight ascents. An injection-moulded AirScape™ backpanel and a continuous-wrap harness and hipbelt allow the pack to move with you when navigating demanding terrain. This mid-volume pack features a top-loading main compartment, stretch mesh side pockets, a hydration reservoir sleeve, along with trekking pole and ice axe attachment points. Constructed with high-quality bluesign®-approved recycled high-tenacity nylon with a PFC-free DWR coating.

AirScape™ Suspension
An injection-moulded, die-cut foam AirScape™ backpanel creates a breathable, close-to-body fit. A flexible BioStretch harness and hipbelt, with a continuous lumbar-to-hipbelt wrap, allow for dynamic movement.

Light and Fast
A lightweight pack series designed with optimal stability for dynamic movement even on the most technical terrain.

Multi-Sport
From top-loaders to lumbar packs and everything in between, the Talon/Tempest Series accommodates the needs of hikers, bikers and more.

Sustainable Materials
Constructed with high-quality bluesign®-approved recycled high-tenacity nylon.

Specs 

• Weight: 1.1 kg
• Dimensions (CM): 61L / 29W / 23D
• Fabric: 100D x 210D Bluesign Recycled Robic Nylon
• Volume: S/M: 34L L/XL: 36L

Learn more about the Osprey Talon 36L

• Full specs on Osprey.com
• Buy the Osprey Talon 36L on Amazon or Ultralight Outdoor Gear

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