Our Pick: Osprey
Check price →Osprey Talon 22 Review (2026)
The Talon 22 is the pack every other daypack gets measured against: a listed 22-liter panel loader with Osprey's AirScape backpanel, a real hipbelt, and two decades of trail reputation behind it. Here is where it earns its price, where a cheaper or more hydration-focused pack beats it, and who should actually buy one.
By The WorldHike Trail Desk · ~8 min read · Updated 2026-07-02
See our top picks in every categoryAsk ten experienced hikers to name a daypack and you will hear the Osprey Talon 22 more than any other answer. It has been the default recommendation at trailheads and gear shops for the better part of two decades, and the current version keeps the formula that built that reputation: a listed 22 liters of panel-loading capacity, Osprey's AirScape backpanel to move air across your back, and a genuine hipbelt rather than the decorative webbing strap most packs this size get away with. It is not the cheapest daypack, not the lightest, and not the biggest. It is the benchmark, which is a different thing entirely.
Our lens at WorldHike is simple: every ounce earns its place. For a daypack that means we care less about the spec sheet and more about how the pack behaves loaded with a real day of gear, water, layers, and food, hour after hour on trail. The Talon's case is its suspension. A hipbelt that actually transfers weight and a backpanel that actually vents are the two features that separate a pack you forget you are wearing from a pack you fight all day, and the Talon has both in a size class where most rivals have neither. The Gregory Nano 20 undercuts it by roughly ninety dollars and the CamelBak Fourteener 26 out-hydrates it with an included reservoir, and this review takes both seriously.
Standard disclosures before we get into it: Osprey did not pay for this review, has no relationship with this site, and did not know we were writing it. We verify every listed spec against manufacturer data and our PA-API-verified gear dataset, we weigh gear we have in hand on our own scale, and we judge gear on trail behavior and the long public track record rather than a single hero outing. If you buy through our links we may earn an Amazon affiliate commission at no extra cost to you, and that never changes a rating or a ranking.
The short version
- The Talon 22 is the benchmark daypack because of its suspension: a real hipbelt and Osprey's AirScape backpanel in a size class where most packs offer neither.
- A listed 22 liters is the sweet spot for day hiking: room for the ten essentials, layers, food, and water without inviting overpacking.
- At about $160 it is a premium pack; the Gregory Nano 20 covers casual day hikes for roughly $70 if you do not need load transfer.
- Hydration-first hikers should weigh the CamelBak Fourteener 26, which includes a listed 3-liter reservoir at a similar price.
- The women's-fit counterpart is the Osprey Tempest 22, the same design built on a women's-specific harness and hipbelt.
| Pack | Listed capacity | Suspension | Hydration | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Talon 22 | 22 L | AirScape backpanel + real hipbelt | Reservoir-compatible (sold separately) | ~$160 |
| Gregory Nano 20 | 20 L | Simple panel, minimal belt | Reservoir-compatible (sold separately) | ~$70 |
| CamelBak Fourteener 26 | 26 L | Ventilated backpanel + hipbelt | Listed 3 L / 100 oz reservoir included | ~$165 |
Talon 22 vs. the two obvious rivals. All capacities and features are the makers' listed specs, cross-checked against our PA-API-verified dataset, July 2026. Prices are approximate street figures.
01 · The Benchmark Daypack
Our Pick
Osprey Talon 22
A real hipbelt and a venting backpanel in a 22-liter pack: the daypack standard for a reason.
On the bench: Listed 22 L capacity with Osprey's AirScape backpanel and a genuine load-bearing hipbelt; approximately $160.
Judged as the one daypack to own, this is still the one to beat. The Talon 22 gets the two hard things right. First, the suspension: Osprey's AirScape backpanel is a ridged foam panel designed to move air across your back, and the hipbelt is a genuine wrap-around belt that transfers weight to your hips rather than a token webbing strap. On a hot climb with a full load of water and layers, that combination is the difference between a pack you forget and a shirt soaked through by the first overlook. Second, the size: a listed 22 liters holds the ten essentials, a shell, lunch, and plenty of water with room to strap trekking poles outside, and it is small enough that you cannot ruin your day by overpacking it.
The detail work holds up too. The panel-loading main compartment opens wide enough to actually find things, the stretch side pockets take real water bottles, the hipbelt pockets swallow a phone and snacks, and the pack is reservoir-compatible if you prefer a hose (the reservoir is sold separately, which is worth knowing before checkout). Fit matters at this level: the Talon is built on a men's harness, and Osprey builds the same design on a women's-specific harness and hipbelt as the Tempest 22. If the Talon's shoulder straps or belt sit wrong on your frame, the Tempest is the same pack made right for you, not a lesser variant.
- Listed capacity
- 22 L
- Backpanel
- Osprey AirScape (listed)
- Hipbelt
- Yes, load-bearing wrap-around belt
- Hydration
- Reservoir-compatible; reservoir sold separately
- Women's counterpart
- Osprey Tempest 22
- Approx. price
- About $160
What we like
- Real load-bearing hipbelt in a size class where most packs have a token strap
- AirScape backpanel vents noticeably better than flat foam panels
- Listed 22 L is the day-hiking sweet spot: everything you need, nothing you do not
- Long public track record for durability and all-day comfort
- Women's-specific version exists as the Tempest 22
Worth noting
- About $160 is a premium over simpler daypacks that cover casual hikes fine
- No reservoir included despite hydration compatibility
- Too small to stretch into overnight trips
Who should buy it: Buy the Talon 22 if you hike regularly and want one daypack that will still be the right answer five years from now: the suspension rewards long days, heavy water carries, and hot climbs in a way cheaper packs simply cannot. It is also the right call if you have ever finished a hike with aching shoulders from a strapless pack. Women and smaller-framed hikers should look first at the Tempest 22, the same design on a women's-specific harness.
What we don't like: At about $160 it costs more than twice what a simple, capable pack like the Gregory Nano 20 runs, and for short, casual hikes that extra money buys comfort you may never notice. It ships without a hydration reservoir despite being reservoir-compatible, so hose-first hikers need to budget for one or consider the CamelBak Fourteener 26, which includes a listed 3-liter reservoir at a similar price. And 22 liters, ideal for day hiking, will feel tight the moment you try to stretch it into overnight duty.
Bottom line: The Talon 22 is the daypack we recommend when someone asks for one pack that does everything a day on trail demands. The listed 22-liter capacity is the day-hiking sweet spot, and the AirScape backpanel plus real hipbelt make it carry like a pack twice its price class. The honest trade: at about $160 you are paying a premium over simpler packs that cover a casual few miles just as well.
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How we chose
How we judge a daypack: we are not a lab and we do not pretend to be one. We verify every listed spec against the manufacturer's own published data and our PA-API-verified gear dataset, we weigh gear we have in hand on our own scale, and we lean on the long public track record: what thousands of hikers report after years of use, not what a spec sheet promises on day one. Where a figure below is the maker's number we say so, with words like listed and claimed. We do not invent measurements we did not take.
The test that matters for a daypack is unglamorous: load it with a realistic day (water, lunch, a shell, a warm layer, first aid, headlamp) and ask whether the pack disappears. Does the hipbelt actually take weight off the shoulders or is it a strap that flaps? Does the backpanel vent or does your shirt come home soaked? Can you reach water and snacks without taking the pack off? Those behaviors, plus how the pack holds up over years rather than weekends, are what our rating reflects. No brand bought a placement here.
Key terms
- AirScape backpanel
- Osprey's ridged foam backpanel, designed to channel air between the pack and your back. It is the main reason a loaded Talon feels cooler on a climb than a flat-panel pack.
- Load-bearing hipbelt
- A padded belt that wraps the hips and transfers pack weight off the shoulders. Most sub-25-liter packs substitute a thin webbing strap that stabilizes but carries nothing; the Talon has the real thing.
- Panel loader
- A pack whose main compartment opens via a large zippered panel rather than a top drawstring. Easier to find gear in a hurry, which matters more on day hikes than on expeditions.
- Reservoir-compatible
- The pack has a sleeve and hose port for a hydration bladder but does not include one. The Talon 22 is reservoir-compatible; the CamelBak Fourteener 26 ships with a listed 3-liter reservoir in the box.
- Women's-specific fit
- A pack built on a harness and hipbelt shaped for typically narrower shoulders and different hip geometry, not a recolor. The Tempest 22 is the women's-specific build of the Talon 22.
Questions, answered
Is the Osprey Talon 22 worth the price?
If you hike regularly, we think so. The roughly $160 price buys the two features that matter most over a long day: a genuine load-bearing hipbelt and the AirScape venting backpanel, both rare in this size class. Those pay off on hot climbs, heavy water carries, and back-to-back hiking days. If your hiking is a few casual miles a handful of times a year, a simpler pack like the Gregory Nano 20 at about $70 covers that honestly, and the Talon's premium buys comfort you may not notice.
How big is the Talon 22, and is 22 liters enough for a day hike?
The listed capacity is 22 liters, and for day hiking that is the sweet spot. It comfortably holds the ten essentials, a rain shell, an insulating layer, lunch, and water, with external straps for trekking poles. It is deliberately not big enough for overnight gear, which we consider a feature: packs in this range keep you from hauling weight you will never use. If you routinely carry extra gear for kids, photography, or winter hiking, the CamelBak Fourteener 26 gives you a listed 26 liters.
What is the difference between the Osprey Talon 22 and the Tempest 22?
Same pack, different fit. The Talon 22 is built on a men's harness and hipbelt; the Tempest 22 is the women's-specific counterpart, with the harness and belt shaped for narrower shoulders and different hip geometry. Capacity, features, and price are essentially the same, at about $160. Because a suspension only works when it contacts your body correctly, we recommend choosing by fit rather than by name.
Does the Osprey Talon 22 come with a hydration bladder?
No. The Talon 22 is reservoir-compatible, meaning it has an internal sleeve and hose routing, but the reservoir itself is sold separately. If drinking from a hose is central to how you hike and you would rather not make a second purchase, the CamelBak Fourteener 26 includes a listed 3-liter (100 oz) reservoir in the box at a similar overall price.
Osprey Talon 22 vs. Gregory Nano 20: which should I buy?
They answer different questions. The Nano 20 is a light, simple, well-made 20-liter pack at about $70: the right buy for casual day hikes where load transfer does not matter. The Talon 22 costs roughly $90 more and spends every dollar of it on suspension: a real hipbelt and the AirScape backpanel. If your hikes are long, hot, or heavy with water, the Talon earns the difference. If they are short and social, the Nano is the honest answer and we will not talk you out of it.
Is the Talon 22 good for travel or everyday carry, not just hiking?
It works, with caveats. The panel-loading design, hipbelt pockets, and comfortable harness make it a capable travel and commuter bag, and plenty of owners use it that way. But its shape is optimized for trail loads rather than laptops and flat documents, and the hipbelt is bulk you cannot fully remove. If day hiking is the primary job and travel is occasional, buy it without hesitation. If it is the other way around, a dedicated travel pack organizes better.
Keep reading
The Best Daypacks (2026)
Every daypack worth carrying, ranked by suspension, capacity, and whether every ounce earns its place.
How to Choose a Daypack
Capacity, hipbelts, backpanels, and fit: the four decisions that actually matter, explained.
The Ten Essentials
The classic safety list every daypack should carry, and how to fit it all in 22 liters.