Backpacks

Osprey Downburst 36 | Deep Dive

A new, comfortable, and breathable backpack that’ll keep your gear dry and protected, whatever the weather.

Rain covers. Just about everyone will have used a backpack that’s had one – and most people will have had a bad experience with one too, whether that’s from a leak, water pooling at the base, or the whole thing being swept away by a gust of wind. And we’ve had to put up with this flimsy attempt at weatherproofing for far too long. Why? Well mainly because fully waterproof materials have tended to be heavy and difficult to manufacture.

The good news, however, is that Osprey has developed a solution, and it comes in the form of the Downburst, a backpack that’s made from a waterproof fabric that’s both durable and lightweight at the same time.

OM editor Will out using the Osprey Downburst on the trail with his dog Griff.

Available in men’s and women’s fits, each in two-volume options (26 and 36 for men, 24 and 34 for women), the Downburst is a backpack that has IPX 5 weather resistance, meaning it’s capable of seeing off the gnarliest of storms. I’ve been using the 1528g Downburst 36 on a number of recent hikes. Here’s an overview of its design and my thoughts on the overall performance.

Materials

The main material Osprey has used is a 100% recycled nylon with full bluesign® approval. A thermoplastic polyurethane coating, which is PFAS-free, then adds high levels of water resistance but also durability and abrasion resistance too. You can also expect fully taped seams, a smart roll-top and then polyurethane coated zippers too.

The IPX 5 rating means that the backpack has been tested to withstand water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) at a flow rate of 12.5 litres per minute, from any direction, for at least 3 minutes. It’s a level of protection that will protect against heavy, wind-driven rain, though it’s not fully submersible – that’s just something for any kayakers, SUPers, cavers etc to bear in mind.

Osprey Downburst: Comfort

The Osprey Downburst has a highly-ventilated suspended mesh Airscape back panel which has an easy-to-operate laddered length adjustment. On the men’s model, the length adjustment is 18 to 22 inches while the women’s model offers 15 to 19 inches. I’m 5 foot 10 and my torso is 18 inches (neck to waist) and I found I was able to get a very comfortable, body-hugging fit. Overall, the pack felt well-balanced and stable, even when heavily laden.

The hipbelt fins feature an EVA foam that’s die cut. This means a sharp, pre-shaped steel blade is used to precisely cut the foam into specific shapes and patterns for enhanced comfort and support. The foam is then covered by a quick-drying mesh to add ventilation. These fins are nice and wide and feel niggle-free and supportive without feeling restrictive either. Similarly, the shoulder straps on the harness also feature a die cut EVA and are cut wide in order to spread out the load of the pack. A slidable sternum strap and forward-pull hip belt strap then allow easy adjustments on the fly.

Kit Organisation

There are two separate compartments on the Osprey Downburst 36. They both eat into each other’s space, so if you overfill one of them then the other will be harder to fill, and vice versa. I found the main one, which is sealed by a zip and the roll-top, was large enough to hold all of my camping gear, including a Nemo Mayfly 2P tent, a down sleeping bag, insulated roll mat and Jetboil stove. There’s one small zipped mesh pocket inside this for stowing small valuables that you might want to keep extra safe. It’s the perfect size for a passport and it has a useful little clip for securing your car keys.

The other compartment, which has a water resistant zip but no roll-top, is also large, though it’s slightly smaller than the other compartment. It has a deep sleeve for a hydration bladder and there’s a little hole at the top where you can thread a bladder hose. Using this pack, I got into the habit of keeping my synthetic insulated jacket in this section as it kept it within quick and easy access but also out of the elements. Similarly, I used the external stash pocket on the front for keeping my waterproof jacket and trousers within reach but also away from the rest of my dry gear.

The side pockets are the ideal size for water bottles and they’re also useful for stowing a hat or a pair of gloves. Handily, the pockets are designed so that you can reach around and access your kit inside them without having to take the pack off your back.

Then there are the two zipped hipbelt pockets. These, I found, are the perfect size for a couple of packs of Haribo and it’s easy to slip a phone or compass in and out of them too. While the zips on these pockets are water resistant, the material doesn’t have the same thermoplastic coating that the rest of the pack has, so if you’re storing electrical items in these then I’d recommend using drybags.

What the Osprey Downburst is Best-Suited to

The 36-litre volume and potential for volume adjustment give the Osprey Downburst 36 pack a lot of versatility. I found that it’s the kind of backpack that can accommodate an overnight load for summer wild camps, while it also has a lot of potential for the colder months too, offering enough space for all your layers, your insulated flask and the food you might need for a big winter day out – there’s also a dedicated strap for an ice axe too.

The weatherproofing aspect to it makes it particularly handy for wet climates but its venting back system makes it perfectly suited to hot weather hikes too.

Looking for something for cycling? The back system and feature set here make this more of a pack for hiking. Try the Osprey Transporter instead, that’s a pack that’s fine-tuned for two-wheeled adventures in any conditions.

Final Thoughts

Impressively, the design thinking goes deep with the Downburst because, as well as being comfortable, ventilating and made from robust and lightweight weatherproof materials, there are also useful, subtle details including glove-friendly zipper tabs, an integrated whistle on the sternum buckle, front and back points for stowing your trekking poles, and more.

Last but not least, it’s worth bearing in mind that the Downburst also comes with Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee which means the brand will repair or replace any product (within its reasonable lifetime) should you find any defect in the way it has been built.

Full Specifications

Available in men’s and women’s fits / in 26 and 36 volumes for men and 24 and 34 for women) / 100% recycled nylon coated in TPU / 210D ripstop for the main bulk of the bag and 420D ripstop nylon on the base / PFAS-free / YKK zips / trekking pole and ice axe attachments / adjustable back length.

Price: £300
Weight: 1528g
More info: osprey.com