Backpacks

Osprey Talon 33 Pack | Review

An ideal hiking pack for big days out in the mountains – and it now comes with bluesign approved fabrics, new details and a smartened aesthetic

From lightweight backpacking to hiking, biking and more, the men’s Talon and women’s Tempest series offer a variety of silhouettes and volumes to cater for different types of trips and activities. I’ve been testing the 33-litre Talon, which is the ideal size for those day hikes that require large loads. I can also see it serving really well in the shoulder seasons when extra layers and kit are needed and for hut to hut trekking when you just need something to carry your clothes, food and a light sleeping bag.

Osprey’s Updates

As well as giving these packs a more streamlined look for 2025, and adding bluesign approved fabrics too, the new ranges of Talon and Tempest packs also now come with Extended Fit versions too. Extended Fit packs are designed to cater for larger bodies, offering extended hip belts, repositioned pockets and longer shoulder and sternum straps. Credit to Osprey, they’ve been real leaders in this aspect of inclusivity.

The Top Line On the Talon 33

This is an extremely well-made pack that’s decked out in useful details and features but without being fiddly. The back system has length adjustment and there’s plenty of adjustment throughout the harness so it’s a pack that should fit most people comfortably. I’ve also been impressed with its durability. It seems built to last.

The Context of Our Review

I’ve used Osprey’s Talon packs for years now – most notably on a 3-week hike along the Cambrian Way a few years ago – and I’ve always liked them. I’ve never had issues with functionality or durability. With this latest option, I used it over the course of a week’s hiking in North Wales. On one of the most notable days, I used it to haul kit on a very stormy and wet day hiking through the Celtic rainforest of Ceunant Llynnerch, where the huge waterfall added extra wetness to the day!

Key Features

Airscape back system: This is adjustable and well ventilated.

Durable and weather resistant fabrics: From my experience, the fabrics hold up very well to abrasion and they can see off light to medium heavy spells of rain too.

Mesh storage pockets: The mesh pockets on the front and sides give bucket loads of extra storage potential.

Back system: On this, and all of the other packs in the Osprey Talon and Tempest collections, you’ll find Osprey’s Airscape back system. I rate this highly. It closely follows the contours of your back, providing the right mix of balance, cushioning and support where you need it. There are also mesh covered foam ridges and channels for ventilation, with the same technology featured on the straps too.

Buy The Osprey Talon 33: £155 at Osprey.com

I like the way the back length is adjusted. You can slide it up or down super easily, but it holds reliably. There’s also a sliding sternum strap and forward pull hipbelt, so you can totally refine the fit.

One other aspect I like about the back system is that it’s able to protect your back from pointy and hard stuff in your pack that might be jutting out at an awkward angle, so you don’t have to pack carefully to avoid this.

Storage

The main compartment is accessed under a top lid (this isn’t detachable). Inside there’s plenty of room for kit plus you’ve also got a bladder sleeve. There’s a huge pocket on the top of the lid and a mesh one underneath with a little key clip in it.

Will using the Osprey Talon 33 on a hike through a gorge in Eryri.

This mesh pocket on the front, I’ve found, is ideal for a large puffer jacket or your waterproof jacket and trousers. There are stretchy pockets on the sides too. I’ve found these are easily big enough to swallow a Hydro Flask or a bulky pair of gloves or sit mat. For me, it’s difficult to pull my water bottle out of the side pockets without having to take the pack off.

I’ve found the pockets on the hipbelt to be the perfect size for a phone or a big bag of sweets, and they have nice oversized zipper tabs which make them easy to use with gloved hands.

Trekking Pole Attachments

The Talon has trekking pole or ice axe attachments on either side with little hooks to make accessing your kit faff-free, and loops that can be tucked away to keep things neat when you don’t require them. Like to keep your poles on the front of your harness? No problem, as this pack caters for that too.

Is It Going to Keep My Kit Protected?

The Talon has a 420D base and then a high tenacity nylon elsewhere. In other words, it’s super tough. I haven’t noticed any wear or tear since I’ve been using this pack – and I haven’t been treating it carefully either. I can see this lasting a long, long time. There are some excellent eco credentials as well, with all the fabric being 100% recycled, bluesign approved and PFAS-free.

It’s not waterproof , but I’ve found it to be highly water resistant – enough to see off light rain for instance, or moisture from the ground. If you plan on using this in very wet conditions I’d recommend using it with a rain cover (not supplied) or with your kit in drybags.

Verdict

As expected, this has been a very useful pack from Osprey that I can’t see many hikers being disappointed by. I also think that it should appeal to travellers too as the volume and size make it OK for carry-on air travel. I also really like the fact that it packs down flat, so it won’t take up too much space in your cupboard or under your bed when you’re not using it.

Last but not least, this is covered by Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee – and that means that If you discover any defect in material and workmanship under normal use and maintenance, Osprey will repair or replace it free of charge.
Buy The Osprey Talon 33: £155 at Osprey.com