Why We Chose It: Versatile, eco-friendly
Osprey’s Talon rucksacks are among the most popular packs in the UK – and not just with walkers. The versatile design means that they’ve also been adopted by everyone from cyclists to city commuters for everyday use too.
The latest addition to the Talon range – which already includes an assortment of different packs varying in size from 9 litres up to 55 litres – is the Talon Earth 22. And while this particular size isn’t new (there’s already a standard Talon 22 in the range), the way it is built is different to any other Talon pack. That’s because the Talon Earth is Osprey’s first pack to be bluesign approved. To achieve this certification, it uses recycled fabrics and components inside and out. That includes the zippers and hardware. In fact, around 50% of the pack’s plastic content is made using renewable natural gas.
What Is the Osprey Talon Earth 22 Best Suited To?
This is a multi-use, multi-purpose backpack, so really, what you use it for is entirely up to you. The 22-litre size and array of features make it a great small daypack for hiking and hillwalking, but it’ll do happily do double duty if you want to use it for your home-to-office commute too. To increase its urban appeal (especially for city cyclists), you get an internal padded laptop sleeve, a LidLock bike helmet holder and a night light attachment point to increase visibility on busy roads.
Eco Credentials
Right, a bit more about that bluesign approval we mentioned up top. This is a sustainable certification that assures consumers that textile products are safe for the environment, workers, and customers. It applies to chemicals, processes, materials, and products, helping manufacturers properly manage chemicals and replace harmful substances with safer alternatives.
In short, the bluesign designation means that the Talon Earth 22 is Osprey’s most sustainable pack to date. Their approach was to source recycled fabrics and components from zippers and webbing to labels and thread, aiming to reuse materials rather than using virgin resources as much as possible.
Construction and Performance
The Talon Earth 22 utilises the same essential design as the standard Talon 22, with a few minor alterations. For instance, there’s no Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment, though you still get an attachment point on the main body of the pack. The Earth model also lacks the stretch front stuff pocket of the standard Talon 22, which is a bit of a shame, as this is a useful feature for a daypack. On the other hand, you do get the addition of a padded laptop sleeve, though this does mean the Earth model is slightly heavier than the standard Talon 22, adding about 200g to the total pack weight.
