Osprey Talon 22-Litre Backpack

This is my first Osprey. I have seen them around for the past 8 years or so, and I have been thinking about buying one since then. I am glad that I went with this pack. I bought it to replace two packs: one smaller than this (Camelback "Cloudwalker"), one bigger than this (OGIO Computer backpack). It will be the day-pack accompaniment to my 60 liter main pack.I like that the back panel and main straps of the pack are foam covered with netting. This saves a lot of weight. The pack is overall super lightweight for the durability and utility it offers. For example, I have had a Go-Lite, and it really couldn't stand up to a lot of abuse. The Osprey Talon has what seems to be durable nylon fabric, as well as stretchy fabric (the pocket just under the bike-helmet clip, and the two water bottle pockets on the sides).The pack's length (i.e. top of main straps to the waist strap) is adjustable to accommodate different torso lengths, using a strong velcro attachment located in the same pocket as the water bladder area. Also, underneath this wide and long velcro strap area is a secret pocket, something that this pack gets major points for from me. This pocket is difficult to access and takes two steps to access: remove the velcro strapping, and undo the zipper. In my pack, the zipper is actually turned inside out-- I'm not sure if this is a design flaw or not. I think not, as it reduces the ability to notice the zipper, and it sits flatter against the velcro area. Cool idea.The Talon 22 needs a couple of improvements, in my opinion:1. This pack needs one or two more internal pockets within the large main compartment, and one more in the camelback area, and one in the large stretch pocket just under the bike clip. This pocket needs extra securing. While it would be useful for large items like 32 oz. nalgenes or sweaters, smaller items will easily fall out as it is just a "dump pocket". As a dump pocket, it is fantastic though. I just think, given the space, it could use a pocket or two, or some stretch-strapping/stretch-cordage for holding smaller items in.2. A laptop sleeve. This could easily be sewn into the main compartment, but under the netbag that hangs down into the main compartment. If it is under the net bag, it will better hide a laptop.Overall, five stars because it fulfills its intentions and it fulfills my needs completely. I can tell that this pack is durable, high quality, and well designed. Bravo, Osprey.Any possible downside regarding minimal pockets (Which is not a downside at all in many peoples' opinion, including mine) is easily overcome by utility pouches such as this Condor EMT mini-pack, for tools and survival gear. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GBRORI/ref=gno_cart_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

By all rights this should be a five star review. This pack is really well-designed and looks beautiful. I just bought it a week ago so it's hard to say how it will wear but as far as I can tell I'm going to be really happy with it.EXCEPT.... on the second day of use I pulled the Lidlock clip out a bit and the Lidlock cord just straight up fell out. It basically tore off and just pulled all the way out of the side that was attached to the backpack.This really bummed me out. Not because I actually even needed the Lidlock (I was just looking at it). But if this cord tore out with a quick pull (and not a hard pull), what other aspects of this pack are defective?I paid a lot of money for this pack with the expectation that it was high quality. Now I'm not so sure.I know that the best of products will have a defect from time to time and I know I can get this repaired for free. But to have a defect right off the bat was just kind of a bummer.I hope to have the opportunity to leave a five star review for an Osprey pack some day as, so far, this pack is otherwise really fantastic.******* UPDATE (12/13/2011) - Five months later and the pack has been put to a LOT of use and has been excellent! No other defects, very well-designed. I am changing from three stars to four stars.

I bought this backpack when I decided to start biking to work. I'd been looking for a day pack for hiking before that and was favoring the Deuter Speed Lite 20 but the Osprey Talon 22 got great reviews and many of them spoke of its bike-friendly features. I can't agree more. I did a lot of research and have used it for some time and it's really very good for both. I've now biked hundreds of miles, usually about twenty miles a day, with it and the bike friendly features are used frequently.I've also used it when I'm out with my kids on longer walks or rides and I'm able to fit jackets, etc, for three of them comfortably.The fit: I had my wife measure me and went with the medium / large. I'm 5'8" and about 150 lbs. The pack fits well. As it has gotten warmer I've tightened the chest strap and the hip belt straps. For someone of my size it does leave a bit of extra strap to manage. At this point I'm tightened down completely, usually wearing a thin shirt. It doesn't move around much but it's slightly better with a jacket on. I'm probably being picky on this one.Note that that straps have clips that help manage the extra length. It's a nice feature. There are also places on the pack where extra strap is meant to tuck in, like on the shoulder straps. This is a thoughtful feature.The clip for a bike tail light is great. I use it ever day with a blinking light from Planet Bike. I've also used the helmet clip more often that I thought I would. If I'm biking around town and have to stop into a few stores it's great. I pack a baseball cap in the pack, clip on the bike helmet, and then wear the cap around.Hip belt pockets are also nicely sized. I use one for my iPhone. In the other I can fit my gloves if I roll them up. The part about the gloves is extremely convenient because if it's too warm I can take gloves off without having to take the pack off to store them and keep them in there if it's colder than I thought when I started a ride or hike.It's a comfortable pack. I don't notice having it on outside of the warmth it creates while biking but that's expected. The airscape back does allow some air to flow and that's nice. The size of the pack is great. The inside pocket works well.My typical load this spring has been an extra tire tube, a hand pump, a Patagonia hoody, dress clothes for work (and sometimes dress shoes shoved in the outer pocket), a large zip lock back with food for the day, and sometimes the gloves and a Patagonia Houdini for my wind jacket. Sometimes I use more or less of the clothes depending on how cold it is morning and evening. The temperature in NJ this time of year tends to differ widely at those times.In the small inner pocket I keep a few pairs of latex gloves in case I need to change a tire, my wallet, some tools, and sometimes a bike headlight if it's not on my bike.One more thing that is great is customer service. In the first month of owning the pack I stepped on the hip belt clip and cracked it. I was really disappointed but then I found that I could submit a picture and details about the issue to Osprey on line from their web site. It took me about two minutes to submit that with my address. A few weeks later a brand new clip arrived, no charge, and I was able to swap my just barely working broken clip. Osprey gets major points for that.Great pack, highly recommended.