Current Backpacks of Choice for Day Hiking
Between Moe’s guiding business and our active hiking schedule in general, we tend to go through a lot of different gear. That includes backpacks. Currently we’re both using Osprey packs for most of our day hikes. Jeff is fond of the Talon 22 for basic day hiking needs, while Moe goes for the Kestrel 38 to carry the extra gear he needs to have with clients and then ends up using it for most other day hikes too.
For Jeff, the Talon is the perfect size when he’s not needing to carry a lot of extra gear, multiple clothing changes, or lots of water. The bag is, as you’d expect from the name a 20-22 liter bag and weighs in at just around 2 pounds. It features a foam back panel that fits snugly against your back, but also is fairly breathable. The shoulder straps are padded, as is the hip belt, though for Jeff, he’d have appreciated a slightly wider belt overall for the hip. Straps are adjustable all around. The pack is a top loading pack with one major compartant, a second smaller top loading compartment and then a mesh front pocket you can stuff items in. There are two mesh pockets on either side of water bottles. For those who use a hydration bladder, there is a bladder pocket between the back pad and the pack that holds a 2-3 liter bladder. The hip below also has two pockets on it (one on each side) that are a great place for snacks, though really too small for an iPhone. The pack is made of nylon, but it’s not waterproof and you’ll need a pack cover (sold separately) in the rain to keep it dry.
Jeff’s on his second Talon. One nice aspect of purchasing Osprey packs is that they do have a lifetime warranty. After a few years of heavy use, his original pack mesh pockets on either side were ripped up and the chest strap clip that lets you adjust the placement of the chest strap had broken off. A return to Osprey for repair resulted in a new replacement pack.
For everyday hiking use, Jeff appreciates how the pack stays tight against him, especially when hiking on more technical terrain. You don’t have to worry about the pack swinging at all and causing you to lose balance. Overall, it’s a durable pack. It took about 2 seasons (spring, summer and fall) of heavy use for the side pockets to rip to the point where they were unusable and for the chest strap clip to break.
While the Kestrel 38 would make for a good 1-2 overnight backpack, Moe likes to use it as his all-purpose daypack, especially when hiking with clients for Hike On Guides. As a guide, he has to carry more gear than the average day hiker and the Kestrel fits it all with some room to spare. Weighing in at around 3.4 pounds, the Kestrel is made from durable nylon (but is not waterproof - you’ll need to use the included pack cover) and holds 36-38 liters worth of gear. The foam back panel is structured to hold the pack close to your back, but also provide ventilation. Moe has found it to be a comfortable fit. The pack is a top loader with a flippable lid. The lid has a pocket on top and underneath. There’s a mesh pocket in the front you can stuff, two mesh pockets for water bottles on either side and 2 pockets on the hip belt for snacks, phone, etc. (on the Kestrel the hip belt pocket is big enough for a phone).
Even fully loaded (as it is for most of his hikes), Moe finds the Kestrel comfortable for even the longest day hikes. It fits snug against his pack and with all the various strap adjustments that are available, he can always find a comfortable way to wear the bag depending on its weight. He’s also able to use the bag as an overnight backpack when he’s traveling lighter (and without clients).