Osprey Talon 11

I've had more than a few packs since a rucksack in 1961. I've always hated day packs because their suspension system isn't comfortable if you actually put more in the pack than napkin or two.

I put a 2 liter water bladder in it, filled of course, along with my mountain bike tools and first aid stuff, and biked into the rugged Henry Coe State Park backcountry.

Coe is famous for its tough climbs and a rescue was underway when we arrived. The roads and trails were designed for ranchers with horses and Jeeps, not backpacking and mountain biking. If a piece of equipment is going to act badly this is the place it will happen. Specialized tests their bikes there.

We biked and hiked the bikes over 2,000 feet of climbing and dropped down narrow technical trails for 10 miles. The pack was never uncomfortable. It was no more annoying than having a wallet in your back pocket.

I bought a 2 liter water bladder because I thought that great weight would be uncomfortable. I'll probably buy a 4L for my longer summer trips. The bladder area of the pack looks like it has this capacity.

My next use will be for trail work in the Ventana Wilderness near Big Sur, California. Last summer's huge fire left the trails in a mess.

- jim

I picked this pack up by accident. I actually was planning on getting (and had purchased) the Talon 22. I went to the warehouse and picked up my gear and accidentally received the 11 instead. I am actually very happy that I accidentally received the Talon 11 because I would have over packed the 22 just because it has the room.
If you are looking for a great day pack that is great for extremely hot weather. Look no further. The AirScape ventilated foam HDPE back panel really allows your back to breath. This is a great back frame system that reduces back sweating on really hot days. This pack is also great for trail running and mountain biking being hydration compatible.

I wanted to start running home from work (+ trails) & was looking for a good running pack; thank God I came across the Talon 11, it is just perfect. Once strapped on & adjusted it stayed PUT. No swaying or shifting & the airscape back panel kept my back dry. It has more than enough space for my needs, my shirt, pants, my jacket (with the bungee-laced front), gels, cell phone, ipod etc. Make sure you get the size! I'm 5'6 138 lbs & got the S/M which is dead on for me! Great pack, great service from Backcountry & look forward to running a lot with this. BTW you can fit a small bottled water in the side pockets.

It hurts me to say this, but I currently own 9 packs. For a one day trip to bust out 5-18 miles this pack is by far the most comfortable and lightest pack I own. It fits right, the materials are sturdy, the cinch ties around the waist work great. It holds a 100 oz insulated Camelbak without issue or hassle. The size is spot on. Big enough to hold your water, extra shirt, socks, light rain jacket, and food. If I could suggest one improvement, the two chest straps have pockets for gels, gps, camera etc. they could be, the opening, just a tad bit bigger. It is a tight fit.

I purchased my Osprey Talon 11 as a lightweight replacement for my Dakine Heli-Pro (which is perfect on the slopes in winter but a bit heavy for summer sports). I first used it in a summer ultra-distance event and couldn't be happier ... the mesh breathes well, it's really lightweight and it stays securely in place so there's no chafing issues if trail running. I've since used it for mountain biking and it's a nice size for tools plus weather gear. And the gel/snack pockets are right where you need them to be.

The only reason I didn't give this pack 5 stars is the hip belt. The criss cross strap design makes adjusting them more hassle than it should be and they hang loose if you're small and don't have a belly. I adjusted mine as small as it could go and there was still a lot of slack.
The pack is great for day hikes though and is very light. There's plenty of room for everything a person would need to bring for a day.

I had been using a dakine heli pack for day hikes and was very unhappy with it (harsh on the shoulders, zippers hard to access). The Talon is so much better. It is lighter to start with, the straps and back panel are light and airy, great for hot summer days, the zippers are plenty easy to access and use, etc. Plenty of room for a layer, water, sandwich, first aid kit, etc. It's just perfect for day hikes.

I bought this pack because I am doing an adventure race next month. I was worried that it would move around and slosh around and generally be a pain in the @#$*. I just finished an eight-mile trail run and it was perfect. No movement, plenty of room to run. It's also big enough to use for whatever a day might bring. And it's an Osprey which means it's great quality.

I have enjoyed this backpack a lot. I have taken it day hiking and trail running. I can't imagine that there could be a better running backpack because it stays in place very well. It is big enough to fit small first aid kit, rain jacket, snack, and large bottle of water with a little room to spare. The S/M is a good size for me (woman 5'5" about 115 pounds).

I've had this pack for a year now and have yet to find serious fault with it. Ok, so there's more white fabric than I would recommend for outdoor use (shows dirt), but otherwise, this thing rocks. I've used the Talon for biking, dayhiking, and trail running. It's cool on the back, has a sweet suspension, and adjusts intuitively. The gel/mp3 pockets on the shoulder straps are extremely handy.