Osprey, a respected name in the hiking and climbing market for 35 years, moved into the bike market last year. The company boasts a varied bike range which includes the commuter-specific Metron and Momentum backpacks.
They’re packed with a range of features designed with the ride from home to office in mind, but with a minimum size of 25 and 26 litres respectively. If, like me, you carry only the essentials to the office and also ride off-road, the Talon is a versatile pack that fits the bill.
We’ve tested a Talon 11 which has, you guessed it, an 11 litre capacity; big enough to squeeze in a change of clothes, but not a pair of shoes. If you ride regularly, however, you won’t want to be lugging in a pair or trainers or shoes every day, and I keep a pair under my desk. 4L, 5.5L, 8L 22L, 33L and 44L versions are also available.
A single main compartment makes up the bulk of the bag, but there are also other storage areas dotted around the pack, like the mesh hip pockets and a quick-to-reach pocket on the front, ideal for keeping items you want to grab quickly like keys. All of the zips come with toggles, allowing for easy access when wearing gloves. No need to fiddle about with tiny zippers.
I don’t like riding with a bulky bag hanging off my back and the Talon 11’s small size, Airspace back panel, torso adjustment and ErgoPull hipbelt combine to ensure the pack sits snug on your bag, with weight evenly distributed. Other well thought out features include a LidLock helmet attachment and a blinker patch to allow easy attachment of a wearable light. Reflective print helps keep you seen on the road now the nights are drawing in.
If you also ride off-road like I do, then the Talon 11 doubles up as an ideal daypack, capable of carrying additional clothing layers, small tools, a bite to eat and other essentials. The bag has a compartment for storing one of Osprey’s excellent hydration bladders, which are available to purchase separately. It’s a versatile bag, also well suited to hiking and I have taken it skiing. One drawback; the Talon is without a rain cover (it’s a small, lightweight bag so there’s no need), so prolonged, heavy rain may get in.
Osprey are backpack specialists and, as expected, build quality is excellent, with hard-wearing nylon fabrics used across the bag. Five colours are available, while retail price is £60, which isn’t cheap, but this is a specialist bag you won’t just use cycling, plus it will stand the test of time.
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