[Closed] 🗻 Hiking rucksack/daysack recommendations ⛰

I was recommended the Osprey Talon 33l as a day/just about overnight rucksack. A couple of YouTube videos later convinced me it was the one.

Bloody brilliant. Very light, superbly built and really well thought out in terms of external pockets and the little touches that differentiate the ok bags from the really good ones.

It certainly meets all of the requirements you’ve listed above 🙂

Aye, osprey. Bloody brilliant.

Light weight feels great when it's empty, or nearly, must otherwise affect longevity?

I kind of already know what I want

Go on...

I'm ambivalent about Osprey. I've just bought my son a Skarab 34. It's a solid pack, and comfy. However it's got an odd drawcord system, which froze up. It's got 3(!) lid pockets, because why? It's got walking pole loops, but then multiple daisy chain webbing without it being a climbing pack. The side zip pockets aren't as accessible as nets, but are more secure. It's got a rain cover about twice as big as it needs.

I've also just bought mrs_oab a Gregory Maya. It's a smaller pack. However it is superb compared to the osprey - as light, as comfy, but simpler and cleaner in design, with fewer oddities.

I've an older Lowe Alpine Rock Attack 40 that's just brilliant for me. I prefer just one big space and a lid pocket, I prefer narrower to get out the way when scrambling. It's long in the back, flat with no real harness. It can get sweaty. When I replace it I'm getting one with a better waist belt to take more weight off shoulders, but that's it.

I'd forgotten about osprey, got an aether 70 AG and it's awesome. Didn't think about their smaller bags.

I'm looking to replace a Lowe alpine airzone trail 25, only as its regular sized and just too small for me. Was going to go for another one or very similar Lowe alpine in the correct size.

Don't own an Osprey but the odd occasion I've tested them they have been good. I have some lighter load alpkit rucksacks and for the price they are pretty decent.

Tbh, Osprey are like exposure and garmin, sometimes there's so much overlap of their packs, it's hard to differentiate.

The Stratos 36 I have is a bit like Matt says, lots going on, but bloody hell it's comfy.

Also have an Exos 58, which is much more pared back and even lighter than the 36. Still as comfy, strangely!.

I love their stuff.

Daughter has a wee LA airzone, it's really quite impressive, some nice touches too.

I have lightwave rucksacs. Light and strong and completely waterproof. surprisingly also the comfiest rucsacs I have used.

http://www.lightwave.uk.com/products/rucksacks/lightwave-rucksacks

Classic 'recommend what you have': Macpac Amp 25.

Osprey Talon 33. Used and abused mine around the world as have numerous airlines....other than the mesh on the side pockets being a bit crap they're simply awesome.

Girlfriend uses a 26l tempest that has been flawless too

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15906744/lowe-alpine-airzone-trail-15906744

A lot better than the girlfriends Osprey, comes with a cover which the osprey don't

I've a few Deuter rucksacks. Not the cheapest or lightest (or indeed easiest to pronounce) but very well made, bombproof and should last for years, so good value for money.

Yeah I've been very pleased with my Osprey Talon. I've used it for the bike commute, various hikes and every holiday since I got it. Reckon I've used it 6 times a week for about 4 years and it's still in great nick.

I'm not saying it's necessarily the best, but I was a bit worried about spunking £70 on a day pack, and now I think it's been great value.

One downside of the lowe alpine packs is the stowage for poles, means taking pack on and off when scrambling etc, Osprey stow on the go is brilliant.

I have an Osprey Talon, it's great but leaks like a tea bag in the rain, factor in the cost of a cover, otherwise your wine gums and spare socks end up as a gloopy blob.

Yeah the need to buy a separate rain cover (that isn't a great product) is a down side with the Ospreys.

The pole stowing system is great though.

Yeah the need to buy a separate rain cover (that isn’t a great product) is a down side with the Ospreys.

They only do three sizes of covers so it is pot luck whether it fits or billows

Another vote for Lowe Alpine. I've had two Airzone 45/55 bags which have been great.....even loaded with 20kg of bothy supplies they've handled well

My Stratos came with a rain cover.

Never use it though, all my kit is seperated into drybags inside, much easier to find stuff and if you fall crossing a river your gear is still dry.

I've seen folks covers blowing off without them even knowing. Either get a waterproof bag or use dry bags.

Have a look at Simond Alpinism 33.

Simond are decathlon alpine spec stuff and it's very good quality, and cheap.

I bought one of these after doing a lot of walking in the French Alps, pretty much every serious French walker was kitted with something simond. Very impressed with it and have now used it for pretty much everything. Bulletproof. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

No rain cover, but they're shite anyway so use drybags.

Aye, simond stuff is great.

That simond bag looks good but no mesh side pockets unfortunately.

I had a Lowe alpine climbing bag, peak ascent I think it was. It was great, comfy and lightweight but again no side bottle pockets so I got rid of it.

Foam back is a downside for me too, personally prefer an air gap.

I reckon I have about 30 packs, plenty of Ospreys, 4 maybe?

I'm tall and need a long back length so I'm pretty picky about what I buy. A proper daypack should have a hip belt, so I need a back length on the pack that's decent

Definitely recommend the Lowe Alpine Aeon series, ticks all your boxes and has a great back length. It's adjustable without being heavy. Comes in top loader or clamshell zip options too

Has lots of other features not on your list but we're on mine, like decent hip belt and hip belt pockets

I don't really use the Stow on the go pole thing on the osprey packs because I have a compact Z folding single pole. Works ok with the pair I use if I take them but usually take only one

30!!! Impressive! Reckon I've got 6!

We have a winner 😄

https://www.aiguillealpine.co.uk/products/rucksacks-bags/

Made up in Staveley, Cumbria. A small enterprise making quality gear locally. I have one of their 35l sacks and its superb.
They're more than happy to adapt their models to your requirements.

Still using my third Alpkit Gourdon everyday for work and as a daysack for walking.

Not sure I could go back to non-minimalist backpacks now.

Very well made, weighs nowt, fully waterproof, very versatile.

Try one.

Still using my third Alpkit Gourdon everyday for work and as a daysack for walking.

Not sure I could go back to non-minimalist backpacks now.

Very well made, weighs nowt, fully waterproof, very versatile.

That looks like a bargain!

I have a wee Exped bag like that gourdon for everyday duties, wouldn't consider one for proper hill walking though.

Osprey Talon here too, I have the 23 and 33l versions.

Just got back from a day in the snow in the hills above Betws Y Coed. My Osprey Escapist 32 does the trick even though it's a biking pack.

I am tempted by the Talon, but can't really justify it since my Osprey packs both work well as day packs. (I've also got a Raptor).

Love having water ready to hand to pipe rather than storing in bottles (though took a hot flask out today).

Strangely, even after using a bladder for years biking, I never use them walking, much prefer a bottle (and a sawyer filter).

Always found Osprey rucksacks to be 'fussy' with too many bells and whistles and pockets and stuff, as well as being very expensive. I appreciate this is STW where value for money is not often a consideration, but Decathlon and in particular the Simond range have always proved to be very good pieces of kit.

In the end I managed to pick up a 2nd hand Lowe alpine eclipse 35.

Lightweight, long back. All the pockets I was looking for. A bit bigger than I needed, but the back was a bit longer on the 35 than the 25.

Ideal, can always be cinched down a bit, or just take extra beer 😉

I’m happy with my Lowe Alpine bags. I found the osprey did not fit as well as the LA for me. Shame the ospreys were nicely made and had some nice features

I found the osprey did not fit as well as the LA for me

A valid point, if you're gonna be potentially carrying something for 10 hours, or a few days backpacking, you really don't want any pinch points.

I have a massive collection of rucksacks at home..... Lowe Alpine, montane, osprey..

I’d go for an osprey talon 33. Easy to use trekking pole holder, ice axe holder, plenty of nice external pockets for drinks and a fleece, adjustable back..

A good bag OP. Pics on the first peak please...

Sounds like the OP is sorted but I was going to suggest Osprey or Macpac.

Osprey much easier to get hold of. I have an oldish one that has been great but the fabric is started to delaminate.

My dad gave me his old Macpac daypack and I suspect it will outlast me, "only" 25L though.