Osprey Talon 22 Men's Hiking Backpack - Lightweight Daypack for Outdoor Adventures, Camping & Travel (2020 Model) | Perfect for Day Hikes, Commuting & Gear Storage

Osprey has been recommended to me by many of my friends and fellow hikers over the years. But my old pack was OK and I didn't feel like buying 'Up' at Osprey's price point. But that old non-Osprey pack finally died (and at a critical time on a ten mile hike; I wasn't too upset. It had given me about ten years of good service). After some consultation with people more knowledgeable than myself, I decided to replace it with the Osprey Talon 22 (I bought the S-M since I am am 5'9 and 150 lbs.). Note, the S-M Talon 22 is not 22 liters but 20. The M-L Talon 22 is actually the full 22 liters of space.First of all, what struck me when I pulled it out of the box was the weight: my old Name Brand pack (remember those old commercials? ) was easily 3 times heavier while empty. The Talon 22 is light. I'm told its not the lightest pack out there but I am satisfied with it. I'm not an ultra-light hiker and this one is just right.Second, the fit was amazing (with the ability to customize the fit). With total freedom of movement. It is very well designed. It is also very, very comfortable. My first hike with the Talon 22, I packed 15 pounds of Stuff (including the 6.5 pounds of water in the Platypus hydration bag). Very, very comfortable. Very easy to climb and scramble over rocks with this pack.Third, its sleek and compact but able to hold a 3.0 liter hydration bag (mine is the Platypus, mentioned above. Mini-Review, with in a review: It doesn't taste like rubber like that other Name Brand!). And while I am not a novice hiker, I am no master. I was still using water bottles up until a year ago. But water bottles take up so much space. I have more space although my Talon is only a 20 liter pack compared to my old Name Brand pack that was 25 liters. I have now taken the Talon 22 on two hikes in one week: One 6 mile hike and one 19.5 mile hike. It was fantastic for both of them. I have talked with hikers who half fill the hydration bladder with water and the rest with ice cubes on hikes where they don't need the full 3 liters. This sounds like 'Genius!' to me and I can't wait to try that out.It also has a lot of little details like a place to easily store trekking poles, if trekking poles are "Your Thing". Some little pockets, like one suitable for a small mag-lite, on the backpack strap. Its also got a built in whistle on the chest strap.All that being said, no pack is perfect. But since no pack could be made that functioned in every scenario or mission, we shouldn't expect that. That won't stop Internet Wags and the entitled Veruca Salt Generation but all grown-ups know this already.This is not the pack for long, Through Hiking or overnights. Unless you are a major survivalist, ultra-light, SF operator or Crocodile Dundee. It's only 20-22 liters, depending on the size you buy. You can't carry everything like stoves and pots and solar panels and sat-phone dishes and machetes and rocket launchers. For us mere mortals, I can't imagine a better designed lightweight day-pack. And as good old Saint Han says, "I can imagine quite a bit."