Osprey Packs Talon 4 Lumbar Pack - 240cu in - 2009 BCS

I really love this thing!

Out of my collection of lumbar packs, this is the one that I instinctively reach for, whether heading out for a quick jaunt in the canyons near my house with my pup, or longer day treks that don't require much space for clothing or gear.

The fit is great, and it can be locked down snugly so nothing flops around when the going gets jiggly.

There is an amazing amount of smart engineering put into this seemingly simple device.

Thanks to the Airscape back and side panels (which hold the pack off your body with a combination of curved semi-rigid frame sheet, highly dimensional, perforated foam pads and soft netting)it stays cool on my lower back and rides like there's nothing there.

In addition to the sophisticated suspension, nice touches abound, like the substantial, reflective talon graphics;
waist strap adjuster keepers (keeping the straps readily at hand and preventing them from whipping around);
foam reinforced bottle pockets (never collapse, so it's easy to re-holster the H2O while on the move);
Osprey's excellent, easy grab zipper pulls.

I only have a couple of issues:
The loose ends of the hip stabilizer straps often get caught in the side pockets, blocking the zipper;
The compression straps on the outside of the pack would be much more useful if they integrated some sort of net pocket for quick-draw stashing of a light shell, gloves, hat, etc;
My pack has no internal mesh pocket for organizing small stuff... I want it... in fact an organizer panel with a number of zipped and/or stretchy pockets would be great!;
the side pockets could be a scosh larger and made of a stretchy material;
Devise a method of closing off the bottle holsters, so they can optionally be used as additional secure storage;
Either include some sort of (tethered) rain cover, or make the thing more moisture tight;
Keep an eye on weight while adding these additional features... natch!
Make this awesome pack expandable, or available in a range of sizes!

This pack is extremely well made. The pockets are the perfect size for a short day hike (ie. out, lunch, and back. squeeze a light jacket in too). It tightens well enough and is really comfy. The water bottle holders and nice too however they get in the way while running as I tended to graze the bottles with my elbows while running. Also, this pack bounces too much while running or moving quickly, so I'd say it's perfect for a long hike or bike ride, but it's not the pack for running/jogging in.

This is the single best lumbar pack I have ever used. I've had it for about a month now, and it sits well on 18 mile runs. I plan on running much further with it too. The materials are great, and Osprey used a lot of attention to detail. Instead of using the same size straps as all of their other packs, they've miniaturized straps just for this lighter, smaller package. No bottles included, which is great, because very few companies make good bottles. Nice bottle restrains too. Trust me on this one since I live and train in Kuwait...the vents on the back are awesome. Everything cinches down nice and tight which makes for a very secure load. I wouldn't bother to write a review if this wasn't an awesome piece of equipment that everyone who runs long distances on trails should have.

Like the previous reviewer mentioned, the color depicted is deceiving. When I opened the box i looked and said "this is the yellow one?" It's more of a dark gold color, still nice, but if the color is an important factor, be warned, it's a dull dark yellow. But after my initial disappointment of that, the quality and engineering that went into this made up for it. It is built extremely well and is very spacious without being clunky. I run long distances with my beloved pit/greyhoud mix so I need to bring enough water for the both of us without sloshing around or throwing my balance off and this pack lets me do that. If you are willing to forgo the large pocket and just use the 2 small ones on the side and 1 up front, you can fit two 16oz bottles in the pack itself as well as fit two large bottles on the sides of it. The only drawback to me with this pack was that I am very small and lightweight (5'1" 100lbs); the pack doesn't adjust to fit me that well and the water weighs me down. It is very hard to run with so much added weight in a bag that isn't fitting snug. HOWEVER, after a few runs and determination to use the pack (I really do love it) out of frustration I slung it over my shoulder as if a purse . Although it sounds absolutely insane, it was comfortable and Ive run many miles since then with it just like that. No sloshing, no balance issues and no fatigue or back pain. All in all I really love this pack!

im a runner and needed a pack that would not jiggle all over the place. this pack stays in place wonderfully. i carry 2 aluminum water bottles,my phone,gun,and snacks! you would think that would be super heavy,but once i put it on i forget its there! i was a little disappointed with the color (yellow) the color pictured was much brighter than what i received. also i think it would be good if the bottom of the drink holders were closed off so you could put things other than a bottle in it. but all in all im very happy with this pack and would highly suggest it to anyone. i mean come on,life time guarantee!?! how could ya go wrong!

great for trail running. suts weel. no move. I carry 2 nike water bottles, cellphone, gun and some food. Have had it for 4 months and use it 4 - 5 times every week.

I bought this pack for some biology field work. I just needed to carry water, a field guide and some snacks. My main concern was if my Peterson field guide would fit...it did! It also holds my two CamelBak .75L bottles with ease. My only complaint is the thinner waist belt. It can start to dig in after a long day.