Lee

The best thing about the Manta 25 is all the large pack features on a small day pack. The under-arm trekking pole holder, hipbelt pockets and daisy are some of the more useful features. I took the pack on a 7 mile maiden voyage while packed full (I was initially concerned with the deceptively small size but it swallowed everything I needed) and was very pleased with it. No discomfort, no water sloshing in the reservoir, no sweaty back thanks to the mesh backpanel. It's expensive but worth the money.

The Osprey Kestrel series are great packs with clever and useful features. The 28, however, has two problems that led me to exchange it for the new Osprey Manta 25 daypack: the Kestrel 28 is really only big enough for a day hike, but it is designed like a multi-day pack. By this I mean it has few access points (the only zippered pouch is behind the top of the pack - i.e., against the back of your head!)and the main compartment is very long and narrow with a drawstring opening that makes it difficult to get things in-and-out (acceptable if you're just hiking from campsite to campsite, but on day hikes I tend to access the pack quite often). The other problem also concerns the length of the pack -- it is very long and has no internal support, so it is essentially a big noodle. I have also read reviews indicating a painful fold develops in the lower back region if the pack isn't fully loaded. If you want a good daypack, look at the Manta series first. These have the innovative features of the Kestrel (sto-&-go trekking pole attachments, integrated raincover, hipbelt pockets, hydration)in a more conventional day pack design. The Kestrel does have twin daisy chain attachments vs a single centered daisy on the Manta, if hanging things on the pack is important to you.