Tough Nugget

By Scott Schmutz Ranked #250 - Overnight Backpacks (2000 - 2999 cu in) July 8, 2009

Received this Osprey pack from my brother in the Special Forces, he swears by Osprey packs. I put it to the test by stuffing way more than I should have into this compact light weight grenade of awesomeness. I took it on a deep winter mountain hike and camping trip. The group I was with was packing 65 Liter+ packs and expected me to carry my fair share of the group kit. Like a Gypsy I strapped things all over my Talon 44 and set off into the Mountains. My Talon performed flawlessly even when I fell down the north face of the mountain though thick wet snow and branches tearing at me for 200 meters. I have only one negative experience and it really highlighted a huge benefit of the bag to me. I put a three liter platypus bladder in the hydration reservoir and filled it to the brim. Combine this with my overstuffed pack and the exertions of breaking trial through snow up to my chest at times, I'm 6'2", and the pressure proved too much for the Platypus bladder and it developed a small hole which leaked out onto my back. I was worried that I would have a block of ice for a pack when I discovered the rupture sometime later, but the Talon wasn't phased and my gear was good to go when we made camp that night. Learn from my mistake and pack appropriately and use a correctly sized bladder. This bag rocks, after years of using an "ALICE" pack in the Army, strapping this bag on felt like an extension of my body and didn't hold me back. As your lawyer, I recommend you purchase this bag and take an adventure. I was an animal to this pack and it took all I could throw at it and laughed in my face.

View Details: Osprey Packs Talon 44 Backpack - 2563-2685cu in

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