The Tempest 20 is the women’s version of the Osprey Talon 22 that we have already reviewed. While it features almost everything that the Talon 22 does, it does have some slight changes to its design that allow it to be more suitable for shorter women (or even for smaller men).
We awarded the Talon 22 the Best Overall Daypack award in our best hiking daypack guide, and as such, it follows that the Tempest should be about as good as that since it is just a slightly smaller version with most of the same features.
It was an obvious choice then to give the Tempest 20 our award for the Best Daypack for Women. So if you’re looking for a daypack designed specifically for smaller and shorter people, then this pack will be perfect for you no matter what your needs.
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Osprey Tempest 20 Daypack
Manufacturer: Osprey
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The Tempest 20 is a great overall pack, and is completely packed with features. It has a total of 20L of capacity, which is plenty of space to carry all of the necessities for a day of activities; whether that be a hike or general use around an urban area.
One of the most appreciated features that both the Talon 22 and the Tempest 20 have is the 3L hydration sleeve that is separate from the main compartment, and has additional waterproofing to prevent any water damage being done to your gear if you spring a leak.
It has the same 7 exterior pockets that the Talon 22 has, including the side mesh pockets for easy access to snacks and water bottles. Furthermore, it has all of the attachment options you could possibly need, with Osprey’s LidLock helmet attachment, Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole attachment and an ice-tool loop with bungee tie-offs. The hipbelt also has two pockets, perfectly sized to carry a smartphone, a small camera or a GPS device.
There are a few things that we didn’t like about this pack when we compared it to the Talon 22, however. Most notably is the changes they made to make it more comfortable for smaller people.
The extra padding that was added also increased the weight, taking it to 743g, over 100g heavier than the larger Talon 22. That extra weight might not be noticeable on its own, but adjustments to the suspension system were also made to fit smaller people. Those adjustments made the fit a lot more uncomfortable for anyone who is taller or larger than the recommended 20” torso. So if you are taller, rather stick to the Talon 22 or other packs.
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Key Features
Capacity and Weight
For a lot of day activities, the 20L capacity of the Tempest 20 might just prove to be a bit small. That being said, that amount of space and the impressive number of pockets is plenty enough to fit all of the necessities you’ll need for a day. It will fit everything from a laptop and other work equipment; to extra layers, a first-aid kit, camera, and your food and water.
As we mentioned, the extra padding added to the Tempest 20 adds a bit of weight to the design when compared to the Talon 22. However, that won’t be noticeable to most people, and the extra padding is appreciated. 743g for a pack with as many features as this is still fairly lightweight.
Ventilation and Comfortability
As we mentioned previously, the Tempest 20 will either be very comfortable, or not very comfortable at all. It depends entirely on the height of the user, so be careful if you’re on the taller end of the recommended spectrum. There is a good amount of padding and the hipbelt is one of the better ones that we’ve used, so the pack is still comfortable to carry when loaded heavy.
The AirScape back panel is made of foam covered by a mesh, with ridges that allow airflow between your back and the pack. It’s not the most breathable design we’ve ever tested, but it’s not bad. It should prevent sweating except in the most extreme of climates.
Functionality
This is one area where Osprey’s Talon 22 and Tempest 20 designs excel. With the aforementioned 7 exterior pockets and the front-loading design, keeping the contents of the pack organised is as easy as it gets. With great accessibility to the side mesh pockets and the pockets on the hipbelt, it’s easily one of the most convenient daypack designs. Also, like we mentioned before, the separate hydration sleeve is a nice touch.
As for the exterior attachment options, the Tempest 20 has everything you’ll need. It has attachments for trekking poles, a helmet and ice-tools. There’s also an LED light attachment, and the sternum strap doubles as a safety whistle in case of emergency. Features like those are always appreciated, whether needed or not.
Materials and Design
The pack is made from 70D and 100D nylon, and it held up well to everything we could throw at it during our testing period. It wasn’t entirely waterproof, but it did protect the gear inside for a little through moderate rain. The small pocket at the top zips tight and has an extra layer of fabric to waterproof it, so it works well to protect any valuables.
All-in-all, we think Osprey did a good job with the design and construction of the Tempest 20. Everything included is necessary, and nothing felt out of place. So, if build-quality is important to you, as well as having a front-loading design for organisation, then the Tempest 20 should be perfect for you.
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