Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

I use my Talon 22 for day hiking, scrambling and peak bagging, but foremost for technical multi-day mountain bike trips. I've squeezed a few three day hikes out of it in summer, too. For all these applications, but especially for endeavors demanding a very stable load on an active body, it is superlative.

The minimalist harness is just enough for 25ish pounds. I've hauled six liters of water and food for a day and a half along with some of my camping kit on bike trips just fine. The small details of how the pack is cut and arranged make it hug the body amazingly well. This pack fully loaded on technical singletrack is not really a drag on riding ability at all, provided you have the core strength to hold it steady.

The organizational features are nice. The hipbelt pockets and stretch sleeves on the shoulder straps keeps gels and such close at hand. The internal and external pockets on the pack make organization easy, allowing you to go faster. The stretch fabric back pocket holds extra clothing easily accessible and out of harms way.

The fabric is nice and light, while being quite durable. A good balance for this application.

The only thing I haven't yet figured out is how to carry skis on the thing.

For fast forward mountain applications, especially multi-day racing, I can't think of what else I would want.

Rating: 5 / 5

The Talon is a very full featured pack, that carries like a dream (w/ reasonable loads). I use it for snowshoeing day trips and it swallows up the gear- shovel, bivy, down parka, etc

I love the belt pockets- they are actually large enough (and accessible enough) to be very useful- sunscreen, gps, snacks, etc. The pack has good organization (discovered several small inner pockets I didn't know were there when I purchased the pack). The front stretch pocket fits my snow shovel scoop perfectly (store the handle in one of the side pockets).

My typical load-out w/ food/water is ~ 15#- it carries this very well, 20# would be no problem whatsoever. I haven't used for overnight trips, but could easily do 2 or even 3 trips w/ the right gear selected.

I was so impressed w/ the 22, I ended up buying a 5.5- darn nice little pack too!

Rating: 5 / 5

double post- whoops :)

Edited by mtwarden on 02/05/2011 16:12:48 MST.