Review: Osprey Tempest 24 Pack

Product: Osprey Tempest 24 Pack

Price: $210

Store: Osprey

Attributes

The Osprey Tempest 24 backpack has two zippered pockets on the front of the hip belt to hold a Samsung phone, granola bars and snacks in the other pocket. It has different women’s sizes ranging from extra small to large to fit us comfortably. Straps are adjustable on the shoulder, hip and under the armpits for your needs. This backpack comes in a variety of wonderful colours including green, purple, grey and black.

It conveniently has an exterior bladder pouch to easily access the bladder to refill it with water without taking out the entire contents of the backpack first. If poles aren’t needed, they can be held in place on the outside of the backpack with elastic tie-offs and by securing the tip of the pole through the appropriate loop. The chest clip can be moved up or down depending on where you’d like it to rest. A pocket on the inside of the backpack is suitable for a wallet and has a clip to hold keys. Additional items can be stored in a zippered pocket on top of the backpack.

Carrying Potential

This backpack has lots of room to carry a variety of layers over long distances to keep you Happy and Warm X-Country Skiing if there are temperature and/or weather changes. It also provides ample space to carry lunch and snacks on 4 Spectacular Drumheller Hikes. If the weather is looking like it could rain or get windy, this backpack could be useful as it has an accessible mesh pocket on the outside to carry a windbreaker, or other items such as mitts or a toque if it gets colder. If you have carabiners handy, you could loop one by the adjustment strap of your baseball cap and through a loop on your backpack if you’re afraid of losing items due to high winds.

Downsides

Unfortunately, this backpack doesn’t have a water bladder tube clip to hold it into place. The water bladder tube will stay in position if it is placed under the chest strap. Otherwise, it might fly in the wind and potentially smack you in the face. There’s only one compartment and no option to separate items in the backpack. Some might find it costly to purchase especially with no rain cover provided.

How it Was Tested

Spring, Summer and Fall Conditions

Our tester used the backpack while hiking the 4 Best Larch Hikes. When heading out on a long day trip, the large compartment could hold various layers for warmth such as a down jacket or an Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan, and a Chaos Multi Tubular Headwear for cold mornings or a blustery day. Mitts and a toque could be stuffed into the mesh compartment on top of the backpack.

It holds a two-litre bladder for long hikes when climbing up a mountain or on days when it’s super sunny and you might end up drinking lots of water to avoid getting thirsty. Be aware that when it rains, prepare accordingly as this backpack doesn’t provide a built-in pack cover. The pack could get drenched quickly if you don’t bring a separate pack cover. The Airscape backing allows airflow and provides ventilation for your back instead of it sweating when hiking in different temperatures throughout the year.

Winter Conditions

Our tester used the backpack while cross-country skiing. In cold temperatures, the side mesh pockets are large enough to hold a water bottle in a parka to prevent it from freezing in the winter.

Tip: It’s important to protect your water otherwise it won’t be drinkable. If the temperature is below freezing, there’s a good chance that your water will freeze in a water bladder without tube insulation protection.

The generously-sized side backpack pockets are big enough to carry a MEC seat cushion. It can be handy to have on your winter excursions when the picnic table seats are covered in snow or cold because they are metal-based. The external mesh pocket is also big enough to fit Kahtoola Microspikes if you’re heading out for a winter hike and know that it’s possible to run into some icy conditions.

Overview of Osprey Tempest 24 Pack

Pros

• The backpack is comfortable to wear.
• The two zippered pockets on the front of the hip belt could hold a Samsung phone in one pocket to take pictures at a moment’s notice. You could carry two granola bars including a Larabar for easy-to-reach snacks in the second pocket.
• It offers appropriate women’s sizes to fit us perfectly.
• It has large pockets on the side of the backpack to carry a MEC seat cushion or a water bottle.
• It features an exterior bladder pouch that can easily be refilled without taking out the entire contents of the backpack first.

Cons

• It doesn’t have a clip to hold onto a water bladder tube. It will only keep the tube in place if it is put under the chest strap.
• It has one big compartment to fit everything. There aren’t any dividers to separate items.
• It is costly to purchase.
• The backpack doesn’t have a built-in pack cover.

Osprey Tempest 24 Pack is Best for:

• Long hikes in Jasper that require carrying a lunch, and additional layers in case of temperature and/or weather changes.
• Carrying a windbreaker in the exterior pouch while XC Skiing Near me.
• Attaching hiking poles to the outside of the backpack with elastic tie-offs.