Osprey Talon vs Stratos

DEAL ALERT: The Osprey Stratos and Sirrus packs in sizes 24, 34 and 36 are all on sale for 25% off at REI through Labor Day: https://www.rei.com/osprey

We've been putting Osprey backpacks to the test for many years now (find our full review list at the bottom of this article), so it only makes sense to compare and contrast Osprey's Talon and Stratos lines. Why? Because both took top honors in our Best Osprey Hiking Backpacks article, and because their differences and ideal use cases can be confusing.  

Note that the Tempest and Sirrus lines are Osprey's women's-specific versions of the Talon and Stratos lines, respectively, so our reviews and analysis apply to both. Tempest = Talon; Sirrus = Stratos.   

Overview

Let's take a brief look at both backpack lines before we dig deeper. 

Think of the Talon / Tempest line as a more comfortable and less feature-rich alternative to the Stratos / Sirrus line.

Now we'll look compare them one by one ... 

Talon 22 vs Stratos 24

I'd recommend both primarily for one-day uses. 

• Talon 22: In addition to day hiking, if you're planning to perform a fair amount of other high-output activities (think biking, climbing, and bikepacking), then I'd recommend the Talon 22 over the Stratos 24. 
• Stratos 24: If I were to day-hike with my pack 80% or more of the time, then I'd prefer the Stratos 24 over the Talon 22. 
  • Its design is geared toward hiking more than the Talon 22. Equipped with more pockets: Top panel zippered stash pocket, front panel zippered storage pocket and front panel vertical zippered pocket. There isn't much difference between their volumes, but you always want to have your equipment organized on a hike. This will make a noticeable difference. 

Talon 33 vs Stratos 34 and 36

I'd recommend them mostly for day hikes with occasional overnight camping trips with ultralight gear. 

• Talon 33: More streamlined (no sleeping bag compartment and fewer exterior pockets) than the Stratos 34 and Stratos 36, but it offers more comfort.
• Also, unlike the Talon 22 and the Stratos 24 and 34, the Talon 33 is loaded from the top, which allows easier access to your main compartment when you take your pack off and put it on the ground. 
  • Yes, I'm listing the Talon 33 under this heading and not under the previous one - but don't let that mislead you. The overall design (no sleeping bag compartment and few pockets combined with small size) of the Talon 33 allows you to camp overnight only if you're packing ultralight gear. Otherwise, I'd probably stick with the Stratos 36 for an overnighter and go with the Talon 33 just for day hikes. 
• Stratos 34 (no women's counterpart!): I can't think of any situation I'd recommend this pack over the others mentioned in this post. Its design, in my opinion, is flawed, for lack of a better word. Its intention is unfortunately stuck somewhere between day hiking and overnight camping. The thing I find the most strange is that it's large AND offers front panel loading at the same time. 

• Stratos 36: The most suitable pick here for overnight trips. Mind you though, I'd still like a (much) larger volume for trips longer than one night. Check out the Stratos 44 instead. 
  • Versatility-wise, it's a no-brainer that the Stratos 36 is the winner here. If you aren't sure about the ratio of your day hiking trips to your overnight camping trips, it's better to be safe than sorry. Some will say that the more space you have, the more you'll pack, but that's usually not the case for me. I think having extra space but not needing it is better than needing it but not having it - especially when you're spending $200 and more on your backpack. 

Talon 44 vs Stratos 44

I'd mostly recommend them for weekend camping and hiking trips.

• Stratos 44: The most suitable pick here for this. I'm pretty sure that the Stratos 36 won't suffice in this case. 
  • Besides the obvious volume increase, everything else stays the same going from Stratos 36 to 44. The benefit of the additional side access becomes a complete game-changer here. 
• Talon 44: I'd probably get the Stratos 44. 
  • Unlike the Stratos 44, the Talon 44 does not offer side-access to the main compartment (as is the case with the entire Talon & Tempest lineup). If you're like most people, having additional access points to your pack's main compartment is important when embarking on an overnight or multidaytrip. Not having to dig through all your belongings just to repack them can save a lot of time and frustration when on trail. 

Conclusion

Both the Talon and Stratos are fantastic Osprey backpack lines with different design intentions. The Talon | Tempest line is generally more comfortable but less feature-rich than the Stratos | Sirrus line. 

I'd recommend the Talon 22 for multiple high output activities, the Stratos 24 or Talon 33 if you'll be day hiking only, the Stratos 36 for overnight camping trips and Stratos 44 for weekend trips.