OSPREY
Tempest 20
RRP £100 Target price: £70
The Tempest shows what difference thoughtful tailoring and padding makes to a backpack. Designed for women, I found that it fit my body with a degree of ease and comfort I rarely find with a unisex backpack – often owing to the fact I reach the rather modest heights of 5’2”, and many packs are simply too long. Not only does the Tempest have an adjustable back length, it also has a wider-than-usual hip belt with luxurious padding and narrower shoulder straps. The freedom of movement in the arms that the straps allowed was a particular boon – I instantly felt more agile when it came to clambering up rocky hillsides or even just negotiating a tricky stile. The back panel is well structured and well ventilated, thanks to a layer of mesh between you and the foam padding, and I found it to be very stable with both light and heavier loads. In short, the Tempest seems just about perfect for a day’s outing wherever your whim takes you – whether its hills, mountains, or the lowlands. A men’s version – the Talon 22 – is also available. RB
INFO: Weight: 700g Capacity: 20L Extra pockets: 6 (incl. 2x bottle) Back system: Padded Contact: 01202 946444, ospreyeurope.com
Thoughtful women’s-specific tailoring, very comfy, stable, lots of pockets
Expensive, a tad heavier than some
BEST FOR: Almost any day walk you can dream up