Pack for mini mountaineers

It’s easy to get carried away with expensive outdoor kit for kids, then be faced with the grim reality that they grow out of it in a matter of weeks. But with the Talon Junior pack (the girls’ version is the Tempest), aimed at 6 to 14-year-olds, the investment for once feels justified. My little lad has only just turned 5 but once we got all the straps adjusted it fitted him snugly. A lot of the features are probably unnecessary for a kid this young (he only carried a few snacks, a spare layer and a map with him) but in a few years, when he’s lugging more gear, things like the external hydration sleeve, ventilated AirScape back panel and well padded hipbelt will come into their own. What you’re getting here is a shrunken version of Osprey’s excellent adult Talon packs, with lots of useful pockets and good features for kids that can be used away from the hills, including reflective graphics and a bike helmet attachment point. It even has an emergency whistle on the chest strap, which I quickly wished I’d never told him about!

Verdict

Made my lad feel like a proper mountaineer on Cat Bells, and should last for many years to come. USED BY Oli Reed, Trail editor USED FOR A very happy 5-year-old’s first Lake District mountain