About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the backpack, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2022.

My take

The Osprey Tempest 20 Backpack for women is a great option for day hikers. It is a good size for carrying water, snacks, and an extra layer or two for hiking, mountain biking, or skiing.

About the gear

• Model: 2022 Osprey Tempest 20
• Gender: Women’s
• Size: Medium/Large
• Pack capacity: 20L

About me

• Height: 5’6”
• Weight: Approximately 250lbs
• Experience: 22 years and counting of outdoor adventures

Test conditions

• When I bought it: November 2022
• Length of trips: Day trips
• What I carried: Two 32oz water bottles, a rain jacket, an extra fleece jacket, a first aid kit, snacks, binoculars
• Total pack weight: 10lbs or less
• Used for: Day hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking
• Where I’ve used it: Northern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, Cape Blanco State Park
• Terrain: Forest, desert
• Seasons I’ve used it in: Winter and spring so far, but it will definitely become a year-round item for me.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a smaller-sized daypack to replace my old Camelbak pack that I’ve had for 10+ years. I have a 34L Osprey that I had been using as my daypack, but I found that it was often too big for what I really needed.

Why I chose this gear

I chose the Tempest 20 because I love my other Osprey pack and was hopeful that I would love this one just as much. I had considered buying a similar size daypack from Deuter but ultimately decided that I liked my Osprey enough to buy a second one.

What I love about it

• Durability: I’ve been very impressed with the durability of this pack so far. The zippers have held up to sand and being overstuffed, and the fabric of the pack itself has been scratched with tree branches and rubbed on rocks as I’ve scrambled through slot canyons. Osprey also has a lifetime “all-mighty guarantee” against manufacturer defects and offers repair services even if they aren’t covered under warranty.
• Weight: I’m not an ounce counter by any means, but this pack feels very lightweight when it’s empty.
• Ease of Use: This pack is very easy to use. The many adjustment points are very intuitive and easy to dial in for a personalized fit, and the zippers are smooth.
• Suspension and Comfort: This pack is very comfortable. The strap and back panel are nicely padded, and it has the signature Osprey AirScape back panel for ventilation, though I haven’t used it in the summer yet.
• Adjustability: Osprey is known for their fit and many adjustments. The Tempest has an adjustable shoulder harness, waist belt, shoulder straps, and shoulder suspension to adjust the load to be closer to or farther away from my back.
• Capacity: The 20L size is perfect for my day hikes and other daily adventures. It has enough room for an extra layer, rain gear, water bottles, snacks, a first aid kit, and sometimes even a book.
• Features: The Tempest series is packed full of features. It has a key clip in the inside pocket, two side water bottle pockets, a shove-it mesh pocket on the front of the pack, a trekking pole and bike helmet attachment points, zippered hip belt pockets, and is hydration compatible.
• Other: Osprey is committed to sustainability, and this pack is made from bluesign-approved materials, including recycled nylon.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weather Resistance: The fabric is a bit water resistant but not waterproof and doesn’t come with a rain fly. I haven’t been out in the rain with this pack yet, but it did get wet when I was out in a snowstorm one day, and it would have been nice to cover my pack so I didn’t have to dry everything out when I got home.
• Organization and Pockets: This has been the biggest issue/thing I don’t like about this pack so far. My other daypacks have two separate compartments in the main pack and several pockets/organization sleeves in the smaller front compartment. This pack only has the main compartment with one small pocket on the top that shares a liner with the top exterior pocket, so it gets full very quickly. I am still trying to dial in my organization system and so far have used a few small zippered pouches to keep my smaller items from getting lost in the bottom of my pack.
• Hip Belt: The hip belt does have zippered pockets on each side, but I find them hard to zip and unzip with one hand, so opening and closing them is a bit awkward if I’m holding my hiking poles or something else.
• Pack Access: This pack has a good size zipper opening, but if my pack is full, it is hard to open it enough to reach items in the bottom of this pack.

Favorite moment with this gear

I’ve enjoyed almost every moment of adventuring with this pack so far, from beautiful bluebird ski days with my parents and some family friends to solo snowy ski days. It’s also joined me in taking a friend from New Zealand to Bryce Canyon National Park for the first time. Watching her react to seeing the hoodoos for the first time is something that I’ll never forget. I also took my Tempest to Tonto National Monument during the super bloom in April of 2023. The wildflowers were phenomenal that day (photo above!)

Value for the money vs. other options

I think the Osprey Tempest 20 is an okay value. It is a very high-quality pack, and the features and lifetime guarantee add value, but it is more expensive than many other similar packs. The Deuter Speedlite packs are a similar size and have similar features but are currently about $40 cheaper.

Final verdict

Overall, the Tempest 20 is a great day pack that is versatile and comfortable for many outdoor activities. The built-in organization is a bit lacking, but that is a small issue for an otherwise awesome pack, in my opinion.