Last Updated: March 29, 2023
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Osprey Tempest 20 Review: A Versatile Women’s Daypack

FEATURED PRODUCT

Osprey Tempest 20 Backpack

The Osprey Tempest is an incredibly versatile backpack that is made for a women’s build to ensure maximum comfort. It is the ideal daypack for day-to-day life and performs excellently on the trail on day hikes and mountain biking trips too. Add in the durability, ease to use, great organization, plus Osprey’s lifetime warranty, and you have a backpack of note. View Latest Deal

Have you been on the hunt for a comfortable women’s daypack that is versatile enough to do it all? Well, the Osprey Tempest 20 Daypack might just be what you have been waiting for.

This backpack transitions from carrying your laptop, lunch, and gym gear during the week to being the perfect backpack to take a day hiking on the weekend. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Join me as I run through everything you need to know about this awesome backpack in this Osprey Tempest 20 Review. We’ll take a look at materials, durability, comfort, value, and lots more.

Pros

  • Incredibly durable build
  • Comes with Osprey’s lifetime warranty
  • Versatile for daily use and hiking
  • Comes in a range of sizes
  • Super adjustable for a comfy fit
  • Lots of pockets to keep your gear organized
  • Good external attachment points

Cons

  • A little expensive

Product Rating

86Overall Rating
Materials & Durability
9 /10
Comfort
9/10
Organization & Accessibility
9/10
External Gear Attachment Points
8/10
Value for Money
8/10

Product Information

  • Type: Women’s Hiking Backpack
  • Frame: Internal Frame
  • Frame Material: Polyethylene
  • Sizes
  • XS/S: 18 liters
  • EF XS/S: 18 liters
  • M/L: 20 liters
  • EF M/L: 20 liters
  • Weight
  • XS/S: 1 lb. 12.5 oz.
  • EF XS/S: 2 lbs. 1 oz.
  • M/L: 1 lbs. 14.6 oz.
  • EF M/L: 2 lbs. 3 oz.
  • Adjustable Torso: Yes
  • Fits Torso Length
  • XS/S: 13.5-17 inches
  • EF XS/S: 13.5-17 inches
  • M/L: 16-19.5 inches
  • EF M/L: 16-19.5 inches
  • Fits Waist/Hips
  • XS/S: 26-40 inches
  • EF XS/S: 40-70 inches
  • M/L: 28-44 inches
  • EF M/L: 40-70 inches
  • Material: Recycled 100D & 210D high-tenacity nylon, 420HD nylon packcloth
  • Number of Pockets: 6 + main compartment
  • Hipbelt: Yes
  • Hipbelt Pockets: Yes
  • Reservoir Compatible: Yes
  • Dimensions
  • XS/S: 17 x 10.5 x 8 inches
  • EF XS/S: 17.3 x 10.6 x 7.9 inches
  • M/L: 19 x 10.5 x 8 inches
  • EF M/L: 19.3 x 10.6 x 7.9 inches

Materials & Durability

The Osprey Tempest is built to handle life in the city and in the outdoors. The backpack is made from recycled 100D & 210D high-tenacity nylon on the body and then 420HD nylon packcloth on the bottom.

Nylon is naturally water-resistant, which is an added bonus and a tough material all around. The body is tough enough to handle the odd scrape on rocks and sharp bushes while remaining light to make hiking a little easier.

Osprey’s idea to make the bottom out of 420HD nylon packcloth was a great one as this is where backpacks experience the most wear. You don’t have to worry about leaving this daypack on rocky terrain while you take a break on your day hike.

Overall, it is a very durable pack and it comes with Osprey’s lifetime warranty meaning they will repair or replace the backpack if anything ever goes wrong.

Carrying Comfort

This Osprey Tempest backpack is built with all features one needs for maximum comfort on the hiking trail.

Not only does it come in multiple sizes to match your body, but it also comes with an adjustable torso length, frame, padded shoulder straps, back panel, sternum strap, and hip belt.

The frame provides an excellent amount of support while you’re hiking. The frame actually moves with you and is even more efficient when you get the torso length correct and secure your gear with the side compression straps.

The AirScape back panel is both padded and breathable so you can hike in comfort without overheating. The shoulder straps are also padded, breathable, and adjustable for great fit and comfort too.

The hipbelt design is also excellent as it is soft and padded against your body while also distributing load very well. It doesn’t rub or get uncomfortable and it breathes so you don’t overheat.

When you throw in the sternum strap, the load is incredibly well distributed and the Osprey Tempest is super comfy. You can load up a full pack and hike all day without any worries.

Organization & Accessibility

The Tempest comes with a ton of awesome features that make it a pleasure to hike or commute with. The backpack has all the pockets one could hope for plus they are all in the right places and are super accessible.

The main compartment is large enough to store everything you need for a day hike and it comes with an internal mesh pocket for valuables. The dual-zippered panel access makes it very easy to get in and out of the main compartment too.

You will also find a separate storage pocket at the top of the backpack that is ideal for anything you might want to get to quickly.

Other great pockets on this day pack include an external stash pouch for a waterproof jacket and a pocket on the left shoulder strap that is great for a small camera or your phone.

You then have hip belt pockets on each side which are great for snacks, maps, GPS, or anything else you might want to refer to or get at quickly.

The daypack also features two side stretch-mesh pockets that also double up as water bottle pockets. There is also an external hydration sleeve for a hydration bladder.

As you can see, between the hip belt pockets, external hydration sleeve, and all the other pockets, keeping your gear organized and accessible with the Tempest is a piece of cake.

External Attachment Points

In addition to all the great pockets, the Tempest also features some excellent attachment points.

The Lidlock helmet attachment is an awesome attachment point, especially for mountain bikers. It comes with a bike helmet clip that holds your helmet in place, stops it banging around, and is super quick and easy to use.

The Tempest backpack also comes with “Stow on the Go” trekking pole attachment points between the shoulder straps and the hip belt. They work well and it is comfortable enough to hike with your trekking poles stored.

In addition to this, there is also a tuck-away ice axe attachment with bungee tie-off and a blinker light attachment so you can stay visible in the dark too.

Value For Money

The Tempest retails for around $150 and while this might seem expensive for a backpack, I think it is awesome value for money for the Tempest.

When you consider how durable and comfortable the backpack is along with its excellent versatility, adjustability, and design features plus a lifetime warranty, it is certainly worth $150.

When compared to similar performance day packs, the Tempest comes out about average in price while outperforming more expensive daypacks in a number of ways.

Rating

With a score of 86/100, the Osprey Tempest has done exceptionally well against our rating system.

The only categories that this particular pack lost points in were – value for money and external attachment points.

It didn’t lose many points, but it is rather expensive (still worth it though) and it could have some webbing for extra attachment points.

Verdict

If you are looking for a women’s backpack/daypack that can truly do it all, then I highly recommend the Osprey Tempest 20.

Its support system makes the pack incredibly comfortable to hike in, its durable build ensures it can handle life on a rugged trail, and all its easily accessible pockets make using this pack every day an absolute pleasure.

There is a place for everything as well as attachment points for your bike helmet, ice ax, hiking poles, water bottles, hydration sleeve, and more.

Osprey has done a great job with the Tempest, it is perfect for day hikes and it comes with a lifetime warranty, so they will always fix or replace the backpack if it ever breaks or falls apart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fit an Osprey Tempest 20 backpack?

Fitting your Osprey Tempest 20 backpack is quite easy but you need to do it all in the right order, here is how.

  • Adjust the torso length until there is no gap between your back and the pack, and keep adjusting until you get to this point
  • Fix & tighten the hip belt next as this provides the most support, position it above the upper half of your pelvis bone
  • Tighten the shoulder straps so they are comfortably tight
  • Finish with the sternum strap so it pulls the shoulder straps into your chest removing load from your shoulders

How much does a 20L Osprey Tempest 20 weigh?

The 20L Osprey Tempest weighs either 1 lb. 14.6 oz or 2 lbs. 3 oz depending on the model you buy, the EF (extendable fit) model being the heavier version. Overall, it is a pretty lightweight day pack.

Does the Osprey Tempest 20 have a rain cover?

No, the Osprey Tempest does not come with a rain cover, but it is a little water-resistant being made out of nylon.