Osprey Tempest / Talon 6L Fanny Pack Review

Bottom Line

The Osprey Tempest 6 (women’s) and Talon 6 (men’s) are ideal for sunny day hikes, offering comfort, excellent organization, and a 6-liter capacity. This is also the highest-volume waist pack on our guide to the best fanny packs. It’s great for longer excursions and saves you a sweaty back!

Designed as lumbar packs, they feature breathable padding and a mesh back panel, ensuring comfort during extended treks or warm conditions. The spacious main compartment, two water bottle sleeves, hip belt pockets, and an easy-access front stash pocket allow for efficient organization, keeping essentials like snacks, maps, and phones within reach.

While it may not be water-resistant for wet conditions, its durable design and attention to detail make it a solid choice. This pack is best suited for long day hikes or for those hiking with kids or pets, providing enough room for essentials without the bulk of a full daypack.

How We Tested

The Tempest 6 came with us on day hikes and trail rides around the Treasure Valley in Idaho. We performed durability testing with 160-grit sandpaper. Simulated rain and submersion assessed its waterproofing performance, and zippers were stress tested by overpacking and opening them in quick succession.

Comfort

Osprey is well-known for creating exceptionally comfortable packs, and the Tempest 6 waist pack (Talon 6 for the men’s version) is no exception.

Featuring AirScape ventilation and a thick, padded hip belt, this pack is designed to comfortably support weight during long day hikes. The wide, easily adjustable strap ensures a secure fit, hugging the hips snugly without shifting or riding up while on the move.

Intended as a lumbar pack, the Talon / Tempest 6 is most comfortable when worn on the lower back. While it can be spun around for easy access to your gear, wearing it as a sling bag is not recommended.

The pack’s 6L capacity is ample for day hikes, but overloading it may put unnecessary strain on the waist, especially on longer treks.

Overall, the Talon / Tempest 6 provides excellent support and comfort for its intended purpose but may not be the best choice for those seeking versatility in how it’s worn.

Durability

Built with durable 100Dx210D Wavecheck nylon, this waist pack is resilient against wear and tear. After our tests, it proved relatively easy to clean with just a bit of soap and scrubbing, and once dry, it didn’t show any noticeable stains.

The zippers function smoothly, and we particularly appreciated the ergonomic pulls, which make them easy to use even with gloves on. While the material did show some pilling during our abrasion test, this didn’t compromise its performance or structural integrity—only the aesthetics were affected.

A major benefit of choosing an Osprey product is their robust warranty. If your pack doesn’t meet expectations or suffers damage, Osprey offers free repairs or replacements. Made with ultra-durable Dyneema fabric, this pack performed exceptionally well during our abrasion test. It showed only slight fuzzing and no holes or broken threads.

Features

The Talon / Tempest 6 stands out for its thoughtful range of features. Quick-access hip pockets on either side allow you to easily reach small items without needing to spin the pack around. Dual bottle holders ensure you stay hydrated on the trail, with secure bungee loops to prevent your water from spilling out when bending over. External compression straps help keep the pack compact, preventing the 6L capacity from bulging.

One of the Talon / Tempest 6’s only downsides is its lack of waterproofing. While it passed the rain simulation without allowing moisture to reach the contents, it failed the submersion test. Once moisture infiltrates the fabric, it traps water inside, making it unable to drain or dry quickly.

This pack took the longest to dry, and we had to dump out water multiple times as it pooled in the bottom. While it performs well in light rain, it’s not the best option for heavy downpours.

Organization

The Talon / Tempest 6 excels in organization, earning top marks for its well-designed storage options. It features a large main compartment with a mesh divider, an additional front zippered pocket, a key clip, hip pockets, bottle holders, and compression straps. With these thoughtful details, the pack offers ample space to hold everything you need for a day-long hike or bike ride. The variety of compartments allows you to stay organized and easily access your gear on the go.

However, one downside to all these packing options is that the pack can become quite bulky if every pocket is filled. While the dual bottle holders are a fantastic feature, packing two bottles can make the main zipper compartment a bit more difficult to unzip, limiting easy access to your gear.

Despite this, the Talon / Tempest 6’s organizational features make it an excellent choice for those who prioritize convenience and accessibility during outdoor adventures.

Should You Buy the Osprey Men’s Talon or Women’s Tempest 6 Fanny Pack?

For day-long adventures like trail riding or hiking, the Talon / Tempest 6 is an excellent choice, offering plenty of space to carry all your essentials. However, with the highest price tag in our lineup, it’s not necessarily aimed at casual users. It’s a better investment for those who plan to use the pack frequently or over an extended period.

Given its lack of waterproofing, the Talon / Tempest 6 is better suited for hikers who primarily tackle fair-weather conditions and may not be the best choice for those in rainy climates. If you regularly carry extra items for hiking companions—such as children or pets—the Talon / Tempest 6 excels in maintaining comfort while helping distribute the additional weight. Its thoughtful design ensures you can comfortably carry the load for extended periods.

Overall, while it’s a premium option, it offers significant value for frequent hikers or those who need extra capacity.

What Other Fanny Packs Should You Consider?

Maybe you don’t need 6 liters of space in your waistpack. Below are some options that still give you quite a bit of storage for a fanny pack. For even more tested and reviewed favorites, head back to CleverHiker’s complete guide to the best hiking fanny packs.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Review: For those who want to be able to organize their gear, but prefer a pack with more versatile wear options – the Versa has several storage options and is comfortable worn in a variety of ways. While still priced as a premium product, this pack is waterproof and dries quickly. 

Cotopaxi Bataan Del Dia 3L Review: An all-around pack with 3L of storage, the lack of organization allows you to stuff the main compartment full and is surprisingly spacious. While still not waterproof, the Bataan comes at a much more affordable price tag making it a good option for casual use. 

Thrupack Eco Summit Bum Review: Staying in the realm of fannys with more capacity – the 2.5L Summit Bum fits a lot in a neat and tidy package. The rectangular shape allows packing larger items and can hold a water bottle in addition to essentials and snacks. For a sleeker look on trail while still being able to pack what you need, the Summit Bum is a great option.