The Osprey Tempest 22L looks like a strong pick for day hikers who want real support without stepping up to a bulkier pack. Buyer feedback points to a clear pattern: this bag feels comfortable, stable, and roomy for its size, especially for shorter users and people who want a pack that carries weight off the shoulders rather than just hanging there.
This is not the best fit for everyone. The most consistent drawback is pocket usability, especially the belt pockets, which several buyers say are too small for a phone. There is also a second decision layer here: the pack seems to work especially well for some body types, but not universally, so fit matters more than the score alone suggests.
Scorecard
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Rating | 4.70 |
| DVSS Score | 82.55 |
| Satisfaction Tier | Excellent |
| Dissatisfaction Score (DS) | 5.69% |
| Critical Dissatisfaction Rate (CDR) | 4.56% |
| Total Reviews | 232 |
Highly rated with strong buyer satisfaction. Minor complaints are uncommon and usually manageable.
Based on buyer feedback patterns, not hands-on testing. See how we score products.
Quick Take
- Best For: day hikers who want a supportive women’s pack that feels roomy without feeling oversized
- Not For: buyers who need large hip-belt pockets, easy bottle access, or a fit that works across a wider range of torso shapes
- Top Strength: comfort under load for a day pack
- Main Limitation: storage usability is not as good as the overall design suggests for every buyer
Key Practical Stats
- One buyer said it comfortably carried 4 liters of water on a desert hike.
- Multiple buyers around 5’1 to 5’3 said the 22L size fit them especially well.
- One buyer said they carried it through a 14-hour hike and still found it lightweight and manageable.
Analysis
Comfort is the main reason to buy it
The strongest reason to choose this backpack is comfort. Buyers repeatedly mention that it rides well, feels light, and shifts weight off the shoulders in a way that cheaper packs often do not. That shows up in comments about padded hip-belt support, adjustable straps, and the pack’s comfort even on longer hikes.
That matters because this is not just praise stacking. Buyers describe the comfort in practical terms. One mentioned comfortably carrying 4 liters of water. Another said a long trek barely registered on their back. Others said the frame and harness reduced neck and shoulder fatigue. The pattern is consistent enough to treat comfort as the core strength here.
It feels roomy for a 22-liter pack
This bag seems to punch above its size for day use. Buyers describe it as surprisingly spacious, with enough room for hiking essentials and, in a few cases, more. The feedback suggests it works well for snacks, layers, first aid, water, and small extras without feeling overly large.
That said, roomy does not mean unlimited. One buyer expected more pockets. Another found the design awkward in smaller sizes. So the right read is not “big capacity.” It is “efficient enough for day hiking, with enough usable room for most light-to-moderate carry needs.”
The fit looks best for a narrower slice of buyers.
A big part of the appeal is fit. Several positive reviews came from shorter buyers who said the pack felt especially comfortable on frames around 5’1 to 5’3. There is also evidence that the extended-fit version helped at least one plus-size buyer. That gives this pack a more defined audience than a generic daypack.
But the fit is not universally loved. A few negative reviews suggest the pack can feel too short, too small, or awkward, depending on body shape. One buyer over 5’4 said the women’s fit was not the right call. Another said it was designed for shorter, narrower body types. So this is a fit-first purchase, not a blind buy based on brand reputation alone.
The weak points are the pocket and access usability.
The clearest recurring complaint is not comfort. It is storage access. Several buyers say the hip-belt pockets are too small for a phone. Others mention shallow or awkward side pockets, especially for reaching water bottles on the move.
This is important because it changes who will most enjoy the pack. If you mainly want stable carry, good support, and enough room for day hiking, this issue may feel minor. If you rely heavily on grab-and-go access from the belt or side pockets, the irritation may show up on every outing. Repeated feedback makes this the defining limitation, not an isolated nitpick.
Most Likely Disappointment
The buyer most likely to regret this pack is someone who expects a universally easy fit and a highly practical pocket layout. If you need your phone in the hip-belt pocket, want smoother access to your bottle, or fall outside the shorter-frame sweet spot, this bag may feel more awkward than its ratings suggest.
Buy or Skip
Buy the Osprey Tempest 22L if your main goal is a comfortable, supportive day-hiking pack that feels roomy for its size and seems to work especially well for shorter users. Skip it if your decision depends on large belt pockets, effortless side-pocket access, or a more forgiving fit across body types.
I’d treat this as a smart pick for comfort-first day hikers, not as a universal recommendation. The review data support its comfort and build confidence more strongly than they support its pocket design or fit consistency. That trade-off is what defines the product.
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- See More Options: More Osprey Hiking Backpacks or Hiking Backpack alternatives →
