Osprey Escapist 32

The Osprey Escapist 32 is light, well made, stable and stylish, and performs well at what it's designed for: multi-purpose load-lugging.

The first thing that struck me when I picked up the pack was how light it was for such a large volume model (32 litres in M/L back length, as tested). It's mainly aimed at the commuting and mountain biking crowd, but also riders looking to undertake multi-day epics. It's a slick looking pack, with subtle reflective markings on ripstop nylon and stretchable nylon mesh, all attached to a semi-rigid back panel.

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Comprising three separate zippered compartments plus one large and two smaller external mesh pockets, it also sports two zippered pockets on the waist belt and a pocket for sunglasses/GPS/very small phone on one shoulder strap.

Of those three compartments, the large one at the front of the pack contains two elasticated mesh pockets plus a loop to hold a pump. A slightly larger compartment – big enough to swallow a 17in laptop, with room left over for smaller items – sits behind that, and contains a useful partition that can be zipped in place, splitting the compartment in two (Osprey suggests it's useful for separating dirty gear). Finally, there's a smaller compartment at the top of the pack. All three are accessed by top zips, and the largest one can also be accessed from a zip at the bottom, so you don't have to rifle through from the top.

The shoulder straps, hip belt and back panel are all well padded and comfortable, and I found the pack very stable when heavily loaded and commuting by road; it was only when I was riding over particularly technical off-road routes that it wobbled somewhat. On my 20-minute commute, it comfortably lugged a heavy laptop and other gear. It also faired brilliantly as the main bag during a two-week unsupported off-road epic in the High Atlas in Morocco, reinforcing Osprey's claims that it's a solid all-rounder.

The pack can be compressed easily using a set of two straps on each side, and the hip belt and shoulder straps allow ample adjustment too, as does the chest strap. The chest strap even comes with an integral whistle for mountain emergencies.

There's an additional pocket for a 3 litre bladder, sitting between the back panel and the three main pockets, and the slippery material lining the pocket is a nice touch, making it easier to slide a full bladder into an already loaded pack than is normally the case. It runs the length of the back panel.

Speaking of which... the back length is adjustable by about 10-15cm. The shoulder straps meet in a fabric 'yoke' Velcro'd onto the top of the back panel. To adjust, you unstick it, then reattach it higher/lower to the top of the back-panel. There's a video here.

>> Check out our guide to the best cycling rucksacks here

The horizontal, slightly curved channels between the padding of the back panel don't seem to operate quite as well as some packs I've used with vertical channels, but it's still pretty good, even after many hours in the saddle riding hard. A mesh section sitting free from the padding and channels helps, so although there is some sweat it's perfectly manageable when wearing quick-wicking clothes.

An elasticated clasp ('LidLock') holds a helmet securely in place, and there's a loop to attach a small rear light, plus a bright yellow raincover housed in its own zippered pocket. The raincover is attached to the pack and held in place with a drawcord, though it's a less successful method than packs I've used which have hooks. Occasionally the raincover slipped off, even when the drawstring was pulled tight – not something I've experienced with raincovers attached with hooks. (I don't generally rely on raincovers anyway, preferring to keep everything in roll-top drybags.)

Without the cover, water beads pretty well on the ripstop nylon, and I didn't notice any working its way through the material itself, but heavy rain did sometimes get in through the zips, which aren't the waterproof type. It's a light pack, though, and adding waterproof zips would add weight, so it's a compromise I guess.

While £90 isn't cheap for a pack, I would wholeheartedly recommend this one. It comes with an Osprey warranty for the 'reasonable lifetime' of the product, and if any damage is down to normal wear and tear or Osprey deems the pack to be beyond its reasonable lifetime, then it says it'll offer to repair the pack for a 'reasonable price'). Personally, I don't mind paying extra for such peace of mind. And these packs can currently be picked up online for around £67.

Verdict

A great pack, able to lug heavy loads with ease