Osprey, Skimmer 22

Gear Review: Hydration Backpack

Company: Osprey

Product: Skimmer 22

Disclaimer: While I began to do some further research on this daypack, I discovered that Osprey is  no longer selling this particular model. However, I still felt inclined to review it as they still carry the Skimmer in general. 

Carrot bought me the Skimmer 22 last year for our winter road trip as I did not have a decent sized day-pack for our adventures. I had already given away my Osprey Poco AG and to be honest, that is all I had known for five years! As T grows older, we have the opportunity to downsize. Therefore, getting a more compact backpack was a convenient and much needed move.

The Skimmer is great for organization as it has diverse pockets throughout. I am never short of a spot to place my items, ranging from my keys and ID all the way to my First Aid kit. However, the fact that I no longer carry T on my back does not mean that he is  already a self-sufficient being. This means two things: 1. Yes, I still carry some of his stuff, 2. We quickly outgrew the Skimmer 22.

Osprey carries this model in bigger sizes, so I am sure that going one size bigger will solve our storage challenge. Do not get me wrong though! This does not mean that smaller daypacks are not comfortable or useful. I have turned my Skimmer into my designated traveling backpack and I could not be more satisfied. I would not recommended it for parents with small kids going on long adventures though. UNLESS! Your kid’s backpack is big enough/light enough for him/her to carry during long hikes (T gets tired after the first hour)

Recommendation: Women, short to medium hikes/traveling.

Specs for Skarab 24¹ (as stated on Osprey):

• Scratch-free Zippered Stash Pocket – Heat embossed scratch-free zippered stash pocket keeps electronics or shades safe
  Panel Access – Wide panel access to main compartment to see all of your gear at a glance
• External Reservoir Sleeve – External reservoir sleeve simplifies refilling and protects pack contents from spills. Hydraulics® LT 2.5L reservoir is included. International version does not include reservoir.
• Side Compression – Upper side compression straps keep loads stable
  Stretch Mesh Side Pockets – Dual side stretch mesh pockets provide additional external storage options
• Trekking Pole Attachment – Easily attach trekking poles to the front of the pack using the loops at the bottom of the pack in conjunction with the convenient buckle system at the top of the pack
• Stretch Mesh Front Pocket – Large front stretch mesh pocket for quickly stashing gear
• Front Slash Pocket – Zippered front slash pocket with key clip keeps gear organized and gives peace of mind

MSPR: $100 (NOW on SALE $65)

Web Site:

¹Model comparable to Skimmer 22, which is no longer available