Customer Reviews Osprey Radial

I was looking to upgrade my day backpack for school and work. Great bag for my laptop and very confortable.

Been using this bag for my daily bike/train/bike commute. It is perfect. Most of the time I have a single laptop and misc gear. On some days, I can have two laptops. I also use it for overnight business trips. The expansion zipper makes for enough room to cram a light jacket and extra shirt and toiletries along with my gear. This pushes the limit of the bag size, but sure beats carrying a second bag. Osprey continues to impress me with their quality builds. I've been banging this thing day in and day out for about 15 months and it is holding up perfectly.

My old Radial 26 wore out after a few years of daily rough use. Initially I had replaced it with a Syncro 20, which is a fine pack, but it doesn't have nearly enough space for my commute. I need a backpack that fits lock and cable, a couple of thermoses, a food container or two, socks, underwear, laptop, sundry items... Luckily, I was able to find this Radial. It's larger than the old 26, but that's barely noticeable when on my back (it does block a little of my view over the shoulder, but not much), and that also means it has all of the space I need, and then some. The reason why I didn't buy this pack before the Syncro is because I couldn't find it! The packfinder has no "commuter" option. The shop dropdown menu has no "commuter" option. So I was looking at "cycling" packs instead. Osprey would do well to add a very clearly visible "commuter" category to their site.

I have the older style Radial 26. Use it 3 to 4 times per week for commuting anywhere between 30 and 60km a day. I have recommended this bag to a few friends and at least one has bought one. It feels heavy when you pick it up, but the design is such that it doesn't feel heavy when you put it on. To be fair, I have my laptop and my work clothes (including shoes) in the bag for my commute so it's going to be heavy regardless. The tensioned mesh layer which sits on your back makes it comfortable and breathable. Previous backpacks used to be soaking wet with sweat after the commute, only the straps on this one get sweaty. Whoever designed this bag is definitely uses the product, it so weel though out. All the right pockets inall the right places e.g. a built-in retractable cord in the side pocket for keys, waterproof cover tucks into pocket on the bottom. I could go on. Improvements: 1. Lighter: Maybe the new one at 1.5kg is lighter. I don't know how much mine weighs (I'll still replace it with the same, when the time comes, regardless) 2. Brighter: even reflective. Black is dark and you need to be seen on a bike. The rain cover is yellow but reflective panels on the bag would help. 3. Niggly issue: the plastic piece for tightening the rain cover in place digs into your back. Humour: the front buckle has a built-in whistle....useful if you crash at sea!!!

This thoughtfully designed pack carries all of my gear well, and I really appreciate the two easy access pockets on the side for carrying a snack, phone, or other necessity that you might need to grab while pedaling your bicycle. Your bicycle. I would like to see the next version of this pack, and both this traditional zip model and a roll-top model. Osprey, if you do make a roll top version of this pack in 2022, please send me the prototype first! But seriously though...

So far I love this bag. I've had it for a few weeks and have been using it on my daily commute whether by bike or if I'm just driving in to work. A couple reviews mention the fact that the shoe compartment takes up space in the main compartment which is a fair criticism, however, for me the usefulness of having a place to put shoes and dirty clothes separate from everything else in my bag is huge. I like that you can expand the bag when needed and the other little features just really bring this bag together. I'm excited to try this out as a carry on and on other trips once things get back to normal.

This pack will hold a full change of clothes plus work shoes. The pack stays in place while riding. Love the kickstand feature. Also no sweated back with the sling. The only thing I would add, are some tabs to hold while zipping up full compartments.

I bike commute 5 miles one way, 10 miles total, almost every day. I used panniers for the larger volume and I didn't feel there was a well-designed bike-specific backpack that could carry everything I needed for work. This pack has done it! I've been bike commuting with this backpack for about a month and it's exceptionally functional. My favorite features are the "stand up" on its own, the very well ventilated backside and the expandable zipper.

Fantastic backpack and I notice a huge difference comoared to the old backpack I used to have. Having a dedicated backpack that is also great for biking makes a strong difference. I mentioned a con that a 15 inch laptop doesn't sit perfectly in the dedicated laptop area, by this I just mean that there is room for the laptop to sink a bit lower in the bag but the design of the bag keeps it elevated a bit. I'm writing this more for Osprey's feedback than anything, it really makes no noticeable difference for my 15 inch Macbook.

Before this pack, I had a Radial 26 from late 2015. I'll note a few observations as a previous Radial owner as well as some product details not mentioned on the webpage. I've also included some more pictures of the pack's insides. The resting height of the shoulder rest can be adjusted to five possible positions (see P(icture)7 and P8) with one inch between each position. This could be helpful for those with smaller torsos or for those who just want the pack to sit higher. The side edges of the mesh are significantly more rigid due to the added material and padding. The designers appear to have tried to find a balance between ventilation, comfort, and support. I have a feeling this design will ensure the mesh doesn't touch the back of the pack as much and allow for better cooling. Since Osprey doesn't provide much information on the dimensions of the three compartments, please see P1-4. The front compartment is ~5.5" deep, the middle compartment is ~20.5" deep, and the main compartment is ~16.5" - 19.5" deep (the rain cover adds about 3"). For those concerned about the size of the shoe pocket, see P5 and P6. My size 13 hiking boots had no problem fitting in the shoe pocket:; there were still ~4.5 inches of depth remaining. Some people may be able to fit two or perhaps three pairs, given small enough shoes. Other pockets-of-note include the front elastic mesh pocket, the water bottle pouch, and the side zipper pocket. The front elastic mesh pocket is very different from previous Radials, specifically in that 1) there's no clip for a U-lock and 2) it's about 12" deep. The water bottle pouch does not have an elastic band to hold the bottle, though one could be attached if desired. The side zipper pocket does not have a keychain like the 2018 model. Overall, this seems to be a great successor to the Radial line! My only issue is the reduction of the quantity of small pouches. I will likely purchase an organizer to hold my smaller items.

My sister gave me a commuter pack for X-Mas, but it did not have enough pockets so I exchanged it for the Radial 26 - what a great decision. I work with a FinTech firm in NYC and cycle-commute everyday, all-year. The pack is stylish enough for me to take it to client meetings with banks and hedge funds. When I travel, I can now use this pack for hiking instead of taking a second pack, or using something that is not designed to be worn all day long. I think my favorite features are the kickstand, the key pocket, and the phone pocket at the top. But I really think Osprey thought of everything - well maybe one thing I would add - in the front pocket I would like pen/pencil pockets in addition to the small zippered pocket.

I have been using this every day for just over a year and I have loved it. My main mode of transportation is a an electric bike and this backpack works great for bike travel. The air flow on the back is great. The built in rain fly has saved me several times. Over all I think that this bag is very well thought out and I would buy it again if I needed to. My only wish is that the 26 was more like a 28 liter as I would like just a hair more room but then again I am a boy scout and tend to carry more than I need to.

The new Radial backpack is a much improved version of the old radial. I'm very impressed by the multitude of practical features including the lock holder, helmet attachment, kickstand and especially the side pocket with the ingenious extendable key attachment - one of my main peeves about the old radial was the lack of a compartment that was easily accessible without taking the pack off.

It will be my favorite backpack for all my outdoor adventures! Very much attracted by its features and design. The fabric and color are excellent too!

Great for biking in town! The gap in the back for air, the fact that it stands alone, tke spring key thing, Good design! Best pack sack ever!

I use this pretty much everyday to ride to school and work, had it for about 8 months and I haven't looked back! Works well in wet weather with the in-built rain cover, fits really well with hip (could be more supportive) and shoulder straps. The metal frame inside has worn the fabric a little bit but no holes as of yet (fingers crossed). Sits upright when set down which is an awesome feature, and has a massive capacity for all my books, computer, work gear & emergency bike tools. It also sits away from my back so I don't sweat as much, I would highly recommend this pack for someone looking for a cycling commute pack. maybe not an everyday pack, but certainly something to consider.

Bought this one as I opened the first generation and was very very pleased with it. I was hoping this would add the minor improvements needed to make this pretty much a perfect bike bag. But there were a few short comings and what I viewed as unwanted changes. It's still a great bag but I'll be returning it and keeping my generation one. I'll start with the negatives. First and foremost the major reaction in organization and small pockets. I'll often have a multi tool, batteries, my lights, and personal items in my generation 1. This will include my laptop charger and a mouse. The new one won't be able to accommodate half the small items I normally carry. This would force me to get an additional bag for organization. There's also a weird gap where the laptop rests that feels like if weight was applied to the laptop, say from luggage, it could break it. They also removed the divider in the main compartment. I'd have my laptop and iPad in their dedicated compartment, and a small portable monitor in the main compartment divider. They removed the elastic for securing bottles. Not sure why, I used it often for larger containers. It's great for bottles of all sorts. Now for the good stuff. The back support is even better. It feels very solid with great weight distribution. The airflow pocket is larger than before. The straps are also improved. They used some sort of elastic rope system that was a little bit too bouncy. I could fee the weight swaying around on my back often. The straps also feel a great deal sturdier. The shoe pocket is now nearly the size of the bag and can easily fit any pair of shoes I own. The previous one could barely fit a pair of sneakers. It's also much easier to access the new one. The u lock holder is a nice change. If it weren't for the snap, I would've lost my u lock multiple times from it bouncing out of the shallow pocket on gen 1. Extra depth on second compartment. It used to be separated into two small compartments

Absolutely great pack. The kickstand, key retention, top phone pocket, and shoulder harness stand out and make this backpack second to none for commuting, school, and anything you need a smaller daypack for. Only thing Osprey missed out on was the tension of the Airspeed panel on the back; it really doesn't function that well as a ventilation system because it simply compresses down so my back touches the pack when I do anything other than stand perfectly still and upright. Making this ventilation panel more like the atmos Antigravity suspension is the only thing that could be improved upon. Still worth a buy though just maybe a slight tweak for the next model.

First off the positives, it's great quality and the ability for the bag to stand is awesome. But that comes at a high cost, this thing is massive, the suspension system adds a lot of bulk to this bag and takes a lot of additional space. I mostly use it for school but on occasion I fly and it is a big undertaking stuffing it under the seat or just moving around with it, it sticks out much further than other packs, I guess that comes with the territory. More of a note than a complaint because I didn't think of that when I got a bag with a frame.

Saving grace of the newer model, only one as far as I'm concerned - Older model had more of a Itaian Pizaz, not outlandish, some green piping, tougher construction material. Most Fsvorite, the Main Zipperwas rubberized, ensuring your stuff inside remained dry...ingenious, and soarly missed. Older model had more space, cause less silly compartments. Zipper opened up from one lower corner, all around bag, to other side, for much greater ease of access when it came to wanting to stuff the bag. This is one of Ospreys most expensive bags by size, and it just feels like they really broke away from ther original design objectives, to capture more of the urbanitecity dweller...Bring me back the old model, and just add the kick stand.

I use the bag for work. I carry a laptop, some files, and my EDC. First the plusses: I really like the pockets. The front mesh is great. The water bottle pocket mesh here is EXCELLENT and should be on ALL THEIR BAGS as there seems to be no way a bottle can fall out; this was a big selling point for me. It seems like every year the Osprey mesh gets better and better. The small front organization pocket is solid; I don't really need the depth here but I suppose it can be good for a small book. I carry my battery, sunglasses, and gum/cord in the small pockets. The main cavity is ok. I don't think the laptop padding needs to be so thick facing the interior. The other side pocket is more of a miss than a plus; I'd rather it be another water bottle pocket (coffee/tea). The big miss here is the back panel for me. The corners on the top of the back panel, the part that can't be adjusted, digs into my shoulder blades. Now I didn't actually use this at length because I did not want to incur an injury (I have before with other bags that did the same, but the Radial is "softer"). When I put it on it was very hard not to notice that it is there. Rather than risk biking with it or even use it for an extended period of time; i decided to get rid of it. I highly recommend just selling this in different sizes like most of your bags instead of one size fits all. This was so close to perfect. I realize that the flaw might only be affecting me. If it doesn't affect you then this is a slam dunk

I am a huge fan of Osprey and own over a half dozen of their bags. I previously had the first version of the Radial and loved the bag. I used it so much that is was the first Osprey bag that actually began to come apart on me. It was replaced with the newest version of the Radial. Unfortunately, the new location of the laptop sleeve will damage your computer, issues arose with mine after the first use of the bag. Specifically, the laptop is now mounted directly agains the curved wire frame with the sleeve actually forced to bend around its curve, putting pressure directly on your computer (the more items in the bag the greater the pressure). It will damage your laptop. After pointing the problem out the customer support team acknowledged there was a design flaw and was very helpful in trying to find an alternative. I'm not sure what has happened with Osprey's design team though. This is second the second Osprey bag I've had to return in the last 6 months due to a design problem. I really hope this trend does not continue. I'm posting this as I do not want anyone else to suffer damage to their computer.