Osprey have a rucksack – and size – to suit all kinds of activities, including walking and cycling. The acclaimed brand has also thought about every kind of detail required in a rucksack and makes rucksacks to specifically fit men and women. The Osprey Sirrus 36 is created for women and has 36l of space. There is a men’s Stratos version.

Features of the Osprey Sirrus 36

• Women’s specific fit
• AirSpeed trampoline suspended mesh back system
• Sternum strap with emergency whistle
• Stretch mesh side pockets with InsideOut compression
• Top lid access
• Twin zipped hip belt pockets
• Stow-on-the-Go walking pole attachment
• Integrated & detachable raincover
• Zipped lower sleeping bag compartment
• Fixed top pocket with dual zipped compartments
• Internal hydration sleeve
• Internal key attachment clip
• Removable sleeping mat straps
• Side compression straps
• Single ice axe loop
• Weight : 1.25 kg
• Maximum dimensions : (cm) 70 (l) x 36 (w) x 31 (d)

Phew! That is a lot of features in one medium-sized walking pack. I am amazed by all the details that Osprey add to their packs and, in fact, they are all very useful and well thought out.

Testing the Osprey Sirrus 36 walking rucksack

The fit is brilliant. Women generally have slimmer shoulders and waists and shorter backs when compared to men. They also have chests, so all these factors and assets are considered when creating the shape and design of the pack. It works perfectly. From the moment I used the pack it was very comfortable. I love the mesh back system because it keeps the pack away from your back so air can circulate in an often sweaty area of the body, yet it still feels comfortable and secure. The padded shoulder and hip straps are fantastic and the sternum strap allows you to have additional pack support even if you are well endowed in the chest area. The pack fits neatly on the back and offers lots of comfort for walking, even when it is full of kit. This is the type of rucksack that could be used for day hikes or overnight trips, if you are good at minimalist packing. Even so I managed to fit in:

• A sleeping bag, handily pushed into the lower zipped compartment.
• A sleeping mat rolled up and attached to the outside lower part of the pack.
• A lightweight one-person tent, packed into the main upper part of the rucksack, along with spare clothes, a waterproof jacket, food and stove.
• Toiletries, placed in the zipped pocket on the lid of the rucksack.
• Water bottles in the outside mesh pockets (although could have made use of the internal bladder compartment).
• Walking poles attached to the Stow-on-the-Go system.
• Bits and pieces, including GPS gadget, compass and mobile phone in the hip pockets.

What I like about the Sirrus 36

The fit and comfort when carrying a full pack. The back is very comfortable and the shoulder and hip straps give a snug fit and stability. Compression straps so that if you have packed less you can make the rucksack smaller and more compact. The split compartments in the rucksack, between the lower area and main area, is very handy in a pack of this size. There is an internal zip divider that could be opened up if you need more rucksack length, for example, for longer tent poles. I also really like the large crescent shaped zip that allows you to access the main compartment without needing to unclip the lid. The dual hip belt zipped pockets are brilliant. They are a great size and allow you to stow items that you want to be handy, such as your mobile phone. Stow-on-the-Go system means no more “on and off” to store your trekking poles, because you simply pass the poles through the two elasticated loops for an easy hands-free solution.   The Osprey Sirrus 36 is £90.