The Osprey Downburst 36 is a highly water-resistant pack that uses Osprey’s comfortable AirSpeed suspension, making rainy days (almost) a pleasure to be on trail.
The Downburst has the features I expect on an Osprey pack, but with a twist: it’s highly water repellent.
Overview: Osprey Downburst 36
MSRP:
- $320 for the men’s 36-liter pack and the women’s 34-liter pack
- $300 for the men’s 26-liter pack and the women’s 24-liter pack
Weight:
- 3.37 pounds for the men’s 36-liter pack
- 3.272 pounds for the women’s 34 liter
- 3.2 pounds for the men’s 26 liter
- 3.1 pounds for the women’s 24 liter
Fabric: 100% recycled nylon fabric with a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) treatment that gives the pack high water resistance and a rubbery feel. The 210D main fabric and 420D bottom fabric should hold up to years or use.
Osprey’s AirSpeed suspension makes the Downburst a joy to carry.
About the Osprey Downburst 36
The Downburst 36 builds on Osprey’s comfortable, breathable AirSpeed suspension by using a water resistant fabric that helps keeps gear dry during rainy hikes. The polyurethane-laminated external zippers provide extra water resistance. The Downburst’s fabric has a stiff, rubbery feel, but it works: My gear stashed inside the pack’s main compartment stayed dry during hours of rain. The outer front pocket and hip belt pockets, along with the water bladder compartment, are water resistant, but not waterproof and provide limited water protection. The Downburst isn’t ultralight, but Osprey’s comfortable suspension negates the extra weight on my back.
The Downburst 36 has room for my ultralight gear for a warm weather two-night, three-day hike.
Carrying Capacity
Main Compartment: The Downburst has a unique top-loading compartment that’s divided into two sections, both that close with a zipper: the compartment closest to the pack frame holds a water bladder or can be an easy-to-access stash compartment for rain gear; the outer compartment has a roll-top closure with an outer zipper flap for extra rain protection. There’s enough room for a well-equipped day hike or to hold minimal gear for a three-day trip, including a BearVault 450 bear can.
Front Pocket: The front pocket is solid fabric rather than mesh. The fabric is water resistant and has a top flap intended to seal off the pocket. My experience is that the flap doesn’t seal tightly enough against the main pack body to keep water out of the pocket.
Internal Mesh Pocket: The zippered mesh pocket in the pack’s main compartment is a good place for stashing car keys, a wallet, or any other small gear that I want to stay secure and dry.
Side Pockets: Room for one thin or one wide water bottle in each side pocket. Bottles can be stored upright or holster-style using the side pocket opening.
Hipbelt Pockets: Large pockets with water-resistant fabric and zippers. A big plus for me: I can fit my iPphone 11 inside the pockets.
Gear Straps: A fixed bottom loop and upper adjustable loop are good for storing trekking poles
Water Bladder: A water bladder fits inside a mesh pocket in the back compartment of the pack. A clip at the top of the compartment holds the water bladder and the hydration tube runs out a small hole at the top of the compartment.
Bear Canister: My BearVault 450 fits horizontally at the top of the pack’s main compartment, above the frame.
How Much Storage?: I can fit all my ultralight gear for a warm weather three-day trip inside the Downburst 36, including a bear can.
It’s easy to adjust the suspension for a range of torso sizes.
Comfort
Fit: The Downburst has five adjustment slots to move the pack up and down to accommodate different torso sizes, and the hipbelt can be tightened or loosened for different waist sizes. I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall and have my pack at the second slot from the top.
Suspension: Osprey’s AirSpeed suspension provides superb comfort and ventilation. The pack rides comfortably on my back without any pressure from gear stored inside. One downside I found while wearing the Downburst in the winter is that the frame’s ventilation, while welcome in hot weather, lets cold air circulate against my back.
Load Lifters: A plus for keeping the pack’s weight off my shoulders and redistributing it to the hip belt.
Water Resistance
Fabric: The TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) fabric treatment has a stiff, rubber raincoat feel, but it works to keep gear inside the pack dry.
Main Compartment: Everything I stored in this front section of the pack stayed dry during hours of rain on multiple days. The pack closes with a zipper that’s covered by a flap, and then rolls down and closes with side straps for a tight seal.
Water Bladder Compartment: The compartment runs the length the pack but is narrow, limiting its storage capacity. It’s a good place for a water bladder or gear I want quick access to. The compartment closes with a zipper, and does not provide full water protection.
There’s plenty of room for snacks inside the hipbelt pockets.
Front Pouch: The pouch’s fabric is solid with a small flap at the top of the pouch cover, and uses straps that seal the top of the pouch against the pack’s main body. This creates a water-resistant seal that keeps gear inside mainly but not entirely dry. This is where I store gear that I don’t care if it gets a little wet, such as a water filter. The pouch has bottom holes for water to drain out.
Hip Belt Pockets: The pocket material is water resistant, but not fully waterproof. Gear inside got wet during rain.
Zippers: All of the pack’s zippers do a good job of repelling water, but because of the treatment used on them they are stiff and require a bit of a tug to close. They are good at keeping out moisture, but not a steady rain.
Shoulder Straps: The mesh shoulder straps dry quickly. There’s an adjustable loop on one strap for what Osprey calls “stow-as-you-go” for trekking poles, but I prefer to hang my satellite communicator there. Two loops high up on the shoulder straps hold hydration bladder hoses. There aren’t any attachments for accessory pockets.
There’s room at the top of the pack for my BearVault 450.
My Take
My first thought about the Downburst is that it feels like a rubber raincoat, with stiff and heavy fabric. But after loading up the Downburst and taking it on trail I forgot about the fabric and enjoyed Osprey’s superbly comfortable AirSpeed suspension. And when the rain came I was further impressed by the Downburst’s water resistance. The main pack compartment keeps gear dry even during a heavy rain. The other storage pockets are good at keeping out light moisture but not water from a heavy rain.
Downburst Pros
Water Resistance: The Downburst 36 provides excellent water protection for gear in the pack’s main compartment.
Comfort: The AirSpeed back panel is comfortable and ventilated.
Easy to Adjust the Frame: The Downburst has five adjustment points to dial in the frame for a comfortable fit.
Warranty: Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee is legendary, and the company says it 100% covers accidental damage: Any Pack, Any Reason, Any Era.
Downburst Cons
Balancing the Load: Stuffing the main compartment with a lot of gear creates a bulge that intrudes on the space in the secondary inner compartment and the outer pocket, and lessens the capacity of those storage areas. Because the main compartment is the most waterproof storage area I put the bulk of my gear there.
Nowhere for Drying Gear: Packs with front mesh pockets provide a space to store wet gear that can dry out in good weather. Wet gear doesn’t dry in the Downburst’s solid fabric front pocket.
The two side pockets can hold a water bottle stored upright or holster style.
Overall Value
Why would I recommend buying the Downburst? The $320 price tag for the 36-liter Downburst puts it in line with other water resistant packs with a similar capacity, but well above the price of a comparably sized pack without water resistance. It’s possible to buy a less-expensive pack and line it with a plastic bag, but if you’re tired of hassling with a bag that can tear and won’t stay put inside your pack, the Downburst is a good choice for a comfortable pack that keeps your gear dry.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.
