Osprey Packs

Quasar 26L Backpack

Excellent construction made with high

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Excellent construction made with high quality materials. Very comfortable straps. 2 places for water bottles with secure straps.

So far so good. I

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] So far so good. I honestly never heard of Osprey until I did extensive research before pulling the trigger on the buy. The lifetime warranty and great feedback from multiple sources got me on board and I purchased the quasar 26 to replace my daily work backpack. As soon as I converted everything over and threw it on I was sold. My daughter is traveling abroad so I already know where I'm shopping for her gear. Osprey hands down.

Sleeker looking than the old

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Sleeker looking than the old model. Perfect school backpack for my teenaged daughter.

Great backpack

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Height:

5' 5"

Weight:

145

Used this backpack for day hiking in the rain and wind and everything stays dry. 10/10 backpack

One of best EDC backpacks

Hello! The previous comment and comparison with the TNF Recon prompted me to write a review. Osprey Quasar was never a competitor to the TNF Recon. The direct competitor for the Quasar is the TNF Jester. In my local store, the prices for these backpacks (Quasar/Jester) are almost the same. If you take a closer look, the Quasar and Jester backpacks are very similar, practically copying each other. Specifically, they both have an elastic cord on the front, identical admin panels, similar volumes (26 and 27 liters), and weigh around 0.8 kg. These urban (EDC) backpacks are suitable for those who occasionally carry a laptop and prefer not to clutter the admin panel with various items. For example, I don’t like a separate laptop panel because it significantly reduces the useful space in the main compartment. However, the Quasar has some improvements compared to the Jester. These include side compression straps, a pocket for glasses or a phone, a cool compartment for laptop, tablet, and papers, higher-quality materials (nylon instead of polyester), interesting color options, a loop for a bike light, and an admin panel that doesn’t take up space in the main compartment. So, as an urban backpack, the Quasar is very convenient. Now, let’s talk about the comparison with the Recon. As mentioned, it’s better to compare the Recon with the Osprey Nebula, and in my personal opinion, the score is not in favor of the Recon =). I was also amused by the comparison of waist belt widths for hiking (20mm vs. 25mm). Seriously? =) Honestly, I don’t quite understand why people choose the Recon for hiking. Without a proper waist belt, it will always cause shoulder pain, as even a simple 50mm (2 inches) wide belt doesn’t work as well as a hiking waist belt. Additionally, the Recon is 30% heavier (0.4 kg) than the Quasar or Jester, which is equivalent to my flashlight, knife, notebook, pencil, lighter, and tissues (EDC items). I forgot to mention that the admin panel in the Recon also significantly eats space from the main compartment, and when there’s a lot inside, accessing the main compartment becomes difficult and inconvenient. The oval shape of the Recon is also not in its favor; the useful volume of the main compartment in the Jester and Osprey is greater than in the Recon. Due to Recon's curved shape, it couldn’t fit a rectangular box or six 1.5L bottles in packaging film, which fit in the Jester or Quasar without issues. In summary, the Recon seems excessive and heavy for city use, too small for trips (better to buy the Nebula), lacks laptop bottom protection, and has a thin waist belt for hiking. Perhaps the Recon is a compromise option for an all-purpose backpack, but in each situation or case, it will be outperformed by the more comfortable Quasar/Jester/Nebula/Zulu. Thank you for your attention! :blush:

The reason I am in love with Osprey Packs

My first pack. Used as both a work pack and hiking pack. It can handle gear of all kinds and is sturdy enough to throw down a mountain accidentally. Still have her all these years later

Good backpack, minor issue.

The backpack has held up well after using it for three years daily. The small issue is that the rear mesh is abrasive on my winter jackets, and they all show wear on the lower back area.

All around great backpack!

I purchased the Blueberry colored Quasar and it is brighter than the website depicts which was a pleasant surprise! I was looking for a medium size backpack that holds a lot and this fits the bill. 2 large storage areas, smaller pockets and organization for other items, plus a fleece lined front pocket for phones/glasses. I do not like a backpack with a ton of pockets because it just leads to me digging around too much in search of items. It is not too large for my female frame and the backpack is light weight, which for a female is a plus. It does not feel cheap in any way. Only negative trivial detail is the logo looks a bit like it will rub off easy since it is just printed on. The ink looks "weak". Would have preferred a stitched on label, or at least a heavier print.

The perfect all-rounder.

I own the previous model Quasar (the ""24/Seven"" series) but i dont think much has changed other than some minor aesthetic changes. I travel a bit for work, commute around the city and enjoy the occasional weekend campout. It also goes on holiday with me. It goes everywhere, packs everything, its flexible, versatile and looks good. Its very comfortable and practical. I appreciate the laptop section, and that it doesnt go all the way to the bottom of the pack so it leaves a bit of padding in case the bag is put down roughly or dropped. It has well thought out storage areas for chargers, glasses, papers and these areas are easy to get to. The zips are good quality and the zip 'handles' are easy to grab. The straps are good quality and comfortable. If i had to be critical, the external bungie elastic sometimes snags up on door handles and branches etc, but its not really a big deal. It can accommodate a Camelbak style water bladder but wasnt really designed for it. If the bag had an internal hook or something it would be amazing. All in all i couldnt recommend it highly enough.

It's just about perfect

I bought this pack for an international dive trip I will be taking. Along with everything most people pack for travel, I need to take my underwater camera, dive computer, mask, dive log, swim suit and change of clothes in case my luggage gets misdirected (that's only happened once). There's room for all of that and more. I like that this pack has an inconspicuous top carry handle along the back. The shoulder straps are comfortable and not too wide. I can get my liter hydroflask bottle in the stretchy side pockets without any problem and it looks like it will stay put. While the front adjustable cord is useful, I would rather have a shove it pocket for easy access to snacks or last minute items. I chose the blueberry color and it's nicer looking than the picture shows it. I might change the red cord to a dark blue, just personal preference.