Osprey Meridian 22 Inch/60L Pack

I have had an Osprey Meridian 22" for three years now. I have taken it with me on multiple trips, domestic and international, urban and rural, for up to one week long. I consider it the best pack for light travelers like myself.

PROS:

1. Mobility The wheels and frame allow you to move it without picking it up. The concealed harness and belt are easily taken out when you wish to carry it on your back and free up both hands.

2. Detachable day pack The well-designed day pack is quite spacious and far exceeds my expectation in how much it holds.

3. Size Without the day pack, a fully packed Osprey Meridian 22" is still small enough to fit in the overhead bin of any commercial airliners. This allows one to avoid baggage check-in and all related hassles (fees, loss in flight connection, delay at baggage claim, damage by rough handling, etc.).

4. Durability and lifetime warranty Osprey stands behind their products for good. The only thing I needed replacement so far was a loop string on one of the zippers. I filled and submitted a simple part request form online, and received an email response on the same day. In a few days the replacement part was received in the mail.

CONS:

None (the relatively high price is worth it).

If you are looking for a convenient and versatile luggage that you can carry (literally) around for up to one week, this is it.

I have used the Osprey Meridian 22" for four airline trips around the country, and dragged it around Washington D.C., both above and below ground, and I am so pleased with the pack, I would buy more packs for other family members as the need arises. This is not one of the few rolling carry-ons that will fit into overhead compartments on every commercial aeroplane now. On planes used for short distances with limited overhead compartment rooms, such as Embraer jets and propeller planes, it will have to be valet checked, but, at least on American Airlines and United Airlines, there is no charge. On those planes, I usually keep the day-pack separate from the main pack and carry the day-pack on board with my laptop and Kindle DX there is room for a lot more stuff I then remove what I will be using during the flight, and store the day-pack in the overhead compartment.

It is easy to remove the straps from the main pack and I have done so. I would only use the straps if I was going somewhere well off the beaten track with rocky or muddy paths or numerous steps.

It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into the design of the pack and input from seasoned travellers has been used. Everything from the way the the zipper pulls have ends that easily interlock, the ease of detaching and reattaching the day-pack, the clips for the straps on the main pack when the day-pack is not attached that keep the straps from flapping around and further strengthens the main compartment and hides the zipper pulls, to the pocket on the rear of the day-pack that can be used for stowing the straps when not being used, and multiple other subtle but useful features are well designed and reveal the quality of the product.

I was hesitant about paying approximately double for this carry-on than other similar size carry-on. Now, I think the price is good value for money, especially when the lifetime warranty is considered.

Buy Osprey Meridian 22 Inch/60L Pack Now

I bought the Osprey Meridian 22 pack back in '03. Taken it on a lot of trips, always had it jam-packed w/ stuff. This thing NEVER let me down. The detachable day pack is great too. I've used it by itself on numerous occasions and it holds my Mac, peripherals, a jacket a camera, shaving gear, etc.

Best piece of luggage/gear I've ever owned. A great investment.

Read Best Reviews of Osprey Meridian 22 Inch/60L Pack Here

I took this bag on its first trip to DC for business in February, a month or so after receiving it as a gift. What a well designed, functional piece of travel luggage! I fit four days of clothes, extra shoes, a jacket, book, laptop, cords, camera, etc and was traveling light and fast without the hassle of checked bags. The liquids pocket is great! As are all of the padded carry handles, which are firm and comfortable. The Meridian 22 fit easily into overhead storage and got lots of looks from other leisure and business travelers toting inferior luggage. Highly recommended. While I love the detachable daypack, it should have a zipper at the bottom of the strap sleeve where you could slide it over the roller handles as another carry option. Reattaching it via zipper and straps to the main bag is a bit of a process unless you have space and some time. All in all a phenomenal piece of gear which will make travel much more of a pleasure.

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The Osprey Meridian 60L is amazing. I purchased it for a two week trip to Europe. During the trip we stayed in youth hostels, flew in airplanes, drove in rental cars and did lots of walking. My friends chose traditional backpacks. I did not want to carry a backpack everywhere. With its concealable backpack straps, wheels, and detachable daypack the Meridian 60L was the perfect solution.

I chose the 60L Meridian (with its airplane carry on approved size) over the 75L. I did not want to check my bags at the airport and risk losing them. I was a little concerned that the 60L would not be large enough to hold everything I wanted to take. The Meridian exceeded my expectations. The main bag is more like a traditional suitcase with one large compartment. Despite its small size it held an incredible amount of clothing. I packed 5 complete changes of clothing, a hygiene kit, shower shoes, silk bed liner, and a towel. I was able to pack all of it in the main leaving the daypack available for everything else. If I have a regret it is that I didn't go with the Meridian 75L. The 60L met all my needs perfectly, but with no excess capacity at all. I was forced to carry whatever I purchased in the daypack. And (as I was to learn later) I would need to check my bags on the airplanes anyway.

I discovered that in Europe you can only take one carry on bag, not two as in the US. I was forced to check my bag on all 5 flights that we took. So, my choice of the 60L Meridian was not as helpful as I had hoped. However, I am sure that the 60L size will come in handy on future trips. My friends had traditional backpacks and on every flight they had problems checking their bags. They ether had to secure the straps and put their packs into large bags or into special bins. The Meridian with its zip up strap compartment presented no issues at check in.

The large roller wheels navigated the cobblestone streets of Europe with ease. If the wheels had been smaller they would have been a real problem. The adjustable pull handle was comfortable and robust. I was concerned that I would look strange at the hostels with a rolling bag when everyone else had a backpack. I need not have worried. Most of the local Europeans traveling on holiday used rolling bags. Wearing a backpack is almost like wearing a sign saying I am an English speaking foreigner.

The backpack feature of the Meridian was a real lifesaver. It made it easer to navigate the subways, and Metro systems of Europe. In France especially they had no escalators at the Metro stations. The backpack function is very useful when you need to move fast. The backpack suspension was surprisingly comfortable and well designed. It has an ergonomic size adjustment just like a full backpack. It was fast and easy to deploy the backpack (suspension system) straps. Simply unzip the strap compartment and buckle in the bottom section of the straps to the outside of the pack and away you go. You could realistically use this bag as a traditional backpack. But the best part is that you do not need to.

The small daypack is an outstanding feature. It looks small but like the main bag it can hold a tremendous amount of stuff. It has these great pockets on the side that are very flush to the skin of the pack but can expand to hold a water bottle. It has provisions for a laptop up to 17". It has creature comforts like a padded back and a compartment for your MP3 player with an access hole for the headphones. There is even a hidden pocket behind the padded back where you can hide stuff or install a water bladder hydration system. It is an excellent bag all by itself. I kept my laptop, camera, and other valuables in it. When I did not want to wear the daypack I simply attached it to the main pack and I had one less thing to carry. On the airplane it was my carry on bag.

The attention to detail on this bag is terrific. It has a built-in retractable name tag, an easy access liquids compartment for fast inspection, integrated handles, and built-in strap for attaching an additional bag. The wheels have sealed bearings so even if you get them wet there is no problem. Honestly, when I read about these feature I thought, who cares. However, I ended up using every one of these features, even pulling my bag through puddles in the rain. A lot of thought and real world experience went into the design of this bag.

In conclusion, the Meridian 60L and 75L are the best luggage ever devised by man for a short trip anywhere you care to go. Together with its lifetime warranty the Meridian is well worth the price.