Osprey Downburst Waterproof Backpack Review

I’m a sucker for backpacks. Day packs, casual backpacks, backpacking backpacks — they each serve a unique purpose. I’ve been building my backpack collection over the past few years and love having the perfect pack for whatever the day’s adventure might call for.

I split my time pretty evenly between the mountains and the sea, and was in the market for a pack that could fare well in both regions. My husband and I live half the year on Oahu and the other half in Santa Cruz, Calif., so we have lots of hiking and paddling options, and our adventures often involve rainfall.

When I heard about the Osprey Downburst waterproof backpack, I thought it might be the perfect pack for all my adventures. It’s listed as GearJunkie’s Best Rainproof Daypack in its guide to the Best Daypacks, so it seemed ideal to test during some of my rainy-day and watersport exploits.

In short: Comfortable and breathable, with a waterproof main compartment, the Downburst will keep your gear safe and dry wherever you roam. Made from recycled materials, the pack is durable and functional. For outdoor adventures that involve rain, splashes, dunks, or spray, this pack is ideal for keeping your gear dry in wet environments. It’s well organized, can take a beating, and is neatly impervious to water.

If you’re shopping for backpacks, check out GearJunkie’s guides to the Best Daypacks and the Best Backpacks.

Sizing & Straps

I love that Osprey offers its packs in multiple sizes and men’s and women’s options. If you don’t have much experience with hiking backpacks, having a gender-specific pack might not seem essential, but it really does make a big difference when it comes to getting a super-secure fit.

Additionally, the Downburst is fully adjustable. The pack has traditional shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and a waist strap, all of which are fully adjustable. To find your perfect fit, check out our guide to choosing the perfect backpack.

You may need to make some tweaks once you hit the trail. If you’re short and slim, the pack may be a tad bulky. At 5’7” and 125 pounds, I found that it fit great. 

Waterproof Construction

Many backpacking packs come with a waterproof cover. The Downburst doesn’t need one, though. The main compartment is IPX5-rated waterproof and coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane coating to ensure durability and waterproofness. 

Like a dry bag, the top of the Downburst has a roll-top design. It also has zippers that are PU laminated for extra security and weather proofing. 

To test the Downburst’s waterproofing, I secured it to the front of my paddleboard, where it received a hefty dose of splashing and small waves over the nose of my board. Much to my delight, all the contents inside the main compartment did indeed stay dry.

I didn’t encounter any rain during my testing, but our tester for the Best Daypack buyer’s guide did. They worked as a trail crew leader in Washington State with this pack. They found that, even loaded with tools and gear, the Downburst kept their gear dry through even the harshest downpours.

Taking that into account, along with my experience paddling, I’m confident that the Downburst will fare well in the rain. Osprey notes that the pack is not submersible.

So, don’t load if you’re wearing it and fall into the water. Also, if it falls off your boat or board, your gear might still get wet. This pack is not a substitute for a dry bag. But it can hold its own in the rain or when getting splashed.

Breathable

At 34 L, the Downburst is by no means a small pack. It weighs 3 pounds, 4.8 ounces, so it’s also on the heavier side.

Compared to other packs on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Daypacks, it is the second heaviest, and it’s easy to see why. The materials Osprey used in the Downburst are heavy-duty. This pack does not need to be babied.

Despite the weight and waterproof materials, I found that the Downburst is well-ventilated. To aid in ventilation, Osprey used a suspended mesh Airscape back panel. You can adjust the back panel lengthwise for a secure fit, and in my experience, it does wonders to help manage back sweat.

You’ll still sweat if you’re hiking, paddling, or otherwise working hard in this pack. But the back panel ventilation ensures you get as much airflow as possible, and the fabric is fast-drying.

Strategic Storage

The Downburst comes with an assortment of useful pockets. The large, water-resistant main compartment holds (and protects) the bulk of your gear. It’s sealed with a water-resistant zipper with a rain flap and a roll-top closure. Inside the main compartment is a small, zippered mesh pocket for important items like your wallet or keys. 

On the exterior of the pack is an adjustable compression stuff pocket. This isn’t weatherproofed. But it’s easy to access, making it a great spot to store a raincoat or jacket that you may be taking on and off frequently. If your pack isn’t packed too full, it’s also great for helmets.

A separate zipper at the top of the pack accesses the hydration bladder compartment. It has a center pass-through port right at the top of the back, near the nape of your neck. Loops on the shoulder straps keep your hose near at hand.

The pack also has two side pockets for storing water bottles or small items like gloves. Osprey designed these so that they can be accessed from the side while wearing the pack.

The design makes it easy to grab an item, pull it out, and use it on the move without stopping. Getting a water bottle back in without stopping or turning the pack around is a challenge, though. It’s a little awkward without removing the pack.

Finally, the Downburst has two zippered pockets on the hip belt. The zippers are water resistant, but the pockets themselves aren’t treated, so be careful what you store in there.

These pockets were perfect for storing small items you want on hand, like chapstick or snacks. They’re big enough to fit my cellphone, but I’d be wary of storing electronics in there on rainy days or water adventures. On top of everything else, the pack also has ice axe/trekking pole loops with bungee tie-off as well as a quick stash trekking pole attachment.

Room for Improvement

If I’m being nitpicky, I’d love it if the hip belt pockets were waterproof so I could store my cellphone without the need for a dry bag. I’d also love it if the water bottle pockets were a little easier to access while wearing the pack.

Lastly, the price. For $320, you could get a full-sized backpacking pack or even a tent. It’s comparable to some of the dry bag backpacks on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Dry Bags. Those are far more waterproof than this bag, and can be fully submerged.

However, those are primarily dry bags, whereas the Downburst is primarily a backpack. Dry bag packs won’t be as ergonomic, won’t hike as comfortably, and lack many of the features the Downburst has. So, there is a tradeoff.

Osprey Downburst 36: Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a jack of all trades hiking backpack that will protect your gear in rainy or wet conditions, the Osprey Downburst is right up your alley. It’s available in 36L (which I tested) and 26L versions for men and women. It’s comfortable to carry, is very water-resistant, and by all measures so far, is a very durable backpack.

The downburst would be overkill for someone who primarily hikes somewhere very dry, say, Arizona or Nevada. If you don’t encounter rain very often and don’t spend too much time near or on water, you might consider some of the other packs on GearJunkie’s guides to the Best Daypacks and Best Backpacks.

However, if you live somewhere where rain is a common occurrence on hiking trails, or if you spend time paddling, sailing, or otherwise adventuring in wet environments, the Osprey Downburst is an awesome choice.