Outbound Talaroo Backpack, 65-L

For many years I was a dedicated owner of the Outbound Talaroo 75 L backpack. I loved just about everything about it and was disappointed when the company dissolved and the brand name was sold to Canadian Tire. The 75 L pack is no longer made so I bought the 65 L version. It is not the same quality at all. The zippers are cheap and didn't work very well right from the outset. The cover sack that rolls up and is stuffed inside the pocket at the bottom of the pack is also flawed. The Velcro stopped working within months of the purchase not just on my pack but the one my wife purchased too. We have to use a large safety pin to keep fastened inside the pocket.

I own this and is aging and wanted exact replacement as it is excellent for loading and packing groceries on a monthly basis. It is a versatile all-round pack and hope it will be reinstated

I think this may be a good hiking back pack...but the vibrations of ATV and Snowmobiles seem to auto open pockets. I lost over $500 in equipment out the bottom of the pack. I had opened the inside floor (which is not fully attached on all sides) to be able to carry more stuff. The bottom zipper vibrated open. On other trips the zipper pulls tend to vibrate open if not at the bottom end of the zipper. Also the small pack should always have a strap attached as this zipper also works loose. Only had it a year. I like the pockets and the removable day pack. For one trip I had two packs attached together as a 130L pack which worked quite well.

Stood up to European travel on and off bus. I liked the detachable bag. Loved the way it opened to put things in. Shoe pocket was so nice to have.

I love this pack. I bought it in 2009 and have lugged it all over the world and it's still in amazing condition. It's been on small week long trips to places like Yellowknife, Halifax, & Mexico. It's also been on a 10-week backpacking trip across Europe, a 3-week long trip across the Balkans, a 10-week trip in Central Canada and it's just about to embark on a 3-week trip to Asia. The suitcase style front loading makes it really easy to pack and find things (with the extra time saved I watched a lot of people struggle with their top loading packs by taking everything out to find one thing at the bottom of the bag). I love how the two main compartments unzip when you want to accommodate something long. I really enjoy how easy it is to zip up the straps when going on a plane or train. I also like that the colors are subtle and yet I've never had any trouble identifying it on a luggage carousel. I also use the 22L day pack on a regular basis when I'm at home because I love it's size and pockets so much. It's small and yet always seems to carry everything I need. I am 5'2 and I find this pack fit my frame better than any of the others I've tried (I tried a TON of packs in the search for this one!). Because of my small stature, I find I never wear the two pieces zipped together (it's too bulky and throws off my balance). I like to wear the little one on my front and the big one on my back. I find I can be very comfortably balanced with a lot of weight for a long period of time. My ongoing love affair with this bag inspired two of my friends to buy them for their honeymoon backpacking adventure last year and now they are in love too.