Osprey Metron 24 Pack Review

The Osprey Metron 24 Pack is a cycling pack with dedicated features to make your time on a bike easier. That said, how well does it work when you aren’t on a bike, whether you just dropped your bicycle off at the rack and are heading to the office or decided to take the pack on a weekend trip? Let’s dive in and find out!

External Components

The primary pack material is recycled nylon, which feels semi-soft but has high durability. It’s bluesign® approved, meaning it’s certified sustainable, which we dig. That said, just because it’s sustainable doesn’t mean you need it! A sustainable traveler only buys what they need. Luckily, with Osprey’s durable materials and capable hardware, its gear is likely to last a long time.

The buckles and plastic adjusters are from Duraflex, a solid brand. They are durable and easy to pop open and snap closed. In testing, they never opened or closed when we didn’t want them to, and the design is flat, which has a lower profile than a regular buckle.

The zippers are from YKK, the best brand in the business. They are smooth, easy to open and close, and have held up admirably, even under the wear and tear of cycling through Detroit. In testing dozens of Osprey products, they almost always use high-quality materials like YKK zippers, so it’s par for the course.

The pack has compression straps on the front, which help cinch the pack down and can be used to add extra gear. The two compression straps on the front are an Osprey staple we’re used to on their travel packs, so we’re happy to see them here. This feature lets you make the pack smaller, ensure no items have space to move around, and add extras like a packable rain jacket, Bluetooth speaker, or sandals.

There’s also a helmet attachment, handy for cyclists who lock their bike up on the street. Sure, it isn’t likely that somebody will steal your helmet if you lock it to your bike. But if that happened, you’d probably be bummed, so you might as well bring it with you. The helmet attachment makes it easy to attach your headgear to your bag, so you don’t have to carry it separately into work or the coffee shop.

The pack has a top handle, which is padded but lacks ventilation. It’s comfortable, and the handle stays out of the way when you aren’t using it, which we dig. That way, it won’t get caught on anything and is more aerodynamic for the speedster commuters among us.

A bike light loop on the bottom of the pack’s front face is handy for staying safe when cycling home at night. If you aren’t using it, this doesn’t look out of place, which we dig. Despite a handful of cycling features, this pack blends in while traveling or in the office.

There’s an included rain cover, which was essential when testing this pack in Detroit. It’s been unseasonably rainy, and on multiple bike rides around the city with the Osprey Metron 24 Pack, the rain cover never let any water inside the bag and was easy to unpack and stow on the go. It zips into a small pocket on the bottom of the pack, making it easy to bring along.

Fit Notes

The back panel is well aerated and has a lot of padding, which is essential for a proper cycle commuting backpack. It keeps your back cool, even on hot days. That’s not to say you won’t sweat, but it’s significantly better than other packs we’ve tested. The back panel is ribbed, which helps promote airflow, too.

The back panel is malleable in a way that conforms to whatever shape your back contorts to while cycling, but not in a way that feels unsupportive or bulgy. It has enough support to stay comfortable without feeling like you’re riding around with a piece of plywood on your back.

The pack has load lifters, which help move weight around and are handy for those riding, walking, or traveling with a heavy load.

The shoulder straps have similar padding and aeration to the back panel and are curved to mold to your body, making for a comfortable experience. There are a few attachment loops to secure your sunglasses and other gear.

The sternum strap is on a rail, so you can make micro adjustments and change the height quickly while cycling, which some may like for its versatility and ease of use. We did notice it moving around slightly during testing, which wouldn’t have happened if the sternum strap had been on a ladder. That said, it didn’t move enough to have to readjust it all the time.

The hip belt is very skinny and lacks padding and aeration. Though it isn’t the most comfortable feature, we prefer a minimalistic hip belt for cycling so it doesn’t cause your hips and stomach to sweat. The lack of padding isn’t ideal for long-haul hikes, though.

Inside The Pack

The pack has two side pockets where water bottle pockets traditionally sit. They’re crafted from stretchy mesh and identical except for the opening. One uses a zippered closure, and the other lacks a topper. The pocket without a closure works well for a water bottle, as you can access it more easily, and the other works well for an umbrella, a non-water drink for the office, or other gear.

A front mesh pocket works well for a snack or quick-use items like a packable rain jacket or bike extras. There’s no topper, so even though the elastic is taut, it’s not wise to put anything expensive here, as it could tumble out.

There are two secondary compartments on the pack’s front face. The top one is large, taking up a large portion of the pack’s front face. It has four large pockets (two crafted from the bag’s liner materials, the other two from mesh) and two pen pockets. The rest of the pocket is open space and works well for flat items. This pocket has the most organization of any of the pockets and works well for organizing your tech, phone, wallet, keys, books, and other daily-use items. You can use this as your tech pouch in a pinch, negating the need for an extra kit.

The other secondary compartment is small and lacks organization, making it a solid choice for sunglasses or a similarly-sized item. A snack is a nice choice here, too, because you might get hungry carrying around such a rad daypack.

You must undo the compression straps for the best access to the main compartment. You can access the top of the zipper track without undoing them, giving you access if you leave the zippers on top, but you can’t access the bottom of the compartment this way. If you pack smart, with items you might want on your ride on top, this works well. If not, you’ll have to open the whole pack, which isn’t easy while cycling.

The back wall of the main compartment has a laptop storage area. There are also two slider pockets—one well-padded for your computer and the other for an additional device, like a tablet or Kindle. Additionally, you could stow a notebook, book, or other flat item here.

On the front side of the compartment, there’s a shoe pouch, which is handy for commuters who have clip-in pedals and want to crank it on the way to work. Or, if you live somewhere rainy, it’s nice to bring an extra pair of shoes just in case, without stinking up your whole bag. If you’re using this as a travel backpack, you can use it as a built-in packing cube. If you don’t want to use the cube, you don’t have to, and it doesn’t eat up much space. In testing, it doesn’t work well for anything other than clothing-like items or shoes.

Overall, using this pack is a breeze. That said, it can sometimes feel bogged down if you don’t use all the features. They are easy to find a use for, but if you aren’t an avid cyclist, this pack might miss the mark. However, the organization is solid, and you can use the pack for weekend bike adventures, cycle commuting, hiking, and day trips.