Osprey Packs Switch 26 Daypack

Just the right size for a day of snow play, the Osprey Switch 26 daypack is ideal for in-bounds skiing, backcountry snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country ski touring, you name it. Available in three sizes to best match your torso length, this rucksack caters to the needs of everyone from the extreme terrain rider to casual alpine skier. The main compartment features separate pockets to keep wet snow safety gear away from spare clothing and food, while a mesh helmet pocket on the top lid provides a convenient location to store headgear. For steep climbing or long walks back to the car, StraightJacket compression straps double as a snowboard carrier, plus the Osprey Switch 26 daypack offers A-frame and diagonal ski carry straps too. The SnowShed backpanel keeps snow from accumulating on the backpanel, a nice feature for this pack because it has a unique backside entry to the main compartment. The top pocket also offers a goggle storage sleeve and the hipbelt has two pockets for quick access to snacks, lip balm, cell phone, and other necessities. And to keep pace with the latest outdoor innovations, the Osprey Switch 26 daypack has insulated tube routing through shoulder strap for cold weather use of your favorite hydration bladder. For a smaller version, be sure to review the Osprey Switch 16 daypack.

Key fabrics: 420 denier H/Diamond, 300 denier poly, 210 denier Nylon Oxford
Backside entry to main compartment
Wet/Dry pockets to separate clothing and food from snow safety gear
StraightJacket for load compression and snowboard carry
Ice axe loop, diagonal and A-frame ski carry
Hydration compatible with insulated tube routing through shoulder strap
Dual hipbelt pockets for handy access to necessities
Mesh helmet pocket on top lid
Goggle sleeve inside top pocket
SnowShed backpanel
Capacity: 1,500 cu. in. (24 l) in small, 1,600 cu. in. (26 l) in medium, 1,700 cu. in. (28 l) in large
Weight: 2 lbs. 14 oz. (1.3 kgs.) in small, 3 lbs. 1 oz. (1.38 kgs.) in medium, 3 lbs. 4 oz. (1.47 kgs.) in large

11 Reviews - Osprey Packs: Switch 26 Daypack

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Louis - 2009-03-03

Very versatile with alot of useful features.
Feels very comfortable to wear, even when loaded up with a lot of stuff. Like the low profile so you don't feel like you're being pushed so far forward on the ski lift that you're going to fall off. Highly recommend this pack!

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Anonymous - 2009-01-07

Great pack!
Excellent pack for snow sports from skiing to snowmobiling. Snow equipment compartment hold the largest of shovels and probes with plenty of room to spare leaving the other part of the pack dry and organized. Plan to use this pack all year round for everything.

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Anonymous - 2008-11-17

New Buyers stop looking
I have literally spent months trying to find the best backpack for my skiing needs, i have looked at a variety of stores, at a variety of brands, and spent lots of time talking to people. I am a relatively new buyer, and i have no buyers remorse. I bought the bag for skiing in the Alps/CO/UT and it does its job and more so. If you are buying your first bag, you can stop looking- the Osprey Switch 26 has the perfect size, weight, design for any type of adventurous skier.

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11 Reviews - Osprey Packs: Switch 26 Daypack

Write your own Review

Louis - 2009-03-03

Very versatile with alot of useful features.
Feels very comfortable to wear, even when loaded up with a lot of stuff. Like the low profile so you don't feel like you're being pushed so far forward on the ski lift that you're going to fall off. Highly recommend this pack!

Was this Osprey Packs Switch 26 Daypack Review Helpful? - Yes - No

Anonymous - 2009-01-07

Great pack!
Excellent pack for snow sports from skiing to snowmobiling. Snow equipment compartment hold the largest of shovels and probes with plenty of room to spare leaving the other part of the pack dry and organized. Plan to use this pack all year round for everything.

Is this Handy? - Yes - No

Anonymous - 2008-11-17

New Buyers stop looking
I have literally spent months trying to find the best backpack for my skiing needs, i have looked at a variety of stores, at a variety of brands, and spent lots of time talking to people. I am a relatively new buyer, and i have no buyers remorse. I bought the bag for skiing in the Alps/CO/UT and it does its job and more so. If you are buying your first bag, you can stop looking- the Osprey Switch 26 has the perfect size, weight, design for any type of adventurous skier.

Is this Useful? - Yes - No (1 of 1 liked this review)

Anonymous - 2008-04-01

excellent
I bought this pack for a ski trip to CO replacing an older clamshell style pack I've had for years. It took a little getting used to with the separate openings for wet and dry storage but after packing it a few times its great. I love the side pockets for camera, snacks etc. It compresses well and is great to ski with. It's solid, comfortable and stays in place extremely well. Stop for a break and unzip the back panel to make a great seat.

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Anonymous - 2008-02-17

Great Gear
This is a great back country backpack. It does very will in carrying skies and in all you great. Packs down very nicely.

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colorado 1 - 2007-10-02

the ultimate pack!
I bought the Osprey Switch 26 when it first came out. I use it all year, and it is my favorite pack (and I own several packs). It is an organizer's dream, and carries super comfortably. Whether rock scrambling, snowshoeing, or hiking, it fits like an extension of your body. Super durable, and stable. Just the right size, it cinches down tight for small loads, or you can extend it out to carry more stuff. It keeps your water cool in hotter weather, so it really is a four season pack!

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Anonymous - 2007-03-12

Perfect.
Osprey got it right with this pack. I bought it for my brother who uses it on the mountain as well as on campus. It has all the features and then some that you need in the back country. He can't stop talking about it.

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Anonymous - 2007-02-14

Great features, rugged design
I love all the pockets and compartments in this pack. This really allows for good organization. The carry system for skis and snowboards is nice and allows for good options. Perfect size for my backcountry day trips. Looks like a nice rugged design and should hold up well. I have a larger pack from Osprey and love it as well, great company, great pack.

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Anonymous - 2008-04-28

Great Ski Pack
A full featured ski pack. Keeps your gear organized and secure. Comfortable fit. Light weight geeks should probably look somewhere else. Osprey make great packs, a bit over designed sometimes but every feature has a purpose.

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Anonymous - 2006-10-28

good pack, pricey
Good pack, relatively light weight, good zippers, lots of organization. The backside entry takes some getting used to since you have to take the pack off to access your gear. But it is useful for keeping wet stuff away from your fleece, etc. Make sure you get the right size (s,m,l) for your torso. Kinda pricey, but it's served me well in some trips to the bc; mainly short hikes.

Was this Osprey Packs Switch 26 Daypack Review Helpful? - Yes - No (0 of 1 liked this review)

Lizard Head - 2008-02-22

Okay Backpack
This backpack is a very nice backpack, but it has some major flaws. It is NOT like the 36 where you open the top pocket and everything is there. The 26 has two seperate pockets which make it confusing. Also when you are skiing with this backpack it is not cool at all, it just is heavy on your back. If you are just a resort skiier there is no need for this backpack. This backpack was good for packing all my stuff for the train and the airplane though.

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Sizing Chart

Back Measurement Step 1 - Pack Sizing

All Osprey packs, save the transit bags, are available in multiple sizes to fit a range of torso lengths. To find your torso length, have a friend measure your back along the spine from the level of your iliac crest (the top of your hipbones) to your C7 (the knobby bone at the base of your neck).

Step 2 - Hipbelt Sizing

To determine your hipbelt size measure around your hips, not your waist. A properly fitted hipbelt rides centered over the hipbones and needs to be very snug; after all it will be carrying the bulk of the pack's weight. The padded portion should wrap well around your hips, leaving a gap of 3 to 6 inches between the tips of the pads when securely tightened.

Crescent Series
Luna Series
Torso Length	Pack Size	Hip Measurement	Hipbelt Size
> 22"	XLarge	> 36"	XLarge
20-22.5"	Large	33-37"	L or WL
18-20.5"	Medium	30-34"	M or WM
16-18.5"	Small	27-31"	S or WS
14-16.5"	XSmall	< 28"	WXS

Aether Series
Ariel Series
Torso Length	Pack Size	Hip Measurement	Hipbelt Size
> 20"	Large	> 36"	XLarge
18-20.5"	Medium	33-37"	L or WL
18.5"-	Small	30-34"	M or WM
-	-	27-31"	S or WS
-	-	< 28"	WXS

Exposure Series
Switch Series [55+5, 40+5, & 25+5]
Torso Length	Pack Size	Hip Measurement	Hipbelt Size
-	-	> 36"	XLarge
> 20"	Large	33-37"	L or WL
18-20.5"	Medium	30-34"	Medium
< 18.5"	Small	31"	Small

Atmos Series
Stratos Series [34, 32, & 24]
Torso Length	Hip Measurement	Pack Size
> 20"	> 33"	Large
18-20.5"	30-34"	Medium
< 18.5"	< 31"	Small

Stratos Series [18 & 12]
Switch Series [18 & 14]
Daytool Series [Focus, Flux]
Torso Length	Hip Measurement	Pack Size
> 18"	-	M/L
< 18.5"	-	S/M

Waypoint Series
Torso Length	Hip Measurement	Pack Size
> 20"	> 33"	Large
18-20.5"	30-34"	Medium
< 18.5"	< 31"	Small

ErgoPull

Nearly all Osprey hipbelts use an exclusive ErgoPull design. It creates mechanical advantage to provide extra leverage in cinching down the hipbelt. The ErgoPull design also draws tension along the top and bottom of the belt, not through the center, so it distributes pressure more evenly over the padding and relieves direct pressure on the hipbones.

Harness Step 3 - Harness

Osprey Crescent & Luna, Aether & Ariel and Waypoint packs offer interchangeable shoulder harnesses. Harness sizing usually corresponds to pack size, but your best bet is to try one on. A properly fit harness should terminate 2 to 3" beneath the armpit. Webbing should not touch the body. By breaking the hook and loop connection and sliding the harness up and down the backpanel the torso length can be adjusted up to 3". (see illustration).

Men's	SM	MD	Large	XLarge
Women's	WXS	WSM	WM	WL

Step 4 - Overall Fit

Once you have the correct size pack, harness and hipbelt, and the torso length set properly, it's time to put some weight in the pack (20 to 30 pounds of well distributed weight will do) and dial in the fit. First, snug down the hipbelt and harness. Connect the sternum strap (A) - position it about 2 inches below your collarbones and snug it down lightly. Finally, tighten the load lifter straps to draw the load solidly against your back. The lift straps (B) should come off your shoulders at a 45 to 60 degree angle in Osprey's ReCurve and Ethereal Suspension packs. In other models these straps serve more as compression straps and ride flatter; they may even angle downwards.

In a good fit, there should be no pressure points and no gaps between your body and the pack. With Osprey's ReCurve packs, final tweaking may involve custom fitting the aluminum stays to your back.