Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Review

The Osprey Metron Airspeed 34’s rugged shell, expandable main compartment, helmet hook, and bike light loop make it a solid choice for commutes in any weather.

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Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Review
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Our Verdict

8.3 /10
Great info

Form

83/100

Design

87/100

Value

80/100
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Pros

  • The primary materials are highly water resistant, and the pack includes a rain cover
  • The helmet hook is easy to use and handy for stopping to shop with your bike
  • Compression straps make the pack less unruly when expanded and at capacity

Cons

  • The metal frame is large and rigid, which takes some getting used to
  • When engaged, the helmet hook can cover the front pockets
  • Some users may prefer more segmentation and less open space

Technical Details

0 %

Carry-on Compliance

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78 %

Like the Look

Polled on Instagram

  • Capacity

    34l

  • Weight (lb)

    3.34 lb (1.5 kg)

  • Dimensions

    21.3 in x 13.8 in x 11.8 in (54.1 x 35.1 x 30 cm)

  • Notable Materials

    Recycled Nylon, Meets bluesign® Criteria, PFC-free DWR Coating, YKK Zippers, Duraflex Hardware

  • Manufacturing Country

    Vietnam

  • Laptop Compartment Size

    16"

  • Warranty Information

    All Mighty Guarantee

Buying Options

Brand
Price
Deal
Osprey Logo
$210.00 
Amazon Logo
$210.00 
REI Logo
$210.00 

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Full Review

Explaining a cycling commuter bag to someone who doesn’t commute on a bike can be challenging. Is it a daypack? A laptop bag? A travel backpack? Well, to keep things simple—yes, it is! This pack can do all those things thanks to its durable and water-repellent materials, an adjustable harness system, and a large main compartment. That said, just because it can do these things doesn’t mean it’s the best option for all or any of them. In this review, we’ll explain who this pack is for and how it performs in the areas that matter most. Let’s dive in!

External Components

The pack is crafted from bluesign® approved 100% recycled 500D high-tenacity nylon with a DWR coating that doesn’t use PFAS. Overall, the materials are durable, reasonably lightweight, and were created with sustainability in mind.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Solo
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The pack works well for commuting on a bike.

The zippers and plastic hardware don’t have as much sustainability literature as the fabric; however, they’re from brands that we trust and have lasted years for us in the past, which is an argument for sustainability in general. YKK zippers and Duraflex hardware are two of the best in the business, and they continue their reign of superiority with this pack’s design.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Back Helmet
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The helmet attachment is handy.

The frame sheet is one of the first things you’ll notice when you pick up the Osprey Metron Airspeed 34. It’s highly structured and has a built-in kickstand so that the pack almost always stands up, no matter how you pack it. The only time the kickstand failed was when we put a large bicycle helmet on the pack’s exterior, and a heavy bicycle lock was in the front pocket, too. With one or the other, it wasn’t an issue. This is handy for commuters because you never know when you’ll need to set your pack down for a quick flat fix. If you prefer a pack with less structure, we wouldn’t recommend this one. Still, we think the frame sheet adds to the comfort of the pack overall, which we’ll get into later.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Full Angled
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The kickstand is helpful.

The pack’s bottom has a zippered compartment that houses the included (and attached) rain cover. This is easy to throw on at a moment’s notice and was handy in testing, as it protected our gear from unruly Michigan spring weather. This compartment has a drainage hole, too, so you can shove the cover back inside when the sun comes out again. Before stowing the cover inside the compartment, we recommend shaking it thoroughly to get as much water off as possible.

A bike light loop on the bottom of the pack’s front face is handy for attaching safety lights or accessories. When not in use, it blends nicely with the rest of the pack.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Top Handle
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The pack is sleek.

Around the midpoint of the pack’s front face, near where the zippered secondary compartment ends and the stretchy mesh one starts, there’s an elastic band with a skinny, wide piece of dense plastic attached. When not in use, this hides between the pack’s folds. When you reach your destination, you can weave the plastic end through the holes in your helmet to attach it to the pack so you don’t have to carry it around. Whereas we dig this feature, we miss wandering around at sporting events and bars with our bike helmet at our side like a weird item in Super Smash Bros.

The pack has a handle on the top, which is handy when you need to grab your pack quickly and hit the road. It has some padding but lacks aeration; however, we found it comfortable enough to handle the task.

Fit Notes

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Side By Side
Left: Eric Hergenreder, Height: 6’0″ (183 cm), Torso: 18.5” (47 cm) | Right: Kristyne Defever, Height: 5’5” (165 cm), Torso: 17” (43 cm)

The Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 has one of the most unique back panels we’ve had the privilege of testing at Pack Hacker, and that’s not some nice way of us segueing into a few paragraphs about how Osprey swung and missed—this thing is rad!

The back panel is 3D tensioned and lifted from the back of the pack, enabling the mesh material to breathe constantly, especially while moving quickly on a morning commute. Essentially, it’s suspended from the rest of the pack, so a constant airflow hits your back to keep you cool. This suspension adds the feeling of shocks, like your bike had in middle school, to soften the blow of any hard hits you take from potholes or jumping curbs. It’s supportive but airy, and we dig that, even if it isn’t traditional.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Walking Side
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The pack is comfortable.

In addition to being unique and comfortable, it’s easily adjustable. It features a molded ladder system with four slots for raising or lowering the harness system to find a height that works perfectly for you. Or, if you’ve been riding a while and want to switch things up, it’s quick to change the notch that you’re in to get some extra comfort, even if it’s short-lived because you realize that you’re just out of shape and it isn’t the backpack’s fault a mile later.

The shoulder straps are well-padded and have mesh for breathability. Plus, they’re curved to conform to your chest, though your mileage may vary. They include load lifters, which are handy for a heavy pack, and have an adjustable sternum strap on a rail so you can make micro-adjustments while on the ride. The hip belt lacks padding or aeration, which we usually scoff at because it isn’t as comfortable; however, for a commuter pack, we admire that decision because it keeps you cooler than if there were a bunch of extra material hugging your hips, even if it can dig in if overtightened.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Harness System
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The back panel.

The harness system takes some time to get used to, but after countless rides around Detroit with this pack, we found it incredibly comfortable.

Inside The Pack

This pack expands from 24 to 36 liters with an easy-to-use zippered expansion system. Once you’ve opened the zipper and made the main compartment larger, two exposed compression straps make it easier to cinch the pack down. The compression straps make it harder to zip the expansion zipper closed again; however, we feel it’s worth the extra work to get a few extra liters and the ability to cinch it down, too.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Side Pocket
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | One of the side pockets.

The bag has two side pockets, both crafted from mesh. One has a zippered closure, and the other has a taut opening. You can fit a travel water bottle on either side (think between 12 and 16 ounces). If you’re cycling, you may prefer something larger to stay hydrated, which won’t fit here.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Front Compartment Wide
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The front pocket.

There’s a large pocket on the front of the pack without a topper that works well for a bike lock or rain jacket. The top has a small loop to help open the pocket, though the opening isn’t hard to find. Items will fall out of the pack if turned upside down, and if you attach your helmet to the bag, this pocket becomes challenging to utilize.

Above that, there’s a small zippered compartment with no organization. This works well as a storage area for sunglasses, snacks, your phone, or wallet. Similar to the pocket below it, using this one can become challenging, depending on how you attach your bicycle helmet to the front of the bag and the length of the helmet you use.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Front Pocket
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The top pocket.

The front admin panel is where the real party starts. The zipper opens roughly a third of the way around the pack, but the pocket takes up the whole front face of the bag, so you can stow a lot of gear here. Accessing gear on the bottom of the pack can be challenging because of the limited access, so we recommend stowing larger items in this area. The back wall has six pockets. Four are medium-sized, with two crafted from mesh and two from liner material—all four work well for a phone, wallet, passport, hard drive, or similar-sized items. The other two are best for a pencil or stylus, with one crafted from mesh and the other from the liner material. There’s a key clip here, too, which ensures you have a safe place to stow your keys so they don’t spill out into the middle of a busy intersection.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Mesh Pockets
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | There’s a lot of organization in this pocket.

The main compartment has a similar one-third style opening but has less organization. The back wall features a large packing-cube style organizer designed to carry shoes, though you can use it for clothing, too. On the front wall, there’s a laptop compartment and a tablet sleeve, both of which are raised from the floor to add extra protection, and you can fit laptops up to 16 inches here. When we first got this pack, we felt that the laptop compartment was oddly oriented and that the pack would feel back-heavy; however, in testing, it’s hardly noticeable. When the pack is empty, you may notice it more.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Shoe Compartment Wide
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | The main compartment.

The rest of the space is wide open. There’s a lot of it, especially when you expand the pack, so we recommend using a tech pouch, packing cubes, and other organizers. We prefer a pack like this for commuting because it enables you to use the pack for a multitude of things instead of only having an organization that works for one thing, like travel or work. Because of the open space, you can use this pack for commuting to work, traveling, a road trip, hiking, going to the gym, or a combination.

Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 Walking
Osprey Metron Airspeed 34 | Time to hit the road!

This pack does it all for two-wheeled road warriors and holds up while doing it!

Usage Timeline

Initial Usage

Condition: Excellent

  • The materials feel rugged enough to handle commuting and travel
  • The pack utilizes solid materials from top to bottom
  • We’re curious about how comfortable the adjustable harness system is
2 Weeks of Use

Condition: Excellent

  • The materials and hardware have held up well—no signs of wear so far
  • The rain shell does a great job protecting our gear from water, though we have some long-term durability concerns. So far, so good!
  • The harness system is comfortable and robust
mm
By Eric Hergenreder
Updated April 25, 2025
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