Osprey Arcane V2 Review

45 x 30 x 22 cm

0.6kg

Recycled Polyester, Packcloth, and YKK Zippers

20L

The Osprey Arcane V2 immediately reads as a city bag: clean lines, sturdy construction and discreet styling. Despite it being a city bag, the materials have that unmistakable Osprey quality – only this time geared for the city rather than the mountains. If you’ve used Osprey hiking packs, expect a different focus: low profile rather than technical frills, but still packed full of utility.

Inside you’ll find a simple, but well thought out layout: a suspended padded laptop sleeve (fits a 14″  laptop), an internal organiser pocket for chargers and small tech, and room in the main compartment for a camera cube. Obviously this is dependant on the size of the camera cube. I currently have two from ThreePeaks I am testing, their Small and Large. The Large wont fit in at all, and their small whilst it technically does, takes up the entire lengths and leaves the sides pretty tight for other accessories.

The sleeve keeps devices off the base for impact protection; smaller items are best kept within the zipped organiser or a small pouch to avoid losing them in the corner. I usually keep a Samsung T7 SSD here so that its both safe and easy to find.

I love that the backpack includes a water-bottle pocket in the side. It’s seamlessly done and hardly noticeable when a water-bottle is in there. But it’s such an important feature. wherever you go you will need to drink at some point, so it makes sense to have something with you. I took a daypack with me to Singapore that didn’t have one, and the water bottle leaked inside and all over my contents. 

The J-zip panel is a practical compromise: it gives near-bottom access for camera cubes and soft cases while still retaining a side water-bottle pocket. It’s perfect for quick access to bulky items, but small loose items can slide their way into the far corner. This has been thought of with the organisation on the laptop sleeve, but if your in a rush and just chuck something in you may regret it later. 

I bought this pack refurbished At Osprey’s stand when I visited the National Outdoor Expo. Their main focus this year was promoting refurbished packs, every one of which had been inspected by a technician before hitting the sales floor. Buying refurbished cut the price for me substantially, and kept the bag out of a landfill. 

Osprey were open and honest about any issues that the bags may have had in the past. Everything had been repaired, so they were basically back to brand new again. My Arcane didn’t actually have any issues at all, it looks like a regular returned purchase that Osprey could no-longer advertise as new anymore.

This is the V2 Version, and there is a newer model out. But considering I paid half the price for a daypack as fantastic as this. I will happily take an older model, it’s not like bags go out of date and Osprey designs their products to last for years. 

The bag exterior is packcloth made from recycled fibres, which makes it rugged and perfect for cities, without looking technical. It resists knocks and scrapes from commuting life but will show scuffs and marks.

This does make it a pain to clean, luckily it’s black so the marks aren’t too bad, but it does get ingrained into the material. I tried cleaning at one point but it used the wrong items that have left a white mark. It will come off when I clean it using the proper items though.

The shoulder padding feels plush and comfortable to wear, so the Osprey Arcane V2 carries well even on long days. That’s important as the Arcane doesn’t have a hip belt to help with weight distribution, so heavy loads will bare all on the shoulders. I recommend packing heavier items low to the bottom of the bag to have better weight distribution. 

Osprey backpacks have one of the best reputations for ventilated backpacks. I took their Stratos with me across Australia and their Talon across Peru, and they were perfect. Sadly the Arcane doesn’t carry those features over. 

On cool days this is fine; on hot humid walks or summer commutes on packed trains I noticed heat build up on my back, and was worried about taking the bag off for fear of sweat patches. 

Now they are very different backpacks for very different audiences, but even if the Arcane had a slight influence of the Stratos ventilated trampoline system it would be incredible. I hate having a sweaty back from carrying my bag all day, and I found the foam back of the Arcane caused some heat zones. 

Osprey fits YKK zippers on the Arcane V2; some of the best in the industry. Even after months of usage they move as smooth as they did when I grabbed this bag. 

Although they aren’t lockable, due to their large size I have managed to create a lock to protect my bags contents. I used a Nite Ize S-Biner Microlock to link the two zips and stop anyone rifling through my bag without me being aware.

The Arcane is part of Osprey’s commuter lifestyle range, so it’s more designed for urban environments than hiking. I’ve used it for heading to the office, and if you pack it in the right way it can be a really discreet camera bag. 

You wouldn;t want to use this bag for hiking. I would maybe consider it for tour organised day trips, or short outdoor hikes, like the Four Falls Trail in Wales. 

Despite it being designed for much less gruelling environments, Osprey still cover the Arcane with their “All Mighty Guarantee“.

This is a great feature for a backpack. Things go wrong, and it sucks when a good backpack starts to deteriorate. So knowing that Osprey will repair or replace qualifying faults to keep your bag going, is a reassurance. It’s worth the investment when you know they will help extend its usable life.

At a typical retail price of £100, the Osprey Arcane V2 offers excellent value when you consider the durability, comfort and that All Mighty Guarantee, I think that makes this bag fantastic value for money.

When you also add in the fact I got the Arcane refurbished, so it still had the quality of brand new Osprey, but at a discount. Making the Arcane unbeatable value for money.

After months of daily use, the Osprey Arcane V2 still looks as good as it did on the day I picked it up. It’s been dragged across the country, dropped on office floors, coffee shop corners and train aisles, yet it still keeps going strong. Paired with the Urth Arkose Camera Cube, it becomes a near-perfect street photography setup — discreet, protective and versatile.

Whether you are a traveller, photographer, commuter or simply just somebody who wants a reliable everyday bag, the Arcane V2 is built to outlast your adventures. Fill it with clothes and hop on a train to Paris, or slide it under the seat of a budget airline — it looks good everywhere and remains just as practical.