Sister site Outdoorsmagic.com has revealed the brand new Osprey Viper 4 hydration pack, a slimmed-down addition to the company’s range of packs.Due on sale early in 2011, the Viper range with capacities of between 4 and 13 litres and the Verve – the women’s-specific version – are slimmed-down, simplified additions to Osprey’s range of Hydraulics hydration packs
Osprey has a very impressive line of packs and they are very well made. I love the nice touches like the zipper pulls that can easily be used with gloves, the killer Hydraform reservoir set-up, the Lid Lock helmet holder and the sleek overall feel to the pack when worn. I think some of the organization of tools, etc, needs to be re-thought a bit along with the silly hip belt pouches that allow things to fall out too easily. But, overall the line of Raptors from the Six (liter) to the Eighteen (liter) offer a wide choice of sizes and all of them are really good packs.
Superb pack design and comfort with an excellent bladder to boot. Comfy and well designed.
Osprey pour 35+ years of outdoor pack experience into their versatile Raptor 10 – a superb pack first and foremost, which just happens to have an excellent reservoir, too.
Not surprising given the company heritage, comfort and fit are among the Raptor 10’s best attributes, with a well-ventilated semi-rigid padded back panel that distributes weight evenly across your torso and never feels too hot or stifling.
The mesh main straps are similarly padded and ventilated, and combine with the stretchy sternum strap, broad hip belt and dual compression straps for an ultra-stable and body-hugging fit that moves well with you even on technical terrain.
Recently Grannygear and I were able to check out the Osprey line of hydration packs. (You can check that post out here.) In this post I wanted to give an extended view of my experiences with the Osprey Raptor 10 pack.
I’ve used the Raptor 10 exclusively since the pack came in back in early May. I have used it for training rides, mountain bike rides, gravel road excursions, and most recently I have used it on two fully self supported rides.
I’ve been using the Manta on day hikes and more recently while paddling my kayak. I am so impressed with the fit and function of this pack. I have been consciously trying to drink more water, and the Manta has been a great help while active. The ease of use is the biggest factor. I can easily fill it before heading out. I have used it numerous times, and have not noticed any ‘plastic’ or off taste. The reservoir is made by Nalgene, and is BPA and PVC free. The the AquaGuard anti-microbial formula is designed to prevent bacteria and mold from developing. This appears to be working because the reservoir has not developed any mold, and the water still tastes fine. Keeping the water clean and tasting good is the easiest way to keep me drinking it.
The Raptor 14 is a great long haul pack for an all day adventure on your favorite single track. Stretch woven side pockets with InsideOut™ compression provide versatile gear carry options, while a large zippered front pocket with dedicated compartments for bike tools keeps essentials handy. 3-liter HydraForm™ Reservoir Included. Colors available: Silt Gray, Spruce Green, Sand Gold.
Not too long ago trek7k did a write up on the Osprey Raptor 6 and if you recall he raved over its sleek and comfortable design. Today I’m writing about another offering in the Osprey hydraulics line-up – the Manta 20. Unlike the Raptor, the Manta is a larger pack designed for day trips and epic rides.
Osprey Packs have integrated a comfy harness and waist belt into the Raptor 6. The harness is flexible due to its mesh and foam design. The flexibility allows the harness to adjust to your body movements. The mesh and nylon hip belt has 2 pockets and cinches in the Raptor 6 above your hips.
The pack has 3 zippered external pockets. One is for the hydration bladder and where the back panel is located. A small zippered non-scratchable pocket is designed for essentials such as sunglasses and a GPS. The main zippered pocket is the largest and has 3 internal pockets to organize tools and snacks. The Raptor 6 does have one stretch woven non-zippered front pocket. It works well for stashing a rain coat and can easily be accessed when a downpour emerges.
A lightweight hydration pack has become a must for longer biking treks. Hydration packs are versatile enough to carry plenty of water along with clothing for rainy weather and tools for maintenance emergencies. Osprey Packs’ new Raptor series is the company’s latest activity-specific line of packs for biking and trail running and is the smallest capacity pack in the Raptor line.
Osprey Packs have integrated a comfy harness and waist belt into the Raptor 6. The harness is flexible due to its mesh and foam design. The flexibility allows the harness to adjust to your body movements. The mesh and nylon hip belt has 2 pockets and cinches in the Raptor 6 above your hips.
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If you asked the endurance racing crowd or if you surveyed the bikepacking group, the folks that spend hours and days crossing remote sections of the countryside, as to what backpack/hydration pack was a favorite among them, the Osprey Talon 22 would be at the top of the list. It is lauded for its comfort, design, and construction. In the world of hiking, multi-sport and mountaineering, Osprey is well known. It turns out that Osprey has been making packs for some time now and in 2009, celebrated 35 years in the business.
Now, in addition to more types of packs than you can imagine, they have added a new line of hydration packs under the Hydraulic banner. Called the Raptor series, they are pointed directly at mountain bikers although they could apply to a multi-sport application.
With focused attention on providing quality backpacks that match the unique body sizes/shapes and an effective suspension system to minimize the stresses of carrying gear through adventurous lifestyles, Osprey has emerged on the forefront in the outdoor industry for their products. It was just a matter of time before they would come out with their own version of the hydration system, and after testing it for the past few weeks, I can safely say they have placed the bar extremely high.
The main attraction in West Virginia’s Valley Falls State Park is the rushing water over the sandstone ledges of the Tygart Valley River forming several waterfalls. The park also boasts exhilarating singletrack mountain biking along its 18-miles of trails. A mountain bike ride through Valley Falls State Park will dehydrate a biker quickly, and a hydration pack such as the Osprey Raptor 14 is designed for longer mountain bike rides. The Osprey Raptor 14 along with the other hydration packs in the Raptor series will be available at retailers in mid February of 2010.
Hydration packs have been around a few decades now and every backpack company makes them. They revolutionized the way we carry our water while hiking, mountain biking, ultra-running and even fighting wars. But after breaking new ground, hydration packs haven’t changed much. Sure, they come in different sizes and configurations for different sports but I haven’t yet seen a pack that makes me want to give up my ten-year old Camelbak. Until the Osprey Raptor 18 ($80)
The team at Osprey has always thought about pack design a little differently than most. And when they set about to create what they felt was the perfect hydration pack, the thought process was no different. To them, it was not about simply creating a better hydration pack, because a poor reservoir design would defeat the system. They also felt that simply designing a better reservoir wasn’t enough either, because if the pack wasn’t
ideally matched, it too would create an imperfect marriage. So, Osprey founder and chief mad scientist Mike Pfotenhauer worked with his design team to conjure up a new hydration pack system, with the pack and reservoir fully integrated. They call it the Hydraulics line of packs. Eager to test what Osprey claims to be “the most innovative and best-designed hydration packs,” we ordered a Mantra 30 hydration pack, and from February through May 2010 our tester wore it backcountry skiing, mountain biking, during a 24-hour adventure race, and day hiking.
