Osprey Packs 2010 Scoop!

One of the most interesting new for 2010 products at the recent Friedrichshafen OutDoor Show was Osprey's innovative new range of hydration packs, Osprey Hydraulics. The show award judges obviously agreed and the Manta 25 hiking pack won the Gold Award for innovation.

To put things in context, Osprey took three years to develop Hydraulics and went through around 100 prototypes - the Mutant climbing pack had just seven - and the result is quite different from other packs we've seen with both hiking and biking variants.


So what's the big deal? Well, in very general terms it's all about the hydration bladder and how it interacts with the pack. Made by Nalgene, the HydraForm reservoir is really unusual with a patented flat, foam back panel that makes it freestanding - above - unlike other bladders. There's also a handle to make holding and filling the bladder more straightforward.

The next unusual touch is that theY-shaped HydraLock frame locks slides into the pack and locks the reservoir in place, even when the pack is full. The flat section means there's no barrelling even when the bladder and pack are rammed.


Once the bladder's inside, a locking top actually locks the bladder into place, but also puts pressure on the contents, so that the liquid inside is force-fed out of the bite valve meaning no vigorous sucking is required and sloshing is minimised.

We're not sure that there's a real issue with extracting water from existing hydration systems and in any case, with full packs, bladders are under some pressure anyway, but you can't fault Osprey's design ingenuity and we'll reserve judgement till we've tried the packs for real.

Hiking And Biking Packs

The outdoor version of the pack is called the Manta and comes in 20, 25 and 30-litre capacities with prices from £90 to £100. All the packs also include classic Osprey features like stretch side pockets, a reverse-wrap hip-belt a rain cover and the Stow On The Go trekking pole system.


Mountain bikers get their own version designed purely for on-bike use. Called the Raptor, it comes in 6,10,14 and 18-litre sizes with prices ranging from £70 to £90. It's curved to match a canted forward riding position, has no frame and unlike the hiking pack, uses the bladder panel as part of the back system.


Again there's no barreling thanks to the flat back panel, but in addition, riders can increase the pressure on the liquid by arching their backs giving what Osprey calls quick ‘hydraulic’ bursts of H2O.

The Raptor also has a ventilated back panel, ventilated BioStretch harness, lots of compartments for easy kit stowage and differentiation, stretch mesh hip pockets and a neat helmet carrier that uses the helmet vents for secure carrying.

Also New...

Hydraulics is the big story from Osprey, but there are other tweaks to the range as well. The Aerial and Aether packs have been tweaked and re-designed along 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' lines with added ice axe bungees and Stow On The Go pole carriers.

There are new 68 and 58-litre version of the entry-level Kestrel packs with an added Light Wire frame for better carrying, a thicker hip-belt and a floating removable lid. Priced at between £70 and £110.


There's a new kids' packs in the form of the Jet - above - which is basically a scaled-down Talon 22 and looks great into the bargain.


Finally the Stratos entry-level ventilated packs have been redesigned with a new back panel, a new lightwire frame and brace, Stow On The Go, rain covers and neat new looks. Sizes are 24-litres and 34 litres in panel-loading format and conventional top-loading 26 and 36-litre versions.

All the above are out in early 2010. More about Osprey at www.ospreypacks.com