Osprey Packs Manta 25

"You also get...     ... a magnet that holds the bite valve on the sternum strap buckle, though in fact it's too weak and is going to be boosted in strength for production."

Hmm, and possibly a magnet to upset your compass needle?!!

Think of the position of the sternum strap and think where you hold the compass in front of you to read it. Maybe it won't actually be a problem, but just how necessary is a magnetised bite-valve holder?

A bit like (imo) the 'Stow-on-the-Go' system. And the idea of a gently pressurised bladder (which as John says, you get pretty much by default in any loaded pack).

Admittedly the idea of a bladder than you can refill and refit easily into a loaded pack solves a more genuine niggle. But overall I can't help wondering if Osprey's designers spend as much time inventing non-problems to solve for the sake of 'feature-rich marketing' as they do on genuinely beneficial improvements to their packs?

Posted: 07/10/2009 at 10:38

TNF hydration packs have a magnet too, but theirs is in less of a silly place. Who wants the bite valve stuck on thier chest anyway?

Posted: 07/10/2009 at 10:44

I tuck the bite valve under my chest strap.

I think the chest/magnet idea is particularly poor as I'm a compass user generally though hoping to make the move to GPS.

Posted: 07/10/2009 at 11:00

Posted: 07/10/2009 at 11:42

Over a Kilo for a 25L daypack?  You're 'avin' a larf aintcha'?

I like Osprey packs and own two but this it sounds as though they're coming up with solutions to problems that don't exist. 

A rigid bladder that is easier to insert into a packed rucksack?  Slacken the compression straps and it moves in easily.  I've never had any problems filling a standard bladder from a stream; it's dead easy.  This is trying to solve a problem that just does not exist.

"Barrelling"?  Get a bladder a bit larger than you need.  It weighs a few grammes more but prevents barrelling.

"Stops the contents of the reservoir sloshing around as it empties"?  Rubbish.  As you drink the water, the volume is not replaced with air - again, this is a non-existent problem.

As for a magnet to retain the bite valve - don't get me started

Are Osprey losing the plot?  They make great packs but if this sort of over-engineered, gimmicky rubbish is all they can come up with, I'll stock up with a couple more of the existing models.   

Posted: 10/04/2010 at 13:55

the stiff bladder really helps keep the shape of the backpanel for sure, as well as inserting and filling. personally, as a mountain biker, I wanted a pack that had a really great ventilation system, and the raptor series (air scape) didn't quite cut it compared to the manta (air speed).  

Because of the great compression straps, if youre not filling the pack full it feels a lot smaller than just 20 litres (the s/m is 17). I think if you're going to spend 139 bucks on a day pack and you can set it up so it is multi use, this to me is great value. plus the comfy factor is out of this world.

I can use the pack as primarily a hydration pack with a few bike tools/raincoat and still have the bladder slightly pressurized, or use it as a daypack when doing some hiking and acheive the same result. 

the only potential beef i might see is that the bit valve and tube is quite long and attaches to the far side, leaving a fairly lengthy loop. once again, as a biker i could see this as something that might catch and unhook from it's magnetized state.

 shoot. i guess i'll just have to ride all spring/summer and see if it does   

Posted: 07/05/2010 at 05:14