OSPREY PACKS TESTED
I have always been a Camelback user, just because that’s all I’v ever seen in the shops to be honest, but things about mine used to drive me crackers. The way the bladder cap always seems to go mega tight after being in the fridge, needing Mike Tyson to open it! Then there’s the annoying bladder tube routing and how the bladder fills like a balloon, so doesn’t sit flat on your back.
Well the Osprey packs just seem like a total breath of fresh air, as everything has been made with total ease of use. Both packs come with 3ltr bladders, with nice big ltr markers on for measuring out your favourite hydrant. The cap opens and closes with ease. The back of the bladder is hard flat plastic, so it sits nice and flush, but my favourite thing about the bladder is the strong magnet located on the back of the suction bit so it can attach to the chest strap, nifty! Chest strap and waist strap are very easily tightened and loosened and both have a lidlock strap to attach whatever helmet you want, through the helmet vent.
Here are the full specs sent by Osprey
ZEALOT
16 litre M/L Octane Blue x1 SRP £80.00
Freeride specific pack for lift-accessed Alps riding featuring:
Roll-out and removable tool pouch in bottom zippered pocket
Hydration compatible
Heat embossed fabric sunglasses pocket
Takes full-face helmet and body armour
Also has lidlock for normal ventilated trail helmet attachment
Biostretch harness and padded spacermesh hipwings with removable webbing belt
Tri-section Airscape backpanel with ridge-moulded foam airchannels
210d nailhead nylon fabric
1000d Air textured nylon (base fabric)
RAPTOR
**New for 2013 10 litre O/S Madcap Red x1 SRP £85.00
Premium, technical trail mtb hydration pack featuring:
New S13 Hydraulics 3 litre reservoir
Lidlock ventilated trail helmet attachment
Asymmetric zippered hose routing on harness
Magnetic sternum buckle for hose attachment
Blinker light attachment
Stretch woven front stash pocket
Zipped hipbelt pocket
Side compression
Pump/tool storage compartments in main pocket
Roll-out and removable tool pouch in bottom zippered pocket
Heat embossed fabric sunglasses pocket
Top zippered pocket for quick access with wire port for MP3 player
Biostretch harness
Tri-section Airscape backpanel
70x100d nylon shadowcheck fabric
www.youtube.com/ospreypacks
Words: Jim Buchanan Photos: Doc Ward (http://www.doc-photography.com/)
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