Osprey’s Rev series of body hugging hydration packs started out as a runner’s item, but they’ve updated them to work well for cycling.
Fit is done more like clothing, it fits close to the body, and the materials are light weight. It’s likely to appeal more to the adventure racer that might be transitioning to or from the bike into other activities, but the minimalist design and altered reservoirs have their appeal. Check out the details below…
In the top pic is the Solo, which retails at just $40 and uses a water bottle rather than a bladder. From there, packs go up to $130 and come in four sizes (6 / 12 / 18 / 24, each with a S/M or M/L option) with either 1.5 liter or 2.5 liter reservoirs. Those have dual baffles to keep water from sloshing around and keep it flatter.
A handy cellphone/map pocket and additional bottle sleeve on the straps makes for quick access to important things. The bottle sleeve zips down flat when not in use.
The nose has a quick disconnect at the top of the reservoir, making for quicker changes since you don’t need to pull the hose through the body and shoulder loops. Good for 12/24 solo riders.
Look for these in Spring 2014 on OspreyPacks.com.
