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Osprey, Hydrapak partner to create new hydraulics system reservoirs

Written by Tyler Benedict
hydrapak osprey hydraulics LT hydration pack reservoirs
14 Comments
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Osprey’s done some interesting things with their reservoirs in the past, including a rigid back panel to keep it from flopping around and a carrying handle to make it easy to transport out of the pack. Hydrapak, meanwhile, has made just about the widest opening reservoir there is thanks to their sliding top.

Now, the two companies have combined their design talents to create the Advanced Osprey Hydraulics system. The new bladders will come in two versions, the Hydraulics for larger packs with 2L and 3L options, and the Hydraulics LT in 1.5 and 2.5 liter capacities. The larger ones keep the back plate to hold their shape and keep it flat. The smaller ones use a slosh-inhibiting double baffle inside that helps keep it flat.

All of them get a carrying handle, use Hydrapak’s Blaster Bite Valve and Osprey’s inline hose magnet to keep it stuck to the sternum strap when you’re not imbibing, and a new Pour Shield…

hydrapak osprey hydraulics hydration pack reservoirs

hydrapak osprey hydraulics LT hydration pack reservoir bite valve

The new bladders will be sold in all Osprey hydration packs starting Spring 2016, like the updated Viper and Verve shown at Interbike. They’ll come with Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee that warranties it for life, just like their packs.

OspreyPacks.com
Tyler Benedict
11,282 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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Jonathan
Jonathan
9 years ago

The rigid back panel on the osprey reservoirs are awful. It makes the reservoir slosh around when riding. I got rid of mine for a camelback reservoir so I could roll down the unused portion. It made a big improvement.

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RG
RG
9 years ago

Platapus has been making a wide mouth hydration pack for quite some time. Nice to know there are more options. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus/hydration-systems/big-zip-lp/product

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Mr. P
Mr. P
9 years ago

Nice! Love most bits of a Osprey pack, but the screw top of the bladder is maddeningly frustrating. Now it’s gone!

P

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Chris
Chris
9 years ago

I’ve found that the airpockets are what cause the sloshing and not the backer plate. Once I turned my reservoir updside down and removed all the trapped air the sloshing went away.

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brendan
brendan
9 years ago

@Jonathon…the trick to getting a reservoir with a rigid back to perform well is to get the air out. Fill the resevoir per usual, seal it up, and flip it upside down and suck. Air will come out then water. Once you get water in your mouth you have a near vacuum that will not slosh at all and the rigid back panel keeps the reservoir from barreling. Skip the air suck step and the rigid panels do indeed, ahem, suck.

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bearCol
bearCol
9 years ago

Osprey bladders are the best. When they were made my nalgene quality was top notch; the newer bladders are well designed but quality isn’t quite as good. I had to warranty the screw lid twice. Even with that I love the design so hopefully I’ll like this design too. Glad they are keeping the ridged back and handle.

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RickyBob
RickyBob
9 years ago

I miss the old packs with the cloth covers. Never had problems with the screw tops either.

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bearCol
bearCol
9 years ago

My pack has served as back protection a few times. While I’m sure any bladder offers good spine protection, the rigid bladder can only help in that regard. It would be nice to see the padding used on the pack replaced with d3o type padding. POC and Evoc offer such protection but they use a large padded insert rather than incorporating the protection padding into the pack itself.

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chris
chris
9 years ago

Slosh limiting would be awesome!!! Wish they had that feature for the larger volume bladders. The one thing I hate about my Ospery pack is when I have done some run/hiking with it. The sloshing while your running is ridiculous. And there was just NO way to strap it down enough to keep it quiet. The rigid handle means the bladder is always “open” inside… Hate that!!!

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chris
chris
9 years ago

OH!!!! Dude’s thank you for the “anti-sloshing” tip!!! I posted my complaint without reading. That totally makes me happy!!! 🙂

I’s still need to get a longer hose for mine. (It’s JUST barely long enough, so every now and then the tube gets stretched and the magnet looses it’s hold) But if that anti slosh trick works I’m back to loving my Osprey pack.

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wunnspeed
wunnspeed
9 years ago

I suppose I’ll have to wait and see what the new ‘hybrid’ is like but I’ve always loved the simplicity of Ospreys twist lock mouth piece (my Hydropak always leaked) and the large screw in opening (the Hydropak is so cumbersome). Cool to see that two competitors can come together to try and create something better though (I’ll avoid the political references).

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ascarlarkinyar
ascarlarkinyar
9 years ago

I need to conform my bladder to different shape backpacks and framepacks. So any design limiting this will not work for us.

Also I hate those mouth pieces. You have to push in while sucking. It’s almost a two handed manuver. And not possible to give your dog a drink if they get thirsty. I like the bite valve better.

My platypus 4L super wide mouth has been fool proof and perfect for 3 years now. A little chapstick on the zip every now and then and it’s very easy to use, never opens accidentally.

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Erin
Erin
9 years ago

I’m sorry, but this is a big downgrade of these packs, and its cuz they where being sued by Camelback that the only reason to change this I bet.

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Mort Snerd
Mort Snerd
9 years ago

My screw on top leaked water all over until I realized the (so tiny it was unusess) webbing strap for hanging the bladder from the pack was getting caught in the frigglin thing every time I schcrewed it down. Haven’t had an issue since I cut the hangy strap off. The water bag never leaks, slumps or slogs. I do squeeze out the extra air while closing the perfect screw top. I have a little bag problem owning 2 Dueters, a Shimano, a Dakine and the original Camelback (I still use for running) white with pink stripe. I ride with the Osprey-every day. After I removed the stupid heavy magnet and it quit schwinging around all over the place there was no need to screw with it and just let it hangle. My word-hangle. Use at your discression. PS keep your multi-tool in the raincover pocket which is easy to reach while wearing the pack (Syncro)

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