Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Assessment | CleverHiker

Backside Line

Consider any characteristic you need in a hydration bladder, and the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir doubtless consists of it. It’s structurally strengthened with a inflexible again plate, permitting you to effortlessly slide it into any backpack, even when it’s packed to capability. It incorporates a shutoff change on the chew valve, a sternum-strap magnet to safe the hose, and a plastic deal with for simpler filling. 

All of those luxurious options include a value, each in weight and worth. It’s among the many most costly choices we examined, second solely to the extremely specialised HydraPak HydraSleeve. The Hydraulics Reservoir is a bit cumbersome and heavier than most different bladders. We observed a definite lingering taste of iodine when consuming from it. 

If you happen to’re a hiker who values a seamless person expertise out of your hydration bladder, the Osprey Hydraulics will carry you pleasure. A few options, such because the inflexible again assist and the location of the fast disconnect, make the Hydraulics a super alternative for multi-day backpacking. If you happen to’re an ultralight backpacker or path runner, take into account exploring a number of the lighter choices on our listing.

And for more information, try a few of our different fashionable gear guides:

How We Examined

Throughout our testing interval this winter, we scrambled over the granite boulders of Rattlesnake Canyon in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park and hiked the paths in our neighborhood on Mojave Desert Land Belief land. The Osprey Hydraulics saved us hydrated all through, below principally sunny skies within the Southern California desert.

Weight & Packability

If different bladders sacrifice options to realize lighter weights, the Osprey Hydraulics provides further ounces to offer a feature-rich design and a premium person expertise. The Hydraulics weighs 7.6 ounces, making it our second heaviest bladder after the specialised HydraSleeve. 

Attributable to its inflexible backer and ergonomic plastic deal with, the Hydraulics doesn’t roll up or pack down simply. We measured its minimal dimension at 15” by 6” by 1.5,” making it one of many bulkier bladders we examined. If you happen to recognize the design options however wish to scale back weight, Osprey produces a lighter model of this bladder known as the Hydraulics LT, which lacks a inflexible backer.

Ease of Use

The person expertise is the place the Osprey Hydraulics actually shines; it appears like Osprey has considered every part. Filling it within the sink is a breeze due to the ergonomic plastic deal with. The plastic again plate helps the bladder preserve its form as you slide it again into the hydration pouch, even when your backpack is filled with gear. Its fast disconnect additionally releases the hose close to the highest of the bladder, quite than the underside. This implies you received’t should sift by way of your entire gear to reattach the hydration hose after filling. 

The sliding closure additionally has built-in loops in case your backpack incorporates a suspension strap that closes with Velcro or a buckle. The chew valve consists of an on-off change that’s straightforward to function with one hand, which we consider is likely one of the most vital options. 

The sternum strap attachment incorporates a sturdy magnet that feels fairly safe and prevents the hose from flopping round when you run or hike. Nevertheless, the plastic attachment itself appears barely extra susceptible to slipping off than the one on the Contour. Throughout our testing within the desert, we observed fairly a little bit of sand getting caught to the magnet, however this didn’t seem to have an effect on its energy an excessive amount of.

Ease of Cleansing

The large opening of the hydraulics measures about 3.5 inches in diameter, which is massive sufficient to accommodate our tester’s hand. This made cleansing it fairly straightforward, though she nonetheless wanted an extended brush, because the opening is simply too small for her forearm to achieve deep sufficient to scrub your complete inside. Moreover, the middle baffle impeded the method and made scrubbing a bit trickier. 

This was additionally one of many slowest bladders to dry. As a result of it’s a reasonably slender bladder, the internal partitions have a tendency to stay collectively when moist, and the sliding closure finish rests in a sealed place, proscribing airflow. Even whereas hanging within the desert sunshine, the Hydraulics bladder took over 4 hours to completely dry.

Style

As soon as cleaned and dried, we have been upset to seek out that the Hydraulics nonetheless retains an iodine style. It’s not as unhealthy because the style of the Gregory 3D Hydro or the Cherainti Bladder, however it’s additionally not as contemporary because the hydration methods from Platypus or Camelbak.

Sturdiness

We didn’t discover any sturdiness points with the Hydraulics Reservoir throughout our testing interval. We’re curious to see how the inflexible plastic items maintain up over time, as they appear weak to cracking or breaking upon affect.

Ought to You Purchase the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir?

Multi-day backpackers who count on quite a bit from their gear will recognize the considerate design of the Osprey Hydraulics. If you happen to’ve struggled to stuff your full water bladder again into your in a single day pack, you would possibly perceive the inflexible backer that helps the bladder preserve its form as you slide it into the hydration sleeve. You additionally received’t should fish by way of your gear to reconnect the hose, because the quick-release is positioned close to the highest of the bladder. 

These premium options include the next price ticket and heavier weight. For these simply beginning out backpacking or thru-hikers seeking to shed ounces, chances are you’ll discover one thing else that higher matches your wants.

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Take into account?

With so many different nice bladders, you’re certain to seek out one that matches your wants on our listing of this season’s favorites. 

Hydrapak Contour Assessment: The Contour manages to retain our favourite options whereas shedding a couple of ounces from the Osprey Hydraulics bladder. The Contour additionally has a sliding closure, however it’s simpler to scrub and dry as a result of it may be turned inside out. The chew valve incorporates a shutoff change, and the hose has a sternum strap magnet, each of which we recognize for his or her ease of use. We additionally suppose the Contour tastes barely higher than the Hydraulics bladder, a serious win in our guide.

Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5 L Reservoir: Although we didn’t take a look at it ourselves, we’d suggest trying out the Hydraulics LT if you need one thing lighter however like the general design of the Hydraulics. It has the identical ergonomic deal with, on-off lever on the chew valve, and sternum strap magnet, however the LT 2.5 liter shaves off about 1.5 ounces from the common 2 liter model. It seems to realize this primarily by ditching the inflexible backer, so if that’s your favourite characteristic, it will be greatest to stay with the common Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir.