Osprey’s bike-specific Raptor soars
Osprey Raptor 18
- Pros: Expands outward away from back; LidLock attaches helmet to pack; Stretchy front “shove-it” pocket very versatile
- Cons: Hip belt pockets don’t zip closed; Included Nalgene bladder unimpressive; Small/medium or medium/large sizes may not fit everyone
- Bottom Line: The Osprey Raptor 18 is an incredibly versatile bike-specific pack that’s well worth the money.
- MSRP: $119
Designed specifically for mountain bikers and adventure racers, Osprey’s new Raptor 18 backpack is an 18-liter (1,100-cubic-inch) mule.
The pack, which was first available last month, fits enough clean clothes and tools for an all-day ride. And it has ample room for clothes, shoes and a lunch if you want to use it as your daily commuter pack.
Perhaps the best thing about the pack is that, unlike many others, it expands outward away from your back instead of across it.
Not only does that keep your load centered, it allows you to see behind you when you’re looking for fellow riders or cars.
Osprey Raptor 18
I rode with the pack for hundreds of miles last fall and took it snowshoeing a couple times this winter. Each time, I was impressed.
The compression straps held my gear in place and there were the right amount of compartments and pockets to keep gear organized.
With the hip belt strapped and the shoulder straps tightened, it still moves with your body and even stretches when you breathe – an area where many other packs fail.
When riding, dangling straps can be annoying and get in the way. But with the Raptor, the loose ends are kept at bay via small plastic C-shaped clips.
And when at your final destination, instead of carrying your helmet or trying to lock it to your bike, the Raptor has a LidLock. The LidLock uses a plastic piece attached to the end of a bungee cord that threads through a helmet vent to hold your lid tightly to the pack.
Another feature that Osprey’s touting, which I found pretty lackluster, is its Nalgene hydration bladder. The bladder has a rigid back so it doesn’t bunch at the bottom as it empties and is easier to load and fill.
Though it did what it was designed to do, I found it to be no better than any other hydration bladder I’ve used.
The one feature that sets it apart, though, is a small magnet near the bite valve that attaches to another magnet on the sternum strap. It prevents the hose from dangling and keeps the bite valve closer to your mouth.
Besides the bladder, Osprey missed the mark on its hip belt pockets. The pre-production model I tested had zippered pockets on each side of the belt. The zips are missing on the production pack.
I’m not sure the logic behind that, but the zippered pockets were great for securing your keys, mp3 player, camera, ChapStick or other small items. Now the pockets are just open.
Those are small complaints, though, for an overall great pack.
