Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Hydration Bladder Assessment

Backside Line

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

All of those luxurious options include a price, each in weight and worth. It’s among the many costliest 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 seen a definite lingering taste of iodine when ingesting from it. 

Should you’re a hiker who values a seamless consumer expertise out of your hydration bladder, the Osprey Hydraulics will deliver you pleasure. A few options, such because the inflexible again assist and the position of the short disconnect, make the Hydraulics a really perfect alternative for multi-day backpacking. Should you’re an ultralight backpacker or path runner, contemplate exploring a number of the lighter choices on our listing.

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different in style 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, underneath largely sunny skies within the Southern California desert.

Weight & Packability

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

Because of its inflexible backer and ergonomic plastic deal with, the Hydraulics doesn’t roll up or pack down simply. We measured its minimal measurement at 15” by 6” by 1.5,” making it one of many bulkier bladders we examined. Should you respect 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 consumer expertise is the place the Osprey Hydraulics actually shines; it seems 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, moderately than the underside. This implies you received’t must sift via your entire gear to reattach the hydration hose after filling. 

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

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

Ease of Cleansing

The broad 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 moderately straightforward, though she nonetheless wanted a protracted 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 inside partitions have a tendency to stay collectively when moist, and the sliding closure finish rests in a sealed place, limiting airflow. Even whereas hanging within the desert sunshine, the Hydraulics bladder took over 4 hours to totally dry.

Style

As soon as cleaned and dried, we had been disillusioned to seek out that the Hydraulics nonetheless retains an iodine style. It’s not as dangerous because the style of the Gregory 3D Hydro or the Cherainti Bladder, but it surely’s additionally not as recent 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 impression.

Ought to You Purchase the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir?

Multi-day backpackers who count on rather a lot from their gear will respect the considerate design of the Osprey Hydraulics. Should you’ve struggled to stuff your full water bladder again into your in a single day pack, you may perceive the inflexible backer that helps the bladder hold its form as you slide it into the hydration sleeve. You additionally received’t must fish via your gear to reconnect the hose, because the quick-release is positioned close to the highest of the bladder. 

These premium options include a better price ticket and heavier weight. For these simply beginning out backpacking or thru-hikers seeking to shed ounces, you might 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, but it surely’s simpler to scrub and dry as a result of it may be turned inside out. The chunk valve encompasses a shutoff change, and the hose has a sternum strap magnet, each of which we respect for his or her ease of use. We additionally suppose the Contour tastes barely higher than the Hydraulics bladder, a significant win in our ebook.

Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5 L Reservoir: Although we didn’t check it ourselves, we’d advocate trying out the Hydraulics LT if you would like one thing lighter however like the general design of the Hydraulics. It has the identical ergonomic deal with, on-off lever on the chunk 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 function, it might be greatest to stay with the common Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir.