Sloshing water, side-to-side weight shift during activities, and having to pack your hydration reservoir first before adding all your other gear… These symptoms of non-skeletal water hydration bladders are issues we seem to accept when it comes to placing hydration in a pack. However, a new design of hydration bladders is coming into the picture with Osprey’s new technology of bladders called “Osprey Hydraulics”. Made in conjunction with Nalgene, the activity-inspired design in the Manta and Raptor series by Osprey have internal frames in the back to provide dedicated space for your reservoir without compromising weight.
The HydraForm reservoir itself is designed with an anatomically-shaped, molded plastic sheet between a layer of nylon, which forces the contents to conform to your back’s shape. The plastic sheet enables stability and ease to slide the reservoir into its HydraLock space. In HydraLock, the reservoir space squeezes to supply pressure, minimize water motion and prevent lateral instability (or the pack falling down and backward off your shoulders from water weight).
As you tear through your day and your liquids decrease in the reservoir, the Manta and the Raptor are designed with compression straps on the shoulders to tighten the compartment in closer to your body. See Osprey’s video below on the Manta Series and Raptor Series, as well as the HydraForm and HydraLock technology at work.
For hiking, trekking or easy days out on the trails, the Osprey Manta Series offers 3 sizes of pack: Manta 30, Manta 25 and Manta 20.
For the fast moving, aerodynamic sports like cycling and mountain biking, the Osprey Raptor Series comes in 4 sleek designs: Raptor 18, Raptor 14, Raptor 10 and Raptor 6.
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