The Osprey Raptor 6 is a brilliantly thought out hydration pack brimming with nice details

Price: £75

What they say: The Raptor 6 and integrated 3 litre Hydraulics reservoir ensures that you can carry all the required gear and liquid to perform your personal best. The reservoir is accessed via an asymmetric zip for quick and easy refills.

What it is: Osprey produce a wide range of biking packs in a choice of sizes, but I reckon the Raptor 6 here is spot on for most trail mountain bikers, whether it’s for a couple of hours or an all-day adventure on the bike.

Inside is a 3 litre bladder with an easy-to-use bite valve, with a magnet securing it to the chest strap so it’s always within easy reach. The bladder lives in its own dedicated compartment, and the bladder itself has an integrated handle that makes filling it much easier, as it tends to hold its shape rather than flopping over when empty like other reservoirs.

The main compartment is adequately sized for all your essentials, with three smaller compartments to keep your bits and bobs organised. There’s an extra large zipped pocket on the outside with a soft padded compartment for your smartphone, and a useful key loop. The front of the pack also has an open stretch pocket that is a useful place for stuffing an extra jacket or gilet. There are additional two large zipped pockets on the waist strap, they’re ideal for quick access food.

It’s a comfortable backpack when riding. The AirScape backpanel has padded foam ridges which helps with ventilation and does a good job of distributing the load evenly across your back. The wide waist straps anchor the pack into place and the chest strap ensures the Raptor 6 stays planted on your back, there’s certainly no concerns about it moving around during more animated riding.

It’s packed with details. There’s the unique LidLock bungee strap for lashing a helmet to the front of the pack. There’s also reflective details and a light strap, making it suitable for night riding or doubling up as a commuter backpack.

Who it’s good for: It’s a small, compact and lightweight backpack with a huge reservoirs and generous cargo capacity that strikes the perfect balance, providing enough for your essentials without the risk of weighing you down on shorter trail rides. It’s also brilliantly durable and tough, and all the little details are well thought out and make it easy to live with. A top class mountain bike hydration pack.

Contact: www.ospreyeurope.com