Osprey Raven 14/Raptor 14 Hydration Pack Evaluation

Backside Line

As a hydration pack designed for mountain bikers, the Osprey Raven 14 / Raptor 14 is a good alternative for shorter adventures that don’t require as a lot gear or water. Its sturdiness and variety of compartments are unmatched, making it excellent for the adventurer who prioritizes group, longevity, and options. Nevertheless, for these looking for an ultralight pack, waterproof or quick-drying supplies, and additional area for layers, water, and extra gear, the Raven 14 might not be one of the best decide for you. 

Whereas we didn’t take a look at this pack on a mountain bike, we did take it on day hikes in Northern California, analyzing its match, consolation, sturdiness, water resistance, and options whereas on path. This pack is available in two gender-specific designs — the Raven 14 for ladies and the Osprey Raptor 14 for me. Each fashions provide the identical strong development, pocket selection, and reliable hydration system, however with barely completely different torsos and shoulder designs to raised complement female and male anatomies. 

General, if weight, waterproofness, dry time, and ease of cleansing the hydration bladder aren’t your high issues when choosing a pack, then the Raven 14 will certainly impress. For different hydration pack recommendations, take a look at our full gear information for one of the best hydration packs.

How We Examined

We examined the Osprey Raven 14 in late winter in Northern California, mountain climbing on trails in native state parks to discover creeks and waterfalls after latest rainstorms. Whereas we weren’t in a position to take a look at this pack’s efficiency on a mountain bike, we have been nonetheless in a position to analyze its consolation, hydration system efficiency, sturdiness, group, water resistance, and weight. 

A few of our assessments included pack adjustability to see how simply and in what number of alternative ways we may customise the match. We additionally checked for leaks within the hydration system and evaluated how simple it was to scrub and air dry after use. We examined for accessibility of compartments and the hydration bladder on the go. And we evaluated the pack’s water resistance by holding it beneath working water for at the least 30 seconds when there was no rain.

The primary tester and author for this evaluate, Emily Parnay, has in depth expertise mountain climbing in California and Colorado and has meticulously analyzed and in contrast this hydration pack to others in the marketplace to find out its worth and efficiency, so we may provide one of the best suggestions.

Consolation & Match

The Osprey Raven 14 is a girls’s particular hydration pack providing consolation with a padded again panel and cushioned winged shoulder straps. The shoulders, chest strap, and waistbelt can all be adjusted. However, like most day packs, the torso size is available in one measurement solely. Though Osprey put mesh within the again panel, we do really feel that breathability could possibly be improved on extra-hot or sweaty days. When carrying a full hydration bladder of water, the load was distributed evenly on our again, hips, and shoulders, with no areas of discomfort, pinching, or chafing.

We additionally love how giant and handy the zipper pulls are on all of the pockets, making gear simple to entry on the go. Nevertheless, considered one of our predominant gripes is the magnet that holds the hydration bladder tube’s mouthpiece to our chest. The tube must be twisted excellent earlier than it’s zippered up so the mouthpiece can lie flat towards the magnet. If it doesn’t lie flat, the tube retains falling down and will get in the way in which of our arms.

Hydration System

The hydration system within the Osprey Raven 14 is leak-proof, and water is straightforward to suck from the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece additionally has a lock function to have interaction when not ingesting water. Whereas the two.5-liter bladder is giant sufficient for a brief day journey, we’d recognize at the least 3 liters for a full-day journey in scorching climate. The deal with on the bladder is handy for filling with water, however the opening is way smaller than we’d like, particularly for ease of cleansing and air-drying after use.

The direct-zip entry sleeve for the tube on the pack’s shoulder strap is a novel function, however we didn’t discover it so as to add worth to the pack’s design. It added extra steps to eradicating the tube and bladder, making it much less handy in the event you’re in a pinch on the go. Upon first ingesting from the hydration system (even after cleansing after buy), there was a really intense, plasticky taste that turned extra refined with use, however by no means totally went away throughout our testing. 

Compartments

The Osprey Raven 14 is without doubt one of the most well-organized packs we examined, with its giant number of compartments, together with a bladder pouch, giant predominant compartments, two zippered hipbelt pockets, a smaller high zippered pocket, a devoted device pouch, a aspect water bottle holder, compression straps, and a lidlock helmet attachment. We love the various array of pocket sizes, making it simple to maintain our gear organized. Nevertheless, we’d have preferred the hipbelt pockets to be just a bit bigger — having hip pockets that match a regular telephone is all the time an enormous bonus!

General, the pack holds sufficient gear for a brief day trip on the path. Nevertheless, for a full-day journey or if mountain climbing in a local weather the place layering is important, we would favor a bigger pack quantity to simply carry further jackets, rain layers, and extra water.

Waterproofing

The Osprey Raven 14 is just not waterproof and doesn’t include a rain cowl, although it’s coated with a sturdy water repellent (DWR) for water resistance. When solely uncovered to mild moisture, water beads simply off the fabric with out absorbing into the pack. Throughout our subject testing, we held every hydration pack beneath a gradual stream of water for at the least 30 seconds to see how they might maintain up.

The Raven 14 carried out about common for a non-waterproof pack. Water positively soaked by the zippers and received the inside of the pack a bit damp. And the hipbelt, again panel, and shoulder straps (which lack any DWR) received moist instantly and absorbed a variety of water. We have been disenchanted by how lengthy it took for the Raven 14 to utterly dry out — the pack needed to sit out in a single day to air-dry. Due to this, we wouldn’t advocate this product for adventures in inclement climate.

Sturdiness

The Osprey Raven 14 options sturdy, top-tier supplies and high quality development, with padded straps, beefy plastic clasps, giant zipper pulls, strengthened stitching, bluesign-approved 420D nylon, and an outer DWR coating. This pack additionally comes with Osprey’s All Mighty Assure, which covers any injury totally free for the anticipated product lifespan.

Whereas mountain climbing with the pack within the subject, we didn’t discover any put on and tear from snagging on branches, brushing previous boulders, or repeatedly zipping pockets and clamping/unclamping the chest and waist straps. This can be a strong hydration pack that can positively final for years to come back, although it does include the trade-off of being heavier.

Weight

At 1 pound, 14.4 ounces when empty, the Osprey Raven 14 is just not an ultralight possibility by any means when the pack is empty. For its smaller quantity, this pack is without doubt one of the heavier choices to think about. For an extended, strenuous journey, we’d go for a hydration pack on the lighter and extra breathable finish of the spectrum. Whereas the Raven 14 excels in sturdiness, high quality, compartments, options, and luxury, it comes at the price of a heavier design.

Additionally, when this pack will get moist and absorbs moisture, it will get considerably heavier. That makes this pack much more so higher suited to clear sunny days on the path.

Ought to You Purchase the Osprey Raven 14 Hydration Pack?

The Osprey Raven 14 is a best choice for mountain biking and nonetheless works properly for day hikers. The helmet attachment may also work nice for mountain climbers who plan on trekking in higher-class terrains. Though this pack weighs greater than we’d like, its sturdiness, safe match, and quite a few pockets make it an incredible possibility in the event you prioritize group and luxury. The pack options many distinctive pockets that make it stand out out there. Whereas we’d desire a bigger pack to retailer jackets and equipment for longer outings, it does the job for shorter adventurers.

In case you are in search of a pack that breathes simply and dries shortly when moist, this one might not be your first decide. We did discover that the Osprey Raven took a major time to dry out utterly after getting soaked, possible as a result of heavier supplies utilized in its development.

What Different Hydration Packs Ought to You Take into account?

General, the Osprey Raven 14 is a good pack to think about. But when it’s not for you, we advocate trying out different high picks in our finest hydration packs gear information, or take a look at the complete opinions of comparable packs under.

Osprey Mira/Manta 24 Evaluation: If you need the wonderful sturdiness, group options, and luxury of the Raven 14, however in a bigger measurement with elevated quantity for gear storage and a better-ventilated again panel, take a look at the Osprey Mira/Manta packs.

CamelBak Cloudwalker 18 Evaluation: In contrast to the Osprey Raven, this pack has a unisex design with barely extra quantity, although it comes with fewer group options and a lighter weight.

Gregory Swift 16/Inertia 18 Evaluation: This pack can be geared in direction of mountain biking, with a barely bigger hydration bladder capability and a bit extra versatility for day mountain climbing.