Osprey Raven Review: The Best Backpack for Mountain Bikers?
There are two camps of mountain bikers: those who wear hip packs and those who prefer backpacks. I fall firmly in the backpack-loving crowd. I just don’t find hip packs to be comfortable, especially since I drink a lot of water and need to fill my 2+ L hydration reservoir.
So now that I’ve established that I love backpacks, what’s the best backpack for mountain bikers? I’ve tried a number of them, but the one that wins the award in my book is the Osprey Raven 10L (that’s the Osprey Raptor 10L for the guys). This pack is specifically designed for mountain bikers with a ton of great features like an integrated tool roll, LidLock helmet attachment, and a bike-specific winged shoulder harness for all-day comfort on the trail.
I’ve been using the Osprey Raven for several years now and I won’t be swapping it for something else anytime soon. In this post, I share my honest thoughts of the Osprey Raven (and Raptor) to help you decide if this is the mountain biking pack for you.
Osprey Raven 10 at a Glance
$165
The Osprey Raven 10 and Osprey Raptor 10 are made for mountain bikers with a thoughtful design and durable construction. Here are a few key features:
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Osprey Raven/Raptor pros
Osprey Raven/Raptor Cons
The Tool Roll
The integrated tool roll is really the selling point for the Osprey Raven and Raptor in terms of mountain biker-specific features. It’s located in a separate compartment at the bottom of the pack and has several small and large mesh pockets to keep all your tools and small spare parts organized.
There are two features of the tool roll that I really like:
- There’s a fabric square at the end of the roll to lay out your small parts out on so they don’t get lost in the dirt, sand, or vegetation.
- The whole tool roll is removable via a hook/loop system. This is really nice so you don’t have to swap everything out if you decide to use a different pack for the day or it’s time to throw it in the laundry.
I keep most of my mountain bike pack essentials in the tool roll so that I always know where they are and they are easily accessible.
Pockets & Organization
I need pockets. Lots of pockets. For snacks, for miscellaneous tools and spares, for an extra layer, and for my keys, etc… I love to keep things organized and my Osprey Raven 10L doesn’t let me down.
This pack is designed with:
Hydration Reservoir
I drink a lot of water and I like to do big-mile rides, so I only look for hydration packs that have a 3L hydration reservoir capacity. Both the 10L and the 14L models of the Osprey Raven and Raptor series can fit a 3L reservoir. Remember, you can always fill your bladder half-full or even swap it out for a smaller reservoir, but you can’t stuff a 3L reservoir into a pack that was designed to carry a 2L one!
One great feature related to the hydration reservoir is the clip that keeps the bladder from sliding down. I also like the long zippered hose ‘tunnel’ – no more threading the hose through small holes and channels like I had to do in my Dakine packs!
The reason that I give this feature 4/5 stars is because Osprey has had a bit of a problem with hydration reservoir quality… the one that came with my pack leaked and I needed to get it warrantied. My dad’s new Osprey reservoir he purchased (separate from a pack) also leaked. Osprey is great about sending out new ones, but it’s a bit annoying to have to go through that process. I hope they get the quality control issue figured out soon.
Comfort & Fit
Comfort is huge when it comes to mountain bike backpacks, right? I know I don’t want to wear an uncomfortable pack for several hours while pedaling my bike! I’m not just saying this, but the Osprey Raven 10L is the most comfortable pack I’ve tried.
The cyclist-specific winged harness shape does a great job of distributing weight and keeping the sternum strap helps keep pressure off the shoulders.
The only time I don’t find the Osprey Raven comfortable is when I’m doing jumps and drops or particularly rowdy downhills. It does shift around a bit and I need to tighten the straps to an uncomfortable level to prevent the pack from jostling around. But for normal, everyday riding this isn’t an issue.
Men’s vs Women’s vs Extended Fit
The Osprey Raven/Raptor series is available in a few different models to help you get the right fit:
- Osprey Raven: This is the women’s version. It has a slightly shorter torso length than the Men’s Raptor, a narrower shoulder width, and repositioned hip belt pockets to accommodate for wider hips.
- Osprey Raptor: This is the men’s version. It has a slightly longer torso length than the women’s Raven and a wider shoulder harness width.
- Osprey Raven Extended Fit: This is for larger larger-bodied female riders. It has longer sternum and waist straps and extended shoulder straps.
Ventilation
I sweat a lot. I mean a lot! I get it from my dad… So, good ventilation is important to me. While I’m never going to find a mountain bike backpack that gives me wind tunnel ventilation, the Osprey Raven does do a pretty good job at keeping my back airy and cool.
The Raven/Raptor series is designed with an AirScape™ Backpanel. This is essentially a layer of mesh over a panel of ridged foam ventilation channels. It’s not as good as the 3D-tensioned back panel of the Osprey Mira, it does keep the pack close to the body, which is what you want when bombing downhill.
weatherproofness & Durability
The outer shell of the Osprey Raven is made from durable nylon (partially recycled). It also has a durable water repellant (DWR finish), which helps ward off light rain. That being said, it’s definitely not waterproof.
My biggest critique for the Raven and Raptor is that it doesn’t come with – or even have the option of purchasing separately – a waterproof cover. But, I guess we really shouldn’t be riding in the rain, so… And, I actually don’t know of any mountain bike pack that does come with a rain cover.
Is this pack for you?
The Osprey Raven and Raptor are among the best hydration packs for mountain bikers. I’ve tried a lot of packs and my Osprey Raven 10L is so far my favorite. I love all the thoughtful touches and features that make it cyclist-specific and I can attest that it’s comfortable to ride with, even on big mile days.
Where it does fall short is for bike park or rowdy riding, but typically those are lap kind of days, so it’s easy to stash a water bottle somewhere close and leave the pack at home.
If you’re looking for a comfortable and durable pack with lots of organization and great ventilation, the Osprey Raven or Raptor is a great choice!
How it compares
The Osprey Raven and Raptor are a great pick for riders who prefer a hydration backpack. I personally love my Raven 10L and don’t think I’ll be swapping it out anytime soon. If you’re not sold on this pack, though, here are a few more to consider.
Still shopping around? Check out my post on the Best Hydration Packs for Mountain Bikers for even more options.
FAQs & Facts
Q: What makes the Osprey Raven & Raptor mountain bike-specific?
There are a few features that make the Osprey Raven and Raptor mountain bike-specific:
– The tool roll that is located in a separate compartment at the bottom of the pack
– The winged harness, which is specifically designed for comfort in a biking position
– The LidLock clip for carrying your helmet
– The AirScape back panel for excellent ventilation
Q: What’s the difference between the Raptor and Raven?
The Raptor is the men’s version and the Raven is the women’s version. The Raptor has a slightly longer torso and a wider shoulder harness, but other than that the two packs are the same.
Q: Should I get the 10L or 14L?
I initially ordered the 14L because I like to be prepared with tools and other essentials, especially when I’m riding alone. But I ended up sending it back to get the smaller 10L pack. For everyday riding, the 10L should suffice. If you are guiding or coaching and need to carry a first aid kit or doing especially long rides, you might want to go with the 14L
Q: What is the extended fit?
The extended fit model for the Osprey Raven is new for 2024. It’s designed for larger-bodied women to improve fit and comfort.
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What mountain bike pack do you use? Have you tried the Osprey Raven or Raptor? What are your thoughts on it? Leave a comment below!
I love my Osprey Syncro! It adds the suspended mesh backpanel and rain fly.
I love my Osprey Syncro! These have the suspended mesh backpanel you like on the Mira and a rain fly.
Nice! I have some friends who have the Syncro and they’re big fans too.
Ages ago I was a Camelbak rider. Somewhere in the boxes of bike stuff I still have the original model, along with 3-4 others I used. A long change to road recumbent riding and the Camelbaks all gathered dust. Now, back into mt biking I find that I’m not thrilled with a backpack setup, at least for most of my local rides.
Now, Osprey makes some great stuff, and being a hip-pack preference now, I have their Savu 5. Instead of having a bladder, it can carry two bottles. Add in the two bottles on the bike, and I’m good for those long rides. It does lack in storage volume though, so I’m considering that Raptor10 for some even longer excursions.
Agreed, I prefer Osprey over CamelBak. The screw-on lid that the CamelBak reservoirs are designed with always seem to fail/leak on me. If you’re looking for a something bigger than your Savu, I love the the Raptor/Raven!
Works pretty well as a hiking daypack too. Take out the heavy tools and tube and go. Wouldn’t buy it for hiking, but for a moderate hike they work fine.
You can fill the bladder without removing from the bag. The top slider can be removed without undoing the clip. Hard to explain unless you have it in hand. For me less trouble than taking the clip on and off.
True! I’ve used it for hiking as well. The removable tool roll is great for offloading tools and spares for a lighter pack. I’ll try filling the reservoir without removing it – thanks for the tip!