“Osprey Raptor 14” by Lari Lozov
OSPREY RAPTOR 14
The search for the perfect backpack is always a never-ending process for people who love spending more time in nature, whether on foot or by bike. I’m no exception, and since I spend a lot of time on my bike-whether in the city or out in the countryside-a cycling backpack is a very important part of my gear. Over the years, I’ve gone through many backpacks-from basic models to brand-name and highly specialized ones-and I still couldn’t find the perfect balance. They were either sturdy but heavy, or light but poorly organized, or something else entirely. For me, the ideal cycling backpack is lightweight, well-organized (with separate pockets for everything I need), has a ventilated back panel, and, of course, is comfortable-especially the shoulder straps, which for some reason always end up being a bit uncomfortable for me. Since I was a bit disappointed with my last two purchases-cycling backpacks from a leading brand in the industry-I decided to switch brands and experiment with something new.
After thoroughly researching the market, the American brand OSPREY caught my eye. It’s relatively unknown here, but not among avid hikers. I’d already heard excellent reviews about the brand’s large hiking models and decided to test out their cycling backpacks. After a long search on their official website, I settled on the RAPTOR 14 model. At first glance, it seemed like it might be the perfect backpack for me, so I decided to check it out. I purchased the backpack from the importer Arms-BG.com for 220 BGN. My first impression of the backpack as soon as I picked it up was that, when empty, it was almost weightless (0.75 kg according to the manufacturer!) and it immediately gave the impression of a high-quality product with attention to detail. Given its weight, I immediately worried whether it might be too “delicate” and whether it would be durable enough for heavy use, but I was yet to find that out.
The backpack features a main compartment for gear, a separate section on the back for a water bladder, a separate panel that provides additional volume to the backpack and compresses via straps with buckles-which itself contains two separate pockets: an outer pocket, which is the only one that closes with a buckle, and a hidden compartment with a vertical zipper featuring a key hook and two compartments for a wallet or anything else you want to keep in the safest and most convenient place. The main compartment features a small mesh pocket and two separate elongated compartments suitable for a larger pump or other long items.
There is also another small zippered pocket at the top of the backpack; the interior is lined with soft fabric designed for easily scratched items such as glasses or mobile devices with screens. The waist strap features two more extremely convenient small pockets, which I’ve set aside for keys, small change, and my phone-but of course, depending on their size, they can be used for anything you’d like to have immediately at hand without having to take off the backpack, such as a GPS or simply an energy bar or gel for a quick snack.
Another great solution is the special helmet hook, which lets you securely attach your helmet without taking up extra space in the backpack. On both sides of the backpack, there are compression straps combined with elastic pockets that are convenient for securing protective pads. I don’t use them myself, but they’re an excellent extra for All-Mountain and Enduro riders. When not in use, thanks to these straps and the ones on the separate panel, the backpack compresses down to almost the size of a piece of fabric.
What made me incredibly happy was the special tool compartment located at the bottom of the backpack! I’ve always dreamed of something like this. Everything in this compartment has its own special place-a pump, a multi-tool, a spare tire… and the compartment itself is positioned exactly where it needs to be for maximum accessibility, so you can quickly grab exactly what you need without rummaging through the entire backpack with hands dirty from repairs. The best part is that all these items are arranged on a separate panel that can be easily removed entirely from the backpack so you can work comfortably and without hassle, and, if desired, this panel can be replaced with a rain cover, which is sold separately for this model-but honestly, I wouldn’t want to be without this extra even in the heaviest downpour!
The model comes complete with a 3L water bladder, and here, too, nothing has been left to chance. The bladder’s hose is neatly hidden in one of the shoulder straps, and the entire compartment closes with an asymmetrically placed zipper that extends into the shoulder strap, keeping the hose as secure and tucked away as possible, and the hose’s mouthpiece is equipped with a magnet, so that as soon as you’ve taken a sip of water, you can attach it to the chest strap so it doesn’t get in your way-all without wasting time or taking your eyes off the trail! By all accounts, the OSPREY RAPTOR 14 was designed for active riders.
I couldn’t wait to test the backpack on a real ride, and now the moment had finally arrived. I pumped up the tires, slung my Osprey on my back, and headed for the trails of Vitosha. Osprey calls its back ventilation system AirScapeTM, which consists of memory foam molded into ergonomic, ventilated panels covered with mesh; the shoulder straps are designed on the same principle.
After an intense ride on asphalt, I noticed that my back wasn’t as well-ventilated as with my other backpack featuring a curved mesh back panel, but the shoulder straps turned out to be very comfortable for me and provided excellent ventilation. After the test on flat asphalt, it was time for some more aggressive riding on rough trails, and here it immediately became clear that the OSPREY RAPTOR 14 is a model for fans of more extreme riding. With its narrow, elongated body, even when fully loaded it literally sticks to your back, once you adjust the shoulder straps and waist belts; it doesn’t sway or wobble when you jump or make sharp turns at high speed. So I personally prefer to put up with a little discomfort and opt for the greater stability of the RAPTOR 14 in the better ventilation offered by backpacks with a curved mesh back panel-which, incidentally, lose some of their volume due to this design.
So far, all my requirements for a cycling backpack have been met-the backpack is lightweight and comfortable, it’s perfectly organized, and it has pockets and compartments for everything you can think of. Even during my many rides, I never had to turn it inside out to look for something because everything had its place. If I had to point out a drawback, it would be the somewhat small actual capacity-perhaps due to its narrow, elongated shape-so keep that in mind when choosing your desired volume. And yet, in the main compartments of the RAPTOR 14, you can fit a bulky outer layer like a sweatshirt, for example, a camera, some food, and something more compact like a windbreaker and pants, for instance-enough for a full day of riding. Another thing I’d point out as a downside is that the water bladder itself serves as a rigid back panel. I prefer to use cycling water bottles and hardly ever use the bladder, and even so, my back is comfortable enough. However, if you pack the backpack tightly or put in any very sharp objects, it might be a good idea to use the reservoir with the back pad. Of course, the price-it’s not cheap, but it’s fully comparable to competing brands in this class, and if we’re looking for perfection, we can’t expect it to come at a low price.
And after all that, my only concern was whether my dream backpack was sturdy enough, because, as I said, OSPREY backpacks aren’t cheap, and I wouldn’t be very happy if I had to replace it soon. Usually, reviews of a product are written based on first impressions and brief use, but luckily I’m lazy enough that by the time I decided to document my satisfaction with this backpack, I’d already been using it intensively for almost a year-and I haven’t noticed any signs of wear, tears, or other So, yes! I’d say I’ve found the perfect cycling backpack for myself.
