Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Hydration Bladder Review

Bottom Line

Think of any feature you want in a hydration bladder, and the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir likely includes it. It is structurally reinforced with a rigid back plate, allowing you to effortlessly slide it into any backpack, even when it’s packed to capacity. It features a shutoff switch on the bite valve, a sternum-strap magnet to secure the hose, and a plastic handle for easier filling. 

All of these luxurious features come with a cost, both in weight and price. It is among the most expensive options we tested, second only to the highly specialized HydraPak HydraSleeve. The Hydraulics Reservoir is a bit bulky and heavier than most other bladders. We noticed a distinct lingering flavor of iodine when drinking from it. 

If you’re a hiker who values a seamless user experience from your hydration bladder, the Osprey Hydraulics will bring you joy. A couple of features, such as the rigid back support and the placement of the quick disconnect, make the Hydraulics an ideal choice for multi-day backpacking. If you’re an ultralight backpacker or trail runner, consider exploring some of the lighter options on our list.

And for more info, check out some of our other popular gear guides:

How We Tested

During our testing period this winter, we scrambled over the granite boulders of Rattlesnake Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park and hiked the trails in our neighborhood on Mojave Desert Land Trust land. The Osprey Hydraulics kept us hydrated throughout, under mostly sunny skies in the Southern California desert.

Weight & Packability

If other bladders sacrifice features to achieve lighter weights, the Osprey Hydraulics adds extra ounces to provide a feature-rich design and a premium user experience. The Hydraulics weighs 7.6 ounces, making it our second heaviest bladder after the specialized HydraSleeve. 

Due to its rigid backer and ergonomic plastic handle, the Hydraulics does not roll up or pack down easily. We measured its minimum size at 15” by 6” by 1.5,” making it one of the bulkier bladders we tested. If you appreciate the design features but want to reduce weight, Osprey produces a lighter version of this bladder called the Hydraulics LT, which lacks a rigid backer.

Ease of Use

The user experience is where the Osprey Hydraulics really shines; it feels like Osprey has thought of everything. Filling it in the sink is a breeze thanks to the ergonomic plastic handle. The plastic back plate helps the bladder maintain its shape as you slide it back into the hydration pouch, even if your backpack is full of gear. Its quick disconnect also releases the hose near the top of the bladder, rather than the bottom. This means you won’t have to sift through all of your gear to reattach the hydration hose after filling. 

The sliding closure also has built-in loops if your backpack features a suspension strap that closes with Velcro or a buckle. The bite valve includes an on-off switch that is easy to operate with one hand, which we believe is one of the most important features. 

The sternum strap attachment features a strong magnet that feels quite secure and prevents the hose from flopping around while you run or hike. However, the plastic attachment itself seems slightly more prone to slipping off than the one on the Contour. During our testing in the desert, we noticed quite a bit of sand getting stuck to the magnet, but this didn’t appear to affect its strength too much.

Ease of Cleaning

The wide opening of the hydraulics measures about 3.5 inches in diameter, which is large enough to accommodate our tester’s hand. This made cleaning it reasonably easy, although she still needed a long brush, as the opening is too small for her forearm to reach deep enough to clean the entire interior. Additionally, the center baffle impeded the process and made scrubbing a bit trickier. 

This was also one of the slowest bladders to dry. Because it’s a fairly slender bladder, the inner walls tend to stick together when wet, and the sliding closure end rests in a sealed position, restricting airflow. Even while hanging in the desert sunshine, the Hydraulics bladder took over four hours to fully dry.

Taste

Once cleaned and dried, we were disappointed to find that the Hydraulics still retains an iodine taste. It’s not as bad as the taste of the Gregory 3D Hydro or the Cherainti Bladder, but it’s also not as fresh as the hydration systems from Platypus or Camelbak.

Durability

We didn’t notice any durability issues with the Hydraulics Reservoir during our testing period. We are curious to see how the rigid plastic pieces hold up over time, as they seem vulnerable to cracking or breaking upon impact.

Should You Buy the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir?

Multi-day backpackers who expect a lot from their gear will appreciate the thoughtful design of the Osprey Hydraulics. If you’ve struggled to stuff your full water bladder back into your overnight pack, you might understand the rigid backer that helps the bladder keep its shape as you slide it into the hydration sleeve. You also won’t have to fish through your gear to reconnect the hose, as the quick-release is positioned near the top of the bladder. 

These premium features come with a higher price tag and heavier weight. For those just starting out backpacking or thru-hikers looking to shed ounces, you may find something else that better fits your needs.

What Other Hydration Bladders Should You Consider?

With so many other great bladders, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs on our list of this season’s favorites. 

Hydrapak Contour Review: The Contour manages to retain our favorite features while shedding a few ounces from the Osprey Hydraulics bladder. The Contour also has a sliding closure, but it’s easier to clean and dry because it can be turned inside out. The bite valve features a shutoff switch, and the hose has a sternum strap magnet, both of which we appreciate for their ease of use. We also think the Contour tastes slightly better than the Hydraulics bladder, a major win in our book.

Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5 L Reservoir: Though we didn’t test it ourselves, we’d recommend checking out the Hydraulics LT if you want something lighter but like the overall design of the Hydraulics. It has the same ergonomic handle, on-off lever on the bite valve, and sternum strap magnet, but the LT 2.5 liter shaves off about 1.5 ounces from the regular 2 liter version. It appears to achieve this mainly by ditching the rigid backer, so if that’s your favorite feature, it would be best to stick with the regular Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir.