Osprey has long been known in the outdoor industry as one of the premiere backpack manufacturers in the world. But at the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, they revealed that they’re now about more than just outdoor recreation, unveiling a new line of travel bags, luggage, totes and child carriers. However, packs are their mainstay, and new bags for biking and hiking were also showed off on the convention center floor.
First up is the new Zealot series. This mountain bike-specific pack is made especially for descending steep trails while holding all the gear you need for a day on the singletrack. Special pockets can carry body armor, bike tool, and even a full-face helmet via adjustable compression straps.
The Zealot also has Osprey’s AirScape Suspension to help prevent sweaty back, BioStretch ventilated harness, large front pockets and side mesh pockets, LidLock helmet clip and a goggle/sunglass pocket. But one of the most cool features is the removable, roll-out tool pouch so you can keep your essential repair kit together and organized. The Zealot comes in two sizes, 10 and 16.
Another good-looking, brand new Osprey pack is the Syncro. This bike and hike backpack is a light weight option that the company says is perfect for bike commuters or people taking short hikes. It uses AirSpeed suspension, padded spacer mesh hipwings with ErgoPull hipbelt, raincover with blinker light patch, LidLock helmet clip, and a large main compartment with hydration sleeve. It also features a front pocket with an organizer for tools and whatever else you carry on your bike commute. There are three size options for the Syncro, 10, 15 and 20.
The last Osprey pack that caught our eye is the Escapist. This is another mountain biking pack with all the key features you’d come to expect from Osprey like AirScape ventilated backpanel and BioStretch harness, but is larger than the Zealot Series. In fact, the Escapist packs are so roomy, that Osprey says it can be used not just for all-day bike rides, but also for bike-packing hut trips. It has internal, bike-specific tool pockets, and a high visibility rain cover to keep your gear dry in a downpour.
All of these Osprey pack are available this year so keep your eyes open if you’re looking for a new bike pack.
For more, visit www.ospreypacks.com