Features
Osprey Packs Katari Hydration Stone features is:
- Dedicated hydration compartment with included BPA-free Hydraulics LT 2.5L reservoir by Hydrapak
- Low-profile design with AirScape backpanel and rolled, soft-edged harness for maximum comfort
- Magnetic sternum strap bite valve attachment
- Blinker light attachment
- Zippered, scratch-free slash pocket for sunglasses or devices and dual stretch mesh side pockets for small items
- Front panel vertical zip compartment with tool organization
Reviews
Below are some critical reviews about Osprey Packs Katari Hydration StoneThis may be picky, but I don't like that the water tube comes over the right shoulder. You have no option to change this because the bite valve magnet is permanently attached to the left shoulder strap. When biking it makes sense to use your left arm for grabbing the tube to since you want to keep your dominant hand on the hadlebars (typically right) and also control the rear brake.
The backpack itself is kinda ok. Good size, good fit. Bad back ventilation, my back was hot and wet.The hydration is nightmarish. There is no quick release and it’s a pain to remove everything to fill it up or empty. Filling it up is not easy. You have to keep the edges squeezed to form an opening. I guess it is impossible to dry out completely without a paid add on. There is no hook on the bottle and it’s made of a material that just sticks to itself not letting the air in.The hose is weird. Sometimes it’s too short, sometimes too long. The magnet is too weak, it’s useless.Will return.
I really like Osprey, I wish it was a little more rugged for those that put their stuff to the test. This one scrapes your lower back while running. Its not made for it though.
Below are some positive reviews about Osprey Packs Katari Hydration Stone
The pack is excellent for mountain biking. The one star deduction is due to the pack arriving looking used. The tags were ripped & re-attached with haphazard string, and there were some stains/splotches on a few areas (see photo). Purchased from Amazon as the seller, so I wonder if it was a co-mingled from another seller or if Amazon is mixing in returns... Anyway, I decided to keep it I had a ride coming up, and mud/dirt should soon overtake the fabric's splotches.On to the pack itself: Excellent! After two rides, I can say it's comfortable, functional, and great to access pockets. The shoulder, chest & waist straps are easy to adjust, and were comfortable for a 3-3.5h ride. This is a great size for temperate climates -- plenty of room for many snacks (I last took 3 bars, a CO2 pack, a multitool, and could easily triple that. The elastic side-pockets are also excellent to stash garbage, partially-eaten energy bars/chews, etc. The hidden inside top pocket initially looked awkward, but after one use I'm sold as it being the ideal spot for my phone/wallet. As someone who needs a lot of water and has a bike with room for only one bottle cage, I plan to use this pack for all rides of 2h or more.The only downside to the pack: I wish the hydration tube was quickly detachable, as it's difficult to thread the bite-valve through the shoulder harness each time to clean or refill it.
The background: I habitually overpack for what I expect from a dayhike (layers, medkit, etc) and I also hate broad, bulky bags with extra space I'll be tempted to fill. (My go-to "big" bag for long dayhikes is Osprey's Raptor 14, which I love.) But for a short afternoon hike, or taking my dog to the park, I was constantly trying balance big enough pockets for the things I can't leave home without vs. bags that felt like overkill. This is the perfect sweet spot. What makes this small bag work is the way the pockets are distributed. The main big pocket is plenty big enough for my small medkit (which is about 4" thick), or some awkwardly shaped dog toys or even a balled-up jacket (vs the old, similar sized Viper 9, where the capacity was so divided up that a single bulky item couldn't fit anywhere). The couple little mesh sleeves inside are just big enough to keep little items from rolling around the bottom, the hidden pocket at the top is great for valuables I won't need on trail (wallet, keys), and the side pockets are something I wish Osprey would add back to all of their small packs for the accessibility. All that versatility in a tiny package means I can carrry all the things I need and won't even notice the bag on my back!I literally never write reviews but this is such a unique bag design that works perfectly for me in this niche. I hope my review encourages others to try it and Osprey to continue making bags like this!
Perfect for day hikes. Super light