Australian Hiker

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Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L Reservoir Review

There are a number of bladder brands on the market but over the years, whenever I needed a new bladder I’ve always gravitated towards the Osprey water bladders for several reasons which I’ll discuss shortly. Recently I discovered that Osprey had undertaken a redesign of these bladders and had the opportunity to test out one of the new Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L Reservoir models. It’s worth noting here that the previous model is still available at the time of this review and has now been renamed the Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L – ClassicReservoir.

This bladder comes in a range of sizes ranging from 1.5 to 3 litres. I usually prefer to use the Osprey Hydraulics 3L Reservoir on longer hikes and where water availability is an issue. For day hikes, I will often shift down to this 2.5 litre version because given it’s a bit smaller, it’s easier to work with in smaller day packs. As someone who mainly uses Osprey packs these bladders, which can be used with any brand of pack, fit so nicely within the Osprey range.

From first glance this redesign appeared to be cosmetic but I soon realised that in creating this new version Osprey has incorporated a handy carry handle, a nice feature to have when filling up this bladder, but in doing so Osprey has retained the same weight with those one coming in at 170 grams when empty. Previously you carried this bladder using the top closure bar which wasn’t an issue but the new bladder handle works better.

The top slide close on this bladder is now red which matches the colour scheme. In addition there is a new holding mechanism on the upgraded Osprey packs which makes it very easy to keep the bladder in place within the pack. Other pack manufacturers use a velcro closure which also works well but isn’t as convenient.

Typical for Osprey packs is the small magnetic closure stem that keeps the drinking tube in the same place. This magnetic system does pick up iron dust in central Australia so you will need to spend a few minutes cleaning this magnet off every so often. Osprey has been fiddling with this system over the years and I think that they have gotten the drinking tube opening and closing system spot on. As with any water bladder there is a need to replace the bite nozzle and in my case ist approximately annually but for most people I would expect it to be every two years on average.

Size wise a 2.5 litre bladder will suit most people and if I was only going t0 use one bladder for all my packs, I would opt for the 3 litre version which is what I use on long hikes. I find it annoying having to stop and top up my water and prefer to do so once I’m happy to carry extra water. Even if you only half fill this bladder, the extra weight of a slighter larger bladder isn’t going to be something you’ll notice.

While there are cheaper water bladders on the market I just love the ones from Osprey and have used them for the past five years.

Note: The Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L – Classic Reservoir (previous model) is still available for a very good price so if you want to save yourself some money, that version is a great alternative.

We Like

• Love the magnetic chest strap clip. The nozzle is always easy to find meaning I will drink more, particularly on hot days
• Easy to fill
• You don’t have to fill this bladder all the way up if doing a shorter walk
• LT stands for lightweight and this new model is only 170 grams
• Reasonably priced high quality, durable bladder

We Don't Like

• The magnetic clip will pick up dirt if the soil is high in iron e.g. central Australia
• Bladders in general are best used with packs that have dedicated hydration pockets
• The bite valve on this or any other bladder will need to be replaced occasionally. I replace mine roughly annually but that’s a lot of hiking

Best Uses

• For hikes where water is easy to find and you don’t need to carry large amounts

Osprey Hydralics LT 2-5 Litre Reservoir

Osprey Hydralics LT 2-5 Litre Reservoir rear view

Osprey Hydralics LT 2-5 Litre Reservoir inside pack. Note the red webbing which has a small plastic attachment on the end which quickly and easily passes through the slot in the bladder to hold it in place

Osprey Hydralics LT 2-5 Litre Reservoir bite valve close up. Note the angle on this bite valve – it’s fixed. The magnetic clip which matches up to the one on your Osprey pack and is fixed whereas the older one could move along the hose

Bladder closure mechanism (red bar at the top of the bladder). This red plastic slide locks the bladder closed as well as providing an attachment point for Osprey packs to hold in place inside the pack. Its attached by a heavy grade nylon cord that lasts and lasts

Buy One

You can purchase the Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L Reservoir from Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $84.99 RRP

Other Versions

• Osprey Hydraulics LT 1.5L Hydration Reservoir
• Osprey Hydraulics 2L Hydration Reservoir
• Osprey Hydraulics 3L Hydration Reservoir

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by the Australian distributor of Osprey

Last updated

14 January 2024

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