As I am spending longer and longer days on my mountain bike this summer to get ready for the Breck Epic, I need more than just one water bottle to get me through the ride (on my new bike I won’t even have the liberty of a water bottle cage). With a 2.5L reservoir and just enough space for the essentials, the Osprey Syncro 3 makes the perfect dirt shredding companion.
The Syncro 3 verges on the minimalist side and that’s just the way I like it–all I want with me on a ride around Marin is water, snacks, tools, my phone, and a jacket. The 2.5L reservoir (included) fits inside the main compartment, with a hanger to hold it in place. The larger Syncro models feature a J-zip front tool organizer pocket but not the 3L size. Instead, I just shove my tool roll, along with my jacket, in the bottom of the rather large front stretch pocket. A smaller zipper compartment with key clip provides enough room for your iPhone 6 and some snacks.
Though you have to accept that sweat happens no matter what, Osprey tries to alleviate the back soaking with a trampoline mesh backpanel and full mesh straps and hipbelt. The usual blinker light attachment and reflective hits come in handy for those that might use this as a commute pack.
The LidLock is somewhat useless with my Smith Forefront helmet but if I was to use this pack for a cycling sportive, it might serve useful. I would be curious to know how many of you actually use the LidLock on a regular basis?
My only criticism with the pack is in the reservoir construction. The Hydraulics LT reservoir design uses a detachment point in the middle of the hose to make it easy to remove the reservoir and leave the mouth end section on your pack. They only problem? It’s super hard to get all the water out of either end of the tube when breaking the connection in the middle rather than at the base of the reservoir. The tube never fully dries and could lead to the buildup of nasties over time. Perhaps it is user error.
The Osprey Syncro 3 retails for $80 and is available now. The Syncro hydration pack series also includes a 10L and 15L version.
