As I have gotten familiar with the Osprey Manta 34, I have also come to realize that many of its features could be repurposed for many of the other activities that I engage in when I hike to waterfalls.

The Manta 24 has held up remarkably well. All of the straps and zippers remain fully functional without even a hitch when using them. The water bladder and tube are also in really good shape. Of course, there are also intended features of the Osprey Manta 34 that enhance its versatility, especially when the weather changes. The Osprey Manta AG 36 is compatible with all 2.5L Hydraulics™ reservoirs that are anatomically shaped and made from TPU Film material. Filling or emptying these reservoirs is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes. Breathable and comfortable

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Although it is made from durable materials, the Osprey Manta AG 36 is not water-resistant and you have to use the rain cover to protect your equipment from getting wet. Expensive Not only does having the integrated Osprey Hydraulics LT Reservoir 2.5L save on money, but it also saves on room. The water bladder is stored in its separate compartment behind the harness, allowing you to have the main compartment free. The reservoir also comes with a magnetic bite valve, meaning it attaches easily to your sternum strap. This clever design means you can easily fill the water reservoir. First, the magnet on the bite valve tends to throw off my compass. Make sure you’re aware of this before you take off in the wrong direction.

As a result, I can definitely feel the difference which manifests itself in terms of hiking comfort. The drinking tube’s bite-valve has a magnetized section that attaches to the sternum strap, which stops it flapping about as you walk (Image credit: Alex Foxfield) I’m sure there are other features that I haven’t appreciated or fully exercised, but I’m quite impressed with what I’m able to do so far with it. Cons The last cool feature of the straps are that there is a built in adjustable loop for your hiking poles when you aren’t using them. Comfort Wrap

I enjoyed working out systems that employed all its various storage options during my mountain days (Image credit: Alex Foxfield) So, it may be worth spending a little extra on the Osprey Manta AG 36 as you‘ll get a reliable and durable piece of hiking equipment. The Pros of the Osprey Manta 36 Large storage capacity No piece of gear is perfect, and there are three main aspects of the Manta AG 28 that I wish were a bit different. Let the inside of the bladder dry thoroughly after each use. This requires finding some way (our testers’ choices included a whisk, a bent wire hanger, and an empty cardboard tube from a paper towel roll) to hold the bladder open so air can circulate.

When I arrived at the ridge line overlooking the expanse of the Pacific Ocean I had one thing on my mind: “Let’s see how dry my shirt is.” Consequently, this Osprey model can be used for short or long hikes as it is designed to keep the user cool and comfortable. Range of applications First, the front zippered compartment has an internal zippered mesh compartment for my wallet and keys.Although considerably smaller than the Manta AG 36, the Gregory Nano 18 is still large enough to store all the equipment you may need on a one day hike. By having the same sets of loops on both sides, then I could better distribute the weight while I’m also sure hikers that may be left-handed as opposed to right-handed may better appreciate this feature. The webbing was only 3/4″ wide, and the clip was a kind of plastic material that can easily break over several uses. Comparing the Osprey Manta 34’s hip belt clip and webbing (left) with the Osprey Ozone 46’s hip belt clip and webbing (right) We get it, the designation “Day Hiker” is really broad. It includes the “I just got off work for the day and would love to catch the sunset from the trail before dinner” kind of person and the “All I wanna do is spend every waking moment of my life exploring new trails” type of person, and everything in between. I found the webbing and hip belt clip between the hip belt themselves to be rather thin and fragile.

As well as the single walking axe attachment, there are ‘stow-on-the-go’ trekking pole attachments too. The compatibility with a single axe means the Manta is suitable for light winter walks, though its low capacity makes it unsuited to bigger winter adventures, while there’s no facility for climbers wielding twin ice tools. Currently, there’s only one set of front loops and one set of on-the-go loops for stowing long items like tripods and trekking poles (one being stowed in each set of loops).

We get technical with Osprey’s Manta 24, a fully featured daypack that offers plenty of adventure potential