Osprey Manta 24 Backpack Review – Hydration On The Go

Founded in 1974, Osprey is a highly esteemed company with a glowing reputation for producing high-quality backpacks. Furthermore, Osprey has developed a relationship of trust with its customers, and its ethics are almost as highly regarded as its gear.

This moral approach is evident in Osprey’s commitment to sustainability as well as in its ‘Allmighty Guarantee’, which replaces any Osprey product, free of charge, for life.

Osprey manufactures a range of backpacks to suit a variety of lifestyles and activities. In this review, we’re going to take a look at the Manta 24, a member of Osprey’s premium line of hiking backpacks, the Manta AG™ / Mira AG™ Series (Manta for Males and Mira for females). This series has been designed with two main goals in mind – keeping you comfortable and hydrated when you’re out hiking.

The Manta 24 effortlessly achieves these aims, plus it’s packed with thoughtful features that make it a dream bag for urban life as well as when you’re on the trail. We’ve broken down the key components of what makes this bag so great, and we’ll go through them one by one so you can find out whether this bag is the one for you.

Materials and Durability

If you’re going to shell out on a backpack built for the great outdoors, you want to be sure that it will last you a while. So, will the Manta 24 stand up to the test of time?

Materials

Nylon is the most common material used for durable hiking backpacks, thanks to its abrasion resistance and general robustness. The Manta 24 is constructed entirely of nylon, so it’s no surprise that this is one sturdy bag.

Water-resistance

Not only is nylon super tough, but it’s water-resistant too. Although this 100% nylon bag might not stand up to torrential rain, fear not – it comes with an in-built rain cover to keep you safe from those sudden downpours.

Buckles and Webbing

Osprey has made sure that even the finest detail of this bag are constructed from high-end materials. This is evident from the heavy-duty buckles found throughout the bag, and the abrasion-resistant, double-stitched nylon webbing used for the side panels and front pocket.

Organization and Accessibility

So aside from the main compartment, with its 24L capacity, what else does the Manta 24 have to offer in terms of organization? After all, it’s a nightmare when you can’t figure out where put everything – rummaging around for a first aid kit is no fun in an emergency, and it’s a real pain when you miss the photo opportunity of a lifetime because you couldn’t find your camera fast enough!

Water Reservoir

One of the main selling points of this rucksack is its water reservoir compartment, which is located behind the harness so that it doesn’t intrude on your main compartment. Plus, this bag actually comes with a BPA-free Osprey Hydraulics 2.5L Reservoir. This has a slider at the top that makes refilling super simple, and it includes a magnetic bite valve that attaches to your sternum strap so you can sip water while you’re on the move.

Pockets

One of the reasons why we love this bag so much is the number of pockets it has. Despite its small size, the Manta 24 boasts four zippered pockets, two mesh side pockets for water bottles (or other gear), and three internal mesh pockets in addition to its spacious main compartment and rain cover section.

The zippered pockets are located in various places to be sure that you can always grab what you need when you need it. There’s one small pocket on the top for quick access, two hip-belt pockets, and one large pocket on the front (with left-side access) that contains one of the mesh pockets plus a key clip.

Carrying Comfort

One of the main selling points of the Manta 24 is how incredibly comfortable it is, with many users claiming that it’s the comfiest bag they’ve ever owned. But what is it that makes this bag such a dream to wear?

Adjustable Torso Size

Well, a lot of the comfort comes down to the adjustable harness. Unlike bags in the previous Osprey hiking series, the harness of the Manta 24 can be adjusted up to an impressive 4 inches, so you can be sure you get the perfect placement of your load.

Back Panel

On top of that, the 3D-tensioned mesh AirSpeed back panel minimizes the amount of body contact you’ll have with this pack, providing excellent ventilation – say goodbye to hiking with a sweaty back all day long!

This tension is due to the construction of the Manta 24 around a Light Wire frame, and not only does this maximize ventilation but it also helps to balance the weight of your load evenly, helping to reduce aches and pains after long days on the trail.

Straps and Hip Belt

Just in case 4 inches of adjustability isn’t enough, you can make fine-tune your adjustments to perfection using the adjustable sternum and shoulder straps. We love the magnetic locking mechanisms on the sternum strap too, and there’s a solid amount of padding on the shoulder straps. With an adjustable hip belt to boot, you really can tailor this bag to your exact shape.

With tonnes of ways to ensure you get the perfect fit, an excellent ventilation system, and great weight distribution, this has to be one of the comfiest hiking bags out there. The only downside we can see is that it’s a little on the heavy side but, all things considered, we think we can forgive a couple of extra pounds in return for the overall comfort level.

Extras

So, aside from an integrated rain cover and heaps of pockets, does the Manta 24 have any other extra features? Of course it does!

No hiking bag would be complete without the option to attach your trekking poles to it, and we love the sturdy nature of Osprey’s Stow-On-The-Go pole attachment points. And for those of you that like hiking in extreme conditions, there’s also a loop located at the bottom as well as a tie-off point higher up that are ready to carry your ice axe.

The elastic loops on the shoulder straps can come in surprisingly handy too – they’re definitely a great place to pop your sunglasses or a small water bottle – and we like the attachment point for a safety light near the bottom. You can also make use of the lower and upper compression straps on each side fo the bag to reduce your overall bulk, which is as convenient for early morning commutes as it is for adventures in the wilderness.

Value for Money

The Manta 24 is a great backpack. It’s been carefully constructed and is exceptionally comfortable, plus it comes with a water reservoir and has tonnes of other nice touches. It’s not cheap, but considering how expensive outdoor packs can get, it’s not a super expensive option either.

There are certainly other backpacks out there at a similar or more expensive price that don’t have as many features to offer. Generally, you won’t find many cheaper options that are this durable with as many beneficial features. Plus, you get an Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir thrown in for free too!

It’s also a versatile bag that can be used en route to work as well as for mountainside treks. Considering its durability, extra features, and versatility, we think that this bag is worth every penny.

Rating

With an overall score of 92/100, the Manta 24 is up there with some of our top-rated backpacks. There really is very little at fault with this daypack!

Verdict

So, what do we think of the Manta 24 overall? We absolutely love the flexibility in the harness which, combined with various adjustable straps and a great suspensions system, spreads the load and really does ensure the perfect fit.

We also love the number of pockets this bag has, which is particularly impressive for its size. The water reservoir-dedicated compartment is a great feature too, and there’s no shortage of external attachment points.

The main negative with this bag is its weight – for its size, it’s heavier than you might expect. Also, there may be some of you out there that like the sound of this bag but will simply find it too small – lucky for you there’s also a Manta 34L model!

Overall, though, this bag won’t break the bank, is super comfortable, and is great for day trips in the great outdoors as well as inner-city missions – you won’t end up purchasing one of these!