Runner Up Best Overall Hydration Pack for Mountain Biking

Platypus might not be as well known to mountain bikers as the other brands on our list, and “Platypus Duthie” might not sound nearly as hip as “Dakine Seeker” or “Osprey Raptor.” But don’t let the understated branding and low sleeper look of the Platypus Duthie fool you. This is a   hydration pack ready to party all day on seriously rowdy trails.

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See Our Best Hydration Pack for Mountain Biking: MTB Hydration Pack Review!

Storage

At only 10l, the PLatypus Duthie AM 10.0 is on the smaller side of the full sized hydration packs that we reviewed, but its layout makes it feel more spacious than it is, and those who still need more can opt for the Duthie AM 15 for five extra liters of gear storage.

The main compartment is accessed via a medium sized U shaped zipper which opens into a half-clamshell. The outer flap of the clamshell features a mesh zipper pocket for quick access, and mesh stretch pockets and two “pump sleeves” (one for a tire pump and one for a shock pump) ensure that it is easy to find what you need when you need it.

A small front quick access compartment does not hold much, but is a good place to keep a bar or energy gel or two. We would like to see a bit more in the way of volume and organization in this pocket, but the Platypus Duthie AM 10 provides so much organization in the main compartment that it can be expected to pull double duty for quick access. There is also a fleece lined sunglass/cell phone compartment at the top of the pack, as well as an integrated, hideaway rain cover at the bottom.

A compression strap operated overflow compartment, similar to the ones found on CamelBak hydration packs can store a rain jacket and an open or full face helmet or knee pads when you need to transport them.

Finally, a zippered pocket can be found on each side of the hip belt, perfect for stowing a bar or two that can be reached without taking off your pack.

Comfort

Putting aside CamelBak’s low rider packs, because they offer a completely different experience, the Platypus Duthie AM 10 is the only hydration pack for mountain biking that we found to be a challenger to the Osprey Raptor in terms of comfort.

The Platypus FloatAir back panel uses ultra breathable, highly tension mesh stretched over a lightweight wire frame. The reinforced wire frame helps to keep the pack from molding to your back like most packs, making the Duthie AM 10.0 the best-ventilated hydration pack that we reviewed. If you are riding hard in hot weather, you will still get a sweaty back, but the Duthie will keep you cooler than most.

In addition to lightly padded, well-ventilated shoulder straps, which are comfortable in their own right, the Duthie AM 10 features the most substantial hip belt on our list. While I don’t tend to miss a hip belt on smaller packs, the belt on the Duthie AM 10 does a great job of helping to provide support to the pack and keeping it tight against your back over rough terrain. Of course, the padded, pocketed hip belt does not breathe like others on the list, but the rest of the pack is so well ventilated that it remains the coolest pack on our list.

Water Reservoir and Ease of Drinking

The Platypus Duthie features the Platypus 3l Big Zip LP water reservoir and HyperFlow bite valve. The Reservoir itself is a zip style, similar to the Osprey Hydraulics reservoir. It also features a quick disconnect hose. Together, this makes it an easy hydration pack to both clean and fill.

The downside of the Duthie AM 10’s water reservoir is that the flow of water from the HyperFlow bite valve was similar to that of the Osprey Hydraulics reservoir, and lagged behind the CamelBak Big Bite valve.

All in all, it is easy to get to, and along with the Osprey Hydraulics reservoir, the Duthie still beat out the other contenders, save for CamelBack.

The hose feeds through a loop in either shoulder strap and is secured with a magnet, making finding, drinking from, and resecuring the hose with one hand a breeze.

Weight

Weighing in at just over 800g, the Platypus Duthie is a lightweight pack to be as fully featured as it is. Sure, there are lighter packs available, but none of them strike a balance between the organization, comfort, and weight that can be found in the Platypus Duthie AM 10.0.

What Did We Really Think?

The Platypus Duthie AM 10.0 is an all around bang up hydration pack for mountain biking and our 1b pick behind the Osprey Raptor 14 as our favorite all around. It has outstanding fit and comfort features, a solid hydration system, great organization and storage capacity for a 10l pack, a 3l reservoir, and the best-ventilated back panel in our review. Finally, at $140, it is $10 cheaper than the Osprey Raptor 14, and it can even be found at the REI outlet as low as $104.73.

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