Customer Reviews Osprey Seral

Purchased 2 upgraded Osprey magnets and replaced in the slots provided. Now i can hang curing sausages on the water hose.

This was sorely needing while riding in Bentonville,AR. It get hot there in the summer and I needed a better way to hold more water as my enduro bike has no bottle mount on the bike itself. Pro's: Im a bigger rider and this is winning because it fits and has plenty of room Con: Magnet sucks....oh well. Since its roomy can get heavy if pack it full of stuff.....LOL

I've used this on day hikes and mountain biking so far. Great for warm weather when you know you won't need to carry a bunch of layers, although you can fit a shirt in it if it packs small. It's very comfortable especially while biking (I barely knew I had it on). It's nice to not have a pack covering my back getting sweaty. Carries a bunch of snacks, light, sunscreen, first aid, knife, chapstick, etc. I can access all the pockets behind my back. I haven't had any issue with the magnet not holding the tube and valve in place, but I didn't trim the tube at all so it doesn't fit tight across my front, and I think that helps it not get pulled or bumped off the magnet.

32 waist, fit/ no belly. Use it loaded!!! 4+hrs. Use this more during hot months, use backbag in the cooler months. Know what it is going in, its a bag, doesnt matter where on you its hung, there is gonna be some level of discomfort. Its just better to have the fluids and support pieces than to be dehydrated and or broke down in the middle of no where!! Had mine for almost 2 yrs now, no problems and magnet has worked 100%.

I'm always looking to ride with nothing as any pack or hip pack but getting on more remote rides carrying food, water, tools, a shell is mandatory. I've tried a lot of hip packs over the years and the Seral is by far the best fitting. You sweat more into backpacks but they don't bounce around as much as hip packs. Osprey bridged the gap with the Seral making it feel like nothing's there but large enough to be useful. I usually ride with it loose and hanging low on climbs to help air flow and then wear it on your lower back and snugged tight for descents.

I've worn a fair number of of "hip packs" or fanny packs on the bike trying to get away from sweaty backpacks that bounce around on descents and jumps. While fit is the most basic function a hip pack can have the Seral out performs other brands that will remain nameless. A problem with hip packs is getting their fit correct to carry the load without bouncing around. The Seral solved that issue and adds on using Osprey's good design on water bladders and magnetic bite valve from other packs. It's big enough to carry a small lunch, pump, tools, chuck key, Co2's, tire levers, spare tube etc and has bungee webbing on the back you can shove a shell or knee pads through. Fits well on your back and won't budge for the climb or rowdy lines. Only thing I'd add to it is a dedicated hand pump strap on the bottom. Just two velcro pieces to hold a hand pump outside the main cargo pocket.

Being 5'1" means that you're restricted to smaller bicycle frames, and therefore limited in your on-bike storage space - especially water bottles. This pack is a fantastic option for alleviating storage problems without being forced to use a backpack or vest option. Its very comfortable, allows air to flow across most of the back, and the magnet seems to hold well on chunky, loose gravel roads. I purchased this hip pack as a means of hydrating during the Dirty Kanza and other local endurance gravel events, but its been a fantastic option for shorter rides as well. My only complaint is that its a bit bulky on petite people - too many pockets/too much fabric makes it feel quite large. I would love a slimmed down version that is basically only for hydration, rather than hydration + other storage. I have other bags on my bike for that. However, given the storage space, it would make a great alternative to backpacks on hikes.

This is one awesome pack. I was looking for another option to change things up. I came across a similar product in a magazine. I did my research and found this pack. It is feature rich and well thought out. It is great for mid distance rides. It is comfortable and highly adjustable. The quick stash side pockets are awesome to keep my nutrition products handy. I would buy this pack again. I paid full retail, it was well worth it at that price, especially with Opsrey's warranty. I used this pack for many other outings and not just hydration. I remove the bladder and use it as a regular lumbar pack while on vacation. I plan to buy the Savu model too. I love it. It gets used multitpul times a week for mountain biking.

It's not a huge pack, more for essentials on short to mid-length rides. That's A-ok as that's what I was looking for. Easily handles phone, a few snacks, keys, and a secure pocket for a credit card or cash. When I stashed a spare tube in there it was getting a bit tight and bulkier than I like (moved that and multi-tool to frame). Was also able to get a thin t-shirt or rain jacket without much issue. I haven't had as much trouble with the magnet as others have mentioned. I slid the magnet piece to the slightly larger diameter house next to the bite valve and haven't had much trouble since. I agree with other comments regarding some way to secure the excess belt fabric. The other issue is the hose needs to be changed to a quick disconnect like the other hydrapak bladders -- would be way easier to clean/dry. I would also be able to use my insulated hose, instead you're greeted with a blast of warm water on hot days. As it is, this bladder is a pain to clean dry due to its odd shape and inability to remove the hose. It's a little awkward to get a full bladder into its pocket, but not too bad. Once it's in its performs nicely. All in all, it does the job and I'm happy with it.

The Seral was a great lumbar bag overall except for the hydration hose magnet which does not stick well especially when you are on biking on bumpy section and keeps dropping. Had to do some homestyle addition to the hose just to keep it in place.

The overall fit of the pack is great. I did have to tighten it up once I drank some of the water. I wish it had strap keepers for the waist strap. Lots of excess fabric flopping around. Water hose magnet is way too weak. A small bump or brushing your arm against it will break it loose which can be sketchy while riding. For the downhill trails that I ride which are pretty technical and full of roots, drops, jumps, etc, I wrap the hose around the waist strap so it doesn't constantly jostle loose. The magnet fit onto the hose is terrible. It's only tight if the magnet is closest to the bite valve, otherwise it's very sloppy and the hose will slide right through. I was disappointed that the bag didn't have straps to hold a jacket or pads. I was able to fit some knee pads in the side straps but it could have been executed better. Overall I'm very happy with the bag but there is definitely room for improvement.

I received this as a gift after specifically asking for it as a replacement to my Camelbak Mule for mountain biking. I hated the way a backpack made me sweat more and wouldn't let my back dry off during a day, The Seral looked like a great alternative. The Airscape back keeps me cool on a ride and allows for airflow, and the zippered pockets allow for some organization which makes it possible to reach for snacks or my phone without spinning it around. The bite valve is just like any other Osprey by which I mean it's among the best around with reliable flow. Unlike the others I have from them (Raptor, Aether) this bite valve doesn't have the magnet attached. Instead there is a clip around the tube on which they placed the retaining magnet. This would seem like a great idea allowing the rider to position the magnet at the place that keeps the bite valve where they want it, but the clip is so loose that when taking a drink the clip slides all the way down to my other hip. So to reattach it I have to keep the valve in my mouth and reach for the clip, sliding it back up the tube and then holding the clip to place it back on the retaining spot on the pack. In short, finishing a drink while pedaling is cumbersome. The pack is too small for much besides a phone, a handful of bars, your keys, and a multi-tool. I have a compact pump that I carried in my Mule, but there's no way to keep it in the Seral, which means attaching it to my frame and exposing it to mud, grit, and impact. Having just watched a friend's pump fall apart because of the grit accumulated over time, this is a real drawback. There are smaller pumps I can switch to, but not with a built in pressure valve. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to dry the bladder. I would still buy this pack, even with these drawbacks. My solution at the moment is to replace the bite valve included with one of their standard ones in order to make use of the captive magnet style and allow easier drinking.

Has the great Osprey quality you'd expect, but I had two issues with this pack. One is that as the reservoir was depleted, the pack would fit looser. So at the top of a long climb, I would need to tighten it up, or else it would be moving around on the descent. Didn't always remember to do that. The other issue is that I found it restricted my breathing quite a bit, since a lot of the weight is on your low belly (in addition to your lumbar). No matter how low I wore the pack, I couldn't get a full, deep inhale without some restriction. I only noticed this during very hard efforts, but it bothered me enough that I switched back to my Raptor 10, which didn't have that problem.

The pack fits me great. Stays in place and keeps its shape. Nice venting. Lots of pockets. Easily adjustable while wearing. I would give it a five out of five if the magnet were stronger. I'm adding a stronger magnet to keep the bite valve in place.

I have two osprey packs, a shoulder pack and waist pack. Both are awesome! My over the shoulder pack came with a tool roll, but the serial didn't, wish it would have. The serial had lots of pockets and is ready to organise. I just wish the magnet on the tube was stronger. It comes undone frequently and while riding it can be a struggle to refasten.

This is my second Seral. On the first one, the magnet didn't stay closed. I returned it. Then as I was looking at a replacement, I noticed that some Seral's had different magnets. The first one had plastic over the edge of the magnet and didn't allow the magnets to contact each other. The second didn't and was much stronger. I also found a display of Osprey replacement magnets. These were even stronger. I also cut the first hose too short. If you stand up and cut the hose just a little longer than needed, the hose will be too short. You should look straight up if standing up to account for body position when riding. Inside the pack is a pouch that is perfect for a cell phone. The only problem is that everything ends in this region. The key clip is here and all zippers end here. The straps have loose ends. When you tighten the waist, these hang down the legs. I bought some rectangular rings and threaded them through the ends and to the buckle.

I bought the Seral online when it first came out and after one ride I knew it wasn't for me. Like other reviews note, the magnet holding the water hose isn't strong enough and the waist straps don't have loops to hold them so you have to tuck them away, cut them shorter or tie them up. Not ideal. The pack itself doesn't hold much and overall the design needs improvement. When I emailed customer service asking what options there might be (Osprey purchaser for 15 years; happy owner of at least 6 Osprey packs for different sports) and offering some honest feedback on the design, the response I received was "Nothing we can do since you've used the pack. Your best bet would be to sell it on the second hand market and use that money to buy a different pack." Well, that's exactly what I did. But I used the money and bought a Patagonia.

I received the Seral as Christmas gift. On my first ride with it today I wanted to throw it away! It fits great but the magnet on the hose is just to weak and it kept falling off and dangling into the frame/ tire. Not what I have come to expect from Osprey.

I own something like 10 Osprey packs but this is only my second one specifically for mountain biking. I was looking for a pack that was somewhere between a water bottle and my Osprey Raptor 14. This fit the bill. Has all of the style, quality, and features I've come to expect from Osprey. The ONE downside? The magnet. Specifically, the magnet sewn onto the hip of the pack. As another reviewer commented, there is a plastic disc that holds the magnet in place. I get it, if the magnet pops out, that's a fail. Maybe the plastic disc causes poorer contact between the hip magnet and the tube magnet BUT I've learned the hip magnet is just plain weak. Comparing the hip magnet here to the sternum magnet on my Raptor the Raptor has a noticeably stronger magnetic pull. I went on a fairly casual 45-minute ride around my neighborhood and the hose disconnected at least five times. Combine that with the fact that it's more challenging to re-seat the tubing magnet with the hip magnet (because it's out of your field-of-vision) and you have an extremely frustrating situation. I'm just glad I wasn't bombing down some singletrack in the foothills.

I own something like 10 Osprey packs but this is only my second one specifically for mountain biking. I was looking for a pack that was somewhere between a water bottle and my Osprey Raptor 14. This fit the bill. Has all of the style, quality, and features I've come to expect from Osprey. The ONE downside? The magnet. Specifically, the magnet sewn onto the hip of the pack. As another reviewer commented, there is a plastic disc that holds the magnet in place. I get it, if the magnet pops out, that's a fail. Maybe the plastic disc causes poorer contact between the hip magnet and the tube magnet BUT I've learned the hip magnet is just plain weak. Comparing the hip magnet here to the sternum magnet on my Raptor - the Raptor has a noticeably stronger magnetic pull. I went on a fairly casual 45-minute ride around my neighborhood and the hose disconnected at least five times. Combine that with the fact that it's more challenging to re-seat the tubing magnet with the hip magnet (because it's out of your field-of-vision) and you have an extremely frustrating situation. I'm just glad I wasn't bombing down some singletrack in the foothills.

I am a fan of the hip pouch for it stays in place and is great for a minimalist although this pack holds a good amount which is great. The biggest CON though is I can never get the hose to stay on the magnet and always end up having to shove it between my body and the belt. If not it almost gaurenteed to get sucked into my rear tire mid ride which can get annoying and a little dangerous. To fix the problem I have had to rig a small caribiner on the hose.

It was comfortable to ride with and it was nice having the weight off my shoulders. I was incredibly dissapointed with the magnet connection used to hold the hose. Two weeks into riding the hose slipped and got caught in my wheels. The bladder was destroyed. Worst purchase I have made from osprey.

Great for carrying a cell phone and a tube but anymore additional weight and it's incredibly uncomfortable. I have a 32" waste and the wide padded portion of the waste belt barely makes it around my hips leaving the thin nylon portion of belt covering the rest which is not comfortable especially if you have the bladder full. The bladder magnetic hose connector is worthless and I have rigged a binder clip to run the hose through which I clip to my shirt. I would love a refund, exchange or credit because I do like most of ospreys products.

First off i rarely spend the time to review anything but i am not satisfied with this pack at all. I am skinny with a 33" wast and the wide portion of the belt barely fits around my waste and the seems rub right on hip bones. This is fine if the bladder is not full and if i don't have much weight in the pack but once the bladder is full and i have pump and tube it does not carry well at all. Also the magnetic attachment for this is worthless and does not stay connected while riding and i have had to use black binder clip to attach the hose. In general this pack was not designed very well and i would love for Osprey to give a refund.