What I like most about Osprey’s packs is the obvious thought that goes into the design, and the Viper 9 is no exception.
It’s made for the kind of mountain biking I’ve been doing a lot of this year, short (up to three-hour) rides where you don’t need a lot of gear but you do need it to be kept stable as you’re bouncing down single track and fire roads, as well as having a little extra carrying capacity should you need it.
The former comes in the shape of the ‘Ergo Pull’ hip belt, a removable 20mm webbing belt that keeps the pack snug against your lower back with one quick tug; the latter in the shape of an expandable front panel where you can stash, say, a jacket , and the ‘Lidlock’ which securely carries your helmet on the outside of the pack.
The Viper 9 also comes with an excellent, very user-friendly 3-litre hydration reservoir which is easily accessible as is the delivery tube, which is kept in place on the chest strap with a magnet.
Storage is in one main panel with inner tool pockets, a smaller outer pocket with mesh storage panels and an even smaller stash pocket for stuff like keys and sunnies.
Overall build quality is good, as are the looks, and value for money is excellent, making the Viper 9 a great option for mountain bikers in particular but also for trail runners.
