Osprey Skarab 18 Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Lightweight, large storage volume, solid hydration system
Cons: Limited organization, poor back panel ventilation
Manufacturer: Osprey
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Osprey Skarab 18 | |||||
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| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $90 List Check Price at REI | $70 List Check Price at REI | $60.00 at Amazon | $67.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, large storage volume, solid hydration system | Comfortable, inexpensive, large storage volume | Big volume, lightweight, great price | Lightweight, sleek, solid performance in a minimalist pack, nice price | Lightweight, hip belt pockets |
| Cons | Limited organization, poor back panel ventilation | Heavy, small water capacity | Fewer pockets, lacking breathability | Almost no storage, shoulder straps are snug for users with wide shoulders and lats | Minimal storage, lacks breathability |
| Bottom Line | An all-around pack that successfully blurs the line between hydration pack and daypack | A comfortable, affordable daypack, but is heavy and has a small water capacity | A simple bag with a functional design and an excellent volume to weight to price ratio | Not just a classic, but THE Classic in minimalist packs and our recommendation for minimalists and those on a tight budget | A minimalistic pack best suited for those who are weight conscious and engaged in low exertion activities due to poor breathability |
| Rating Categories | Osprey Skarab 18 | REI Co-op Trail Hyd... | Gregory Nano 18 H2O | CamelBak Classic | CamelBak Octane XCT 70 |
| Ease Of Drinking (20%) | |||||
| Ease Of Filling (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Storage (20%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Osprey Skarab 18 | REI Co-op Trail Hyd... | Gregory Nano 18 H2O | CamelBak Classic | CamelBak Octane XCT 70 |
| Pack Size (liters) | 18 L | 20 L | 18 L | 0.5 L | 5 L |
| Bladder Capacity (liters) | 2.5 L | 2 L | 3 L | 2.5 L | 2 L |
| Weight (measured) | 25.5 oz | 34.6 oz | 25.6 oz | 11.2 oz | 17.6 oz |
| Weight (claimed) | 17.6 oz | 28.0 oz | 18.4 oz | 5.0 oz | 10.0 oz |
| Waist Belt | Removable 3/4" webbing | Removable 3/4" webbing | Removable 3/4" webbing | None | Padded with two zipper pockets |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Skarab 18 is a large-capacity hydration pack with a high-quality 2.5-liter hydration system. The 18-liter pack volume is among the largest in our lineup, providing enough space for a puffy jacket, a pair of shoes, or a gourmet lunch. While not necessarily standing out in any one category, this pack is a solid performer across the board.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Drinking
The Skarab 18 is outfitted with a 2.5-liter hydration bladder made by HydraPak for Osprey. It also has a magnetic drinking hose attachment point that keeps the hose secure and easily accessible while on the move.
Like on the other Osprey packs in our lineup, the HydraPak bite valve can deliver you your water with comfort and efficiency. While we had no problems with this hydration system during our testing, we noted that it's not quite as impressive as some of our top-ranked hydration systems. And although the 2.5-liter reservoir is adequate for most day outings, we would have preferred a larger 3-liter reservoir on what is one of the largest backpacks in our lineup.
Ease of Filling
The Skarab scores towards the bottom of our lineup in the ease of filling category. While it comes with the wide-mouthed opening HydraPak 2.5-liter bladder, it lacks some convenient features like quick-release drinking tubes, and an easy-to-use hydration compartment. While the hydration compartment is in an easy-to-reach location, we found that the hanging clip is too short, making it difficult to remove and replace the bladder.
Comfort
The Skarab is a comfortable pack with its foam-padded back panel and padded shoulder straps and balanced load-carrying ability. While not as comfortable in hotter weather as some higher-end models with their mesh back panels, the Skarab is a suitable choice in a variety of conditions, as long as temps don't rise too high.
Storage
With 18 liters of storage space, the Skarab is among the largest capacities in our lineup, with plenty of volume to serve you not only as a hiking and biking hydration pack, but as an all-around daypack, gym bag, or travel bag. While we love the huge main storage compartment with its giant U-shaped zipper, we are a little disappointed with the lack of external zippered pockets. There is one internal mesh zippered pocket for stashing valuables, but this makes it a little inconvenient to grab your phone or camera, and it would be preferable to have an external pocket that is a little more easily accessible.
While we were pleased with the overall storage volume of the Skarab 18, there are other models available with similar overall capacities that have additional pockets and options for organization that keep your necessities within reach.
Weight
At a measured 25.5 ounces (1.6 pounds), the Skarab 18 scores well as a lightweight, full-size hydration daypack. While it's not as light as some of the minimalist options that we've reviewed, it's much lighter than many other fully featured packs.
Ease of Cleaning
Similar to the ease of filling category, this pack comes away with average scores in the ease of cleaning category. While the HydraPak bladder has a nice large opening for easy cleaning, the bladder and hose system is a little tedious to remove from the pack, and the drinking hoses lack quick-release buttons. While removing the hydration system is a little more difficult than others, once the system is removed and disassembled, the bladder itself is easy to clean.
Value
The Skarab is not the lowest priced pack in the lineup but certainly comes with a smaller price tag than a lot of the higher-end models. While there are similar designs with a few extra features that are less expensive, we think that the Skarab is a capable pack for a reasonable price.
Conclusion
With one of the largest volumes in our lineup and one of the top-performing HydraPak hydration systems, the Osprey Skarab 18 is a solid general use pack for the town or the trail.
— Nick Bruckbauer