Platypus Origin 9

Really functional and tough little pack for day tripping or riding.

I just used the pack for a week in Hawaii. I can't begin to describe how impressed I am with the quality of the materials and the design. A lot of thought has gone in to this pack and I appreciated it more and more as the week went on.

It's a small pack with a lowish profile that's perfect for day hikes. It has two separate zip compartments, one that holds a 3.0L bladder and the other with 9L of storage. There is also an external access sleeve pocket on the back and two open hip pockets on the belt, and there is a zippered mesh bag on the inside of the 9L compartment. All those areas make it really easy to organize and access gear. I especially like the hip pockets.

The material is stretchy and seems to hold items snugly. I can fit a couple of energy bars and my camera in to one, and it makes for really easy access for my most used items. The pack also has some nice little loop attachments on the back a few spots to increase it's overall functionality. And it also repels water really well. Rain and spray beaded up and rolled off.

Besides the waist belt there is also a breast strap. The best part about that is that you can slide it up and down the shoulder straps so you can put it in the right spot for your body. That's a big bonus for a girl with big breasts! The slide mechanism is really tight so once you've moved it it does stay where you put it! 

The bladder deserves a review of of its own but I'm going to add it in here. The Big Zip reservoir has a really tough feel to it. The entire top of it opens like an extra heavy duty ziplock bag. Having a wide opening like that is awesome. It's super easy to fill, put ice cubes in and dry out at the end of the day. A piece of plastic slides over the ziplock securing it really well and providing a perfect handle for it and the holes that are used to suspend it in the pack. There is a quick connect for the hose at the bottom and the tube comes with a locking quick-bite valve.

The pack holds an amazing amount of stuff. I did a day hike to a snorkeling area and I was able to fit the 3 L bladder in with it full to the top with water, a bath sized towel, lunch, first aid kit, bottle of sunscreen, wallet, snorkel, mask and fins along with my camera, phone and other little stuff. It was absolutely stuffed full but it carried really comfortably.

I think Platypus is discontinuing this model so you might be able to pick it up for pretty cheap right now. That's why I originally bought it. I got it for around the cost of just the bladder. All in all a big thumbs up!