Are the magnets really a good thing?

ME

Member since  Nov 20, 2010

Posted on November 20, 2010

I just purchased the 3l Ospery bladder to go with my Ospery Stratos 24 pack. I was really excited about the whole thing and immediately started fitting both.

The bladder is a great design for obvious reasons, but... I did not know that the bladders bite-valve used a magnetic attachment when I purchased it. I chose it only because I was told it was designed to go with the pack. When I have the pack on with the baldder installed and have a compass held in a proper position for navigation the magnets seriouly affect the performance of the compass. If the magnets are within about 16" of the compass, it begins to effect it. Within 10 to 12 inches, the compass is no longer effective for guidance.

Though this is something that I certainly can modify myself, and a warning is stated on the packaging, it would be nice if Ospery would offer an optional non-magnetic bite valve and restraint to sell to users who need to navigate by compass.

I like the design of the bladder, I will certainly be keeping it. I'll probly pry out the manets and style my own velcro attachment to suit my needs. This seems like the easiest solution. ***Maybe Ospery could include, or offer, an similar option for us who are "magnetically challenged". ;)