Steel Calf,
Thanks for the feedback and your experience with the Zealot pack. We really do appreciate any and all feedback as we constantly work to improve designs and performance based on real world use so that is not just lip service.
I did want to provide a little info so that you know where we are coming from and ensure you that our product designers are not "blatantly incompetent or pure evil"
Wow Osprey is actually participating in here, I'm impressed. I wrote the above statement not out of disrespect but anger, in the middle of the night, to channel my frustration after finding that thread.
To be honest with you, from a theoretical standpoint Osprey is probably my favorite brand. There are so many clever details thought out that I admire because they show the presence of a form of higher intelligence. I probably spent dozen of hours researching your packs, however, whenever I wanna buy one of your packs in real life they always fail me. It's like a product that looks soo promising on paper but doesn't work out once you put your hands on it.
Here are some of my prior Osprey experiences apart from the Zealot:
Osprey Escapist 32:
I considered buying that one in 2014 to replace my aging Deuter Trans Alpine 30. I went to the store to compare both packs extensively. However, with the same load of the Trans Alpine the Escapist just doesn't sit nearly as well on the back, yes it's a bit lighter so total weight including load is lower but that comes at a high cost. Low weight alone isn't everything! I bought a Transalpine Pro 28 that day, it's a lot heavier but carries the load much better.
Osprey Krestel 38
I actually waited several months for the revamped 2016 model to arrive and had ordered one with the clear intention to buy it. The pack has some clever details and I just had to pick it up at the store. However when comparing to a Deuter ACT Trail Pro40 using the same testload it happened again: The Kestrel felt too soft and didn't carry the weight nearly as well as the Deuter. The difference was so staggering, it's hard for me to imagine that anyone who had the same "direct comparison experience" would still buy the Kestrel afterwards.
One could argue about designing a flat backplate when the Human back is obviously not "flat" - there's a protruding object called "the spine" right in the middle thus the Deuter has a recess right in that area. Left the Store with the Deuter that day.
Osprey Raptor 10 + 14
I ordered them both online to replace my Deuter EX12. Again they are lightweight but don't sit nearly as well on my back because the human back is NOT flat horizontally, especially not when sitting on a bike as this makes the spine to protrude, do I really need to point out the obvious here?
What surprised me most was the Tool wrap which is a huge dissapointment compared to the "cheaper" Zealot model.
We now ordered another Zealot just for the Tool Wrap.
I think if you really want to improve sales in Europe you'd need someone like me, with a few changes in place and better marketing efforts I could easily double your revenue in the bike packs segment.