Choosing a hydration back-pack
Advice on finding the best drinking system for bicycling
Guidance on choosing hydration systems for road cycling and mountain biking, including separaet reservoirs and integrated systems.
The benefits of back-pack systems in facilitating adequate hydration are now well known, and inevitably there is a huge range of such systems to choose from. This article suggests what to look for in navigating this extensive choice.
The first choice is whether you need a fully integrated system, or just a separate reservoir (‘bladder’) that will fit into an ordinary back-pack. Many modern rucksacks are compatible with hydration bladders: this usually means there is a pocket and probably a Velcro loop inside to secure the bladder, somewhere for the drinking tube to thread through and over a shoulder, plus a couple of clips or loops to keep it in place. If you have a back-pack that you like but it doesn’t have these features, it should not be very difficult to modify it.
If you plan to modify an existing sack, then choose a bladder to fit. If your back-pack is already compatible, the maker may supply bladders or recommend a particular system.
If you’re looking to buy a new integrated hydration system - back-pack and reservoir made for each other - then all of the following are worth bearing in mind. Most are points to consider when acquiring a bladder for an existing sack too.
- Reservoir volume. Quite simply, how much liquid can it carry? If you may be undertaking all-day rides with no other source of water, then 3 litres is barely adequate. If your rides max out at a few hours, or you expect to be able to top up along the way, 2 litres should be adequate in most conditions. There’s probably little point in buying anything much less than 2 litres. You can always half-fill a 2-litre reservoir, but you can’t get ‘a quart in a pint-pot’.
- Valve. Does the bite-valve, from which you drink, look durable? Is it comfortable in the mouth? Some valves have a tap for extra resistance to leakage.
- Ease of cleaning. Hydration bladders, tubes and valves need cleaning periodically, and it’s worth checking how easy this is. Some manufacturers (like the best-known, Camelbak) provide dedicated cleaning tools. However, Camelbak reservoirs, with their circular closure, aren’t as accessible for cleaning as others, like Deuter, which open completely across the top.
- Additional carrying capacity. Some slimline packs have little room for anything but the reservoir itself, maybe just a phone and bunch of keys. At the other extreme there are packs roomy enough to cope with all-day or even multi-day trips. Assess your own needs
- Fit and comfort. This is highly individual, so it’s vital to try before you buy. If you’re buying a pack for cycling, ideally try it on a bike, or at least in a cycling posture, as this is quite different to walking. A brilliant hiking rucksack may be hopeless on the bike, while there are hundreds of packs designed specifically for cycling. Make sure also that the back-pack won’t obscure your rear view - this is especially important for road riding.
- Compression and stability. It’s very important, especially for mountain-biking, that the pack does not shift around on your back, which is the last thing you want when the going gets rough. There should be straps to compress the sack itself when it isn’t fully loaded, and adjustable straps at both chest and waist to keep it secure on the body. it’s difficult to assess the stability of an empty sack: get some weight on board to try it out.
