The best hydration packs worth carrying

When I first saw this pack, I had visions of bicycle couriers zipping through the streets of lower Manhattan or climbing the hills of San Francisco. Its long, low-profile design and removable bike tool roll just scream cycling and, sure enough, that’s exactly who the designers were thinking of when they designed the Hauser 10L. This hydration pack is made from quality materials and offers three choices of pack fabric: Dimension Polyant X-Pac, HT500, or MultiCam-Black Cordura. All are waterproof and the choice is cosmetic.

The back panel and shoulder straps of the Hauser 10L are super comfortable and perforated for airflow, and the back panel is designed with an internal frame sheet for increased rigidity. The back of the pack has four weatherproof exterior pockets with nice waterproof zippers and straps for hanging a bike helmet. Between the roomy main cargo compartment and the back panel is a full zippered pocket for hydration reservoirs up to three liters. I was able to (barely) stuff a CamelBak Fusion 3L reservoir in it with just enough room.

It’s nice that the designers considered all the various reservoir suspension systems and ensured the Hauser 10L is compatible with all. The aforementioned bike tool roll is well-designed with four zippered organization pockets and clip closure. I love this design for on-the-road repairs because I can lay all my tools out flat and see them without having a complete yard sale. The pouch below the tool kit has two 3/4-inch webbing straps with quick locks for expanded external carry options — a super handy feature.

The main cargo compartment is accessed by a roll-top closure and isn’t too fussy inside. It’s ideal for stuffing that hard-shell jacket, warming layer, gloves, and cap. The suspension system is super comfortable and adjusts at all the right places for a dialed-in fit, which is important when you’re bombing downhill on your bike and trying to keep balance. Both shoulder straps are connected with a sternum strap and drinking tube clip.

The Hauser 10L costs between $220 and $230, depending on which pack material you select. It also comes in a 14-liter variant for $230 to $240, again depending on pack material.

This is an exquisitely designed and well-made hydration pack, and it is an ideal choice for mountain bikers and city cyclists alike. Heck, I’d even take this along for a day hike or multi-pitch climb. It’s burly enough to withstand scrapes on rock faces, and the haul loop is substantial.

There’s an admirable cult of people in our society who enjoy running long distances — and by long, I mean 50, 100, or even 200 miles. I know — I’m married to one. If a marathon is just a warm-up for you, you’ll want to check out Ultimate Direction’s line of running vests.

When you’re putting down that many miles, every ounce counts. The Ultra Vest 6.0 is made from very lightweight and breathable stretch fabric that moves with your body. The vest is cut with wide armholes to provide comfort and freedom of movement without chafing. Unlike one-size-fits-all brands, Ultimate Direction knows the importance of good fit, so this vest comes in four sizes ranging from small to extra-large, and two adjustable and repositionable chest straps enable you to dial in the fit and keep the vest snug. Speaking of snug, the vest features a cinching system at the bottom of the pack that allows on-the-go tightening or loosening without impacting freedom of movement. There’s also a shock cord attachment to enable stowing collapsible trekking/running poles horizontally at the bottom of the pack.

As for storage, the harness has two pockets made to fit two 500-milliliter soft water bottles (included). I’m a big fan of collapsible/soft water bottles because as you consume water, they take up less space. Underneath the water bottle pockets on the shoulder straps are two small stretch pockets for small items like lip balm, sunscreen, and ibuprofen. Underneath the left breast water bottle pocket is a water-resistant phone pocket with a waterproof zipper. On the right shoulder strap is an attachment system to hold collapsable running/trekking poles when not being used — super handy. On the back are four pockets — two are zippered. The main waterproof compartment features a clamshell lid and is designed to store extra layers. It has a dedicated hydration pocket and can fit a two-liter water bladder (sold separately). The shock cord zig-zag system on the back of the pack can also hold easy-access items like a rain jacket or light warming layers.

This hydration vest is an ideal pick for ultra runners and fast packers.

New for Fall 2022, the first thing you’ll notice when picking up the Gregory Tempo 6 H20 is the quality of the build. At first touch, it impressed me as a quality pack made from durable materials. It also felt heavier than other similar-sized hydration packs, so I unzipped it to find out why.

After opening the main compartment, you’ll find a U-shaped zipper leading to the dedicated insulated hydration bladder compartment. The insulated compartment combines a vapor barrier liner with multi-density foam insulation to keep water cold for up to four hours. I also appreciated how the reservoir attached to the pack via a speed clip, which was super easy to use and felt really secure.

Next, I pulled out the 3D Hydro reservoir and noticed a few details missing from other bladders. It had a nice spine-molded carrying handle and an integrated drying hanger on the opposite side of the bag from the fill port. Also, near the fill port is a convenient inline quick disconnect so you don’t have to unthread the drinking hose.

The drinking hose has a drylock push button bite valve at the tip for secure leak-free storage. And I appreciated the bag’s designers putting a high-power magnet in the bite valve housing so it can be secured to a metal disk on the sternum strap buckle. I hate it when the drinking hose flops around — a nice solution.

The back panel is made of 3D foam and mesh and is pretty comfortable, while also allowing for air circulation to help keep you cooler. One of the nicest features is the comfortable contoured, perforated, and breathable shoulder straps. Also, near the top of the pack is a beefy haul loop made from 1/2-inch tubular webbing and a quick-access top pocket. Conspicuously missing from the top pocket is a key lanyard. I hope future designs include one. At the bottom of the bag is a functional and minimalist removable hip belt which increases versatility and aids in proper fit. I also liked that Gregory went with 1/2-inch instead of one-inch webbing, which would be overkill for this bag.

The back of the bag has a nice stretch mesh pocket for quick storage of small items like a hat or light warming layer or hardshell. The interior main compartment holds about six liters of gear and has two stash pockets ideal for snacks or beverage mix powders. At 1.34 pounds, it’s a little on the heavy side for me for running, but this pack would be great for day hikers or mountain bikers who are looking for a well-designed and quality-built bag and are willing to carry a few more ounces of insulation to enjoy icy cold water — a good trade-off. Oh, and it has a DWR finish which helps increase its water resistance. Note that the zippers and bag are not waterproof. While Gregory’s website touts male and female variants, I was unable to find women’s models for purchase. Hopefully, that is forthcoming this fall.

If you’re looking for a running hydration pack that you can also take cycling or hiking, look no further than the Nathan Crossover line of packs. Ranging in sizes of five, 10, and 15 liters, you’re sure to find one with the carrying capacity you need. For this evaluation, we tested the 10-liter pack. Nathan has been making high-quality yet affordable clothes, sunglasses, and gear for runners for years, and the Crossover didn’t disappoint. In fact, it really impressed me — especially for its quality build and it weighs in at less than a pound.

This lightweight pack’s design is superb in that it is body-conforming to eliminate bounce, has multiple adjustment points (to include two sternum straps and a removable hipbelt) for a dialed-in fit, and has generous storage capacity and multiple pockets. One thing I always hated about running with a hydration pack was the inevitable chafing on hot days. Nathan has found a solution by making this pack out of moisture-wicking woven fabric with chafe-free binding materials and breathable shoulder straps.

The Crossover comes with a nice 1.5-liter bladder with a magnetic hose clip, two main back zipper pockets with interior organization pockets, and two 40-degree angled side pockets for additional water bottles or light layers of clothing. There’s also a bottom stash pocket, bike helmet loop, and bungee retention system. The suspension system is comfortable and the shoulder straps come with two zippered pockets (one per strap). I also liked that it had reflective details for 360-degree visibility in low light conditions.

All told, this is a very versatile pack that’s primarily designed with runners in mind, but will also accommodate the needs of cyclists and day hikers. With care, it should provide years of dependable service and performance.

The Black Diamond Distance 8 is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWP) ripstop yarns, which are 10 times stronger than steel per weight, so light they float in water, and it’s an ideal pack for fast and light missions in the mountains. Having owned Black Diamond’s Speed 40 mountaineering pack (which I love) for years, I had high expectations for high-end performance from the Distance 8, and it didn’t disappoint.

The body of the pack is made from Dynex (100D nylon and 200D PE) with Dynex ripstop yarns for tear resistance. Like most running packs, the shoulder straps have a variety of pockets — six in all — including a zippered cell phone pocket, two 500-milliliter hydro flasks (sold separately) pockets (one per side), and dual bottom pockets which are ideal for snacks, lip balm, sunglasses, AirPods, a satellite communicator, and other quick-access items. Some users noted that the lower positioning of the water bottles made them a bit harder to drink out of while on the go. Connecting the shoulder straps are two adjustable and repositionable sternum straps to help dial in a comfortable fit. I liked that the top strap was not elasticized while the bottom fully was, which helped keep the water bottles from moving around too much when running.

On the back side of the pack, there’s an attachment system to carry two ice axes and two Z-pole quiver sleeves to stow foldable trekking poles. Both sides of the pack have adjustable elastic cording that serves as a compression system for the main pack and also retains ice ax handles. The back panel is made from BD Dry — a vapor barrier that lets sweat and vapor escape while keeping the pack’s contents dry. The main compartment is fully water-resistant for four-season use. The interior features a roomy main storage area with an interior mesh divider to hold a water bladder (sold separately) or alpine cordelette. It also has an interior zippered pocket to secure important items like wallets and keys. This pack is ideal for mountain runners. It also comes in a larger 15L version and a smaller Distance 4 running vest.

Undeniably, the FORLOH The One Pack is an exceptionally well-made low-profile backpack constructed from durable, quality materials and designed to meet the needs of hunters. You only need to heft it once to feel its quality. This 22-liter pack features comfortable one-piece memory foam shoulder straps, a roomy single main chamber, a substantial removable hipbelt, and a versatile design.

The exterior is made from very beefy 210D double-sided PU-coated diamond ripstop nylon. To my ultralight mountaineering and long-distance backpacking sensibilities, the pack is overbuilt — weighing four pounds five ounces to carry 22 liters of gear. By comparison, my Osprey Aether Pro mountaineering pack has 70 liters of capacity and weighs five ounces less. But set that aside because hunters have different needs from climbers, and this pack reminds me of some of the packs I carried in the Marine Corps — built to withstand a lot of abuse over many years.

One of the most interesting design decisions in The One Pack was to include a watertight YKK Aquaseal zipper which creates a fully-submersible dry bag main compartment (manufacturer tested to 200 feet). So the good news is that you get a watertight main compartment, and the bad news is you get the extra weight to carry. Across the back of the pack are two compartments with waterproof zippers and two removable compression straps finished with nice but heavy metal hooks — designs to attach a rifle, bow, or skis. On the top of the pack is a sturdy haul loop stitched into the pack fabric.

The main interior storage area is accessed via the previously mentioned YKK Aquaseal zipper, and the clamshell design allows the pack to fully open and be laid flat. Inside the main compartment is a laptop pocket — and that’s it — no other organization pockets. The lining fabric is Velcro-compatible, and additional organizational pockets for hunting, fishing, and camera gear are sold separately.

Another great feature of this pack is the inclusion of a RECCO search and rescue reflector, stitched into the top of the shoulder strap suspension system. This is a Swiss product made from a diode and antenna that helps SAR find you if buried in an avalanche. The reflector is passive, requires no power source, and bounces a signal (up to 80 meters through the air or 20 meters through packed snow) back to a RECCO detector used by rescue teams. This is a great safety feature — especially for hunting in the backcountry in winter.

Between the main storage compartment and the back panel is a hydration bladder pocket. It has a zipper opening on the left side and a tube port on both the left and right sides of the bag. The Velcro loop at the top of the hydration bladder pocket will hold many makes of hydration reservoirs but will require some rigging with 550 cord for some CamelBak and other hook-based suspension systems. Also, no reservoir is included with the bag. The space is generous and will accommodate up to three-liter reservoirs.

One curious design decision was to put a zig-zag of shock cord on the bottom of the pack to carry extra gear. I’d prefer to see such an attachment system across the back of the pack to keep the gear from swinging around and hitting you in the butt every step. Also, across the back are two MOLLE-compatible attachment points and six attachment points (two at the top and four at the bottom).

Lastly, at $599, this pack is truly a premium purchase. It is very well-made (in America) and comes with a lifetime warranty, but I did experience some sticker shock when I looked up the price. It’s a technical pack — one that I’m confident will meet the needs of hunters very well.

CamelBak has been making quality hands-free hydration packs for decades and have come a long way since Mike Edson built his first prototype from an IV bag, tube sock, hose, and clothespin. I’ve used various military CamelBak variants over the years, but this was my first encounter with its civilian backpacks, and the Rim Runner X 22 immediately impressed me as a solid choice for all-day hiking, especially in warmer temperatures.

The Rim Runner X22 is designed with an Air Support back panel that provides decent ventilation with generous scapular and lumbar pads. The hip belt is fully integrated (not removable) and wide enough to provide decent weight transfer to the hips. Both sides of the hip belt come with integrated pockets for small items like sunglasses, lip balm, and other items to keep at the ready. On the left shoulder, you’ll find Rim Runner X’s “Command Center,” which is really just a nice mesh pocket to store your phone. Some users reported the pocket wasn’t large enough for their phone, but my iPhone 12 fit just right. On the right shoulder is the drinking tube clip. Connecting both is an adjustable and removable sternum strap.

The top of the pack has a haul loop made from thin one-inch webbing that’s sewn into the pack fabric but not connected to the back frame. While fine for hiking, it’s not the burliest and I’d think twice before hauling it up a rock face fully loaded. The reservoir and drinking tube are best in class as you’d expect from CamelBak, and the beauty of the X 22 is that there’s room for a three-liter bladder, as well. If you are looking for more capacity, check out CamelBak’s Fusion 3L Reservoir.

The sides and back of the pack are well-thought-out with a pocket on each side for additional water bottles and some really nice hook-style compression straps. The back of the pack has a double-layer overflow pocket between two thin daisy chains for stuffing light jackets, hats, or other items into. The top of the pack has exterior and interior zippered pockets for easy-access items.

The interior also has a retention lanyard for keys which is nice. CamelBak didn’t get too fussy with the interior which allows for greater versatility in packing items. While it’s on the small side for an overnighter, you might be able to get away with it if you have an ultralight tent or hammock and sleeping bag. Neither the zippers nor pack material is waterproof, so plan accordingly. At 28 ounces, it’s a little on the heavier side for similar packs, but keep in mind it also has more padding and a decent back framesheet for more stability. I also like that this pack comes in a female-specific variant with torso-conforming shoulder straps. This pack is a solid choice for day hikers or mountain bike cyclists who prioritize comfort and capacity more than weight.

At an $80 price point, the Cloud Walker 18 represents CamelBak’s entry-level day-hiking pack. While the materials, design, and build aren’t as nice as more premium-level packs, the Cloud Walker 18 provides people who want to get into hiking a very capable and well-made pack that will provide years of reliable service and sports a few features not commonly found on its competitors.

Let’s start with the positives. The pack is made from 200D recycled ripstop nylon with a durable water-repellent finish. While not waterproof, it will help keep the pack’s contents dry in mist or light drizzle. Most beginners overestimate the amount of water they’ll need, and CamelBak recognized this with the inclusion of a very nice 2.5-liter bladder with a great bite valve. People who are carrying water for themselves and their kids will appreciate the additional capacity. While I wish the reservoir had a quick disconnect so you don’t have to unthread the drinking tube from the pack to remove it, I also understand this would also add to the overall cost. The reservoir has a large opening and ergonomic handle to make refilling much easier, and the on/off lever at the bite valve prevents leaking.

CamelBak included two stretch pockets — one on each side of the pack to carry additional water bottles or stash small articles of clothing. Above each stretch pocket is a single compression strap with hook closure, which is a nice feature. The interior of the pack is roomy and has a panel to keep the reservoir separate from your gear. I really like that the hipbelt is removable for versatility, and the contoured shoulder straps are pretty comfortable under light loads. The external zippered stash pocket has a key lanyard inside — another nice feature. The back of the pack features two small daisy chains and two loops at the bottom for retaining collapsible hiking poles.

Now for the pack’s limitations. The back panel of the pack, while made from air mesh, lacks contouring for increased airflow. While not terrible, just know this pack will be sweatier on hot days than more expensive models. The haul loop at the top is stitched to the pack fabric — which should be fine for light hiking loads — but I’d think twice before clipping it to a carabiner and hauling it up a rock wall fully loaded. The ice ax-like loops at the bottom designed for retaining hiking poles isn’t the best solution. I’d like to see shock corded loops with toggle cord locks here in future models. And I’d also like to see a zig-zag of shock cord connecting the daisy chains on the back of the pack for additional gear stowage.

All told, this is a decent entry-level pack at a great price that throws in a few additional features not found in most competitors’ packs. With care, this pack should provide day hikers with many years of commendable service at an affordable price point.