Hydration packs

[Catrin]

What is your favorite hydration pack on the bike and why? I am considering a larger one (with storage) and there are a good number of choices.

[kmehrzad]

Yesterday I bought a Dakine 18L hydration pack for $52 on Chainlove.com (I think it was 60% off). It's supposed to have lots of space in the bag for a pump and other gear we tend to carry. You may want to keep watching that site for hydration pack offers, which frequently come up.

[Becky]

Depends how much room you want. My latest fav is my Camelbak LUXE- 100 oz reservoir and something like 600 cu. inches of storage. http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1059997_-1_1512506_20000_400027.

I don't often need that much storage on the mountain bike, but it's good during the winter, when extra layers are a bigger issue.

[malkin]

I have one made by Deuter that I got at REI. The opening on the bladder is wide, so it can be properly cleaned and dried.

[moonfroggy]

i second the Camelbak LUXE womens. i had a unisex hydration pack that kept rubbing my shoulders in a very painful way so i replaced it with the luxe and gave the unisex one to my husband and no more pain! plus the old pack i had always dripped and the camelbak has never dripped or caused me any problems.

[Catrin]

I have two.

The 100 oz Camelpak Lobo(wow, this is a great price!)

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&pageSize=16&beginIndex=0&sortBy=Dollar+Rank%2F%2F1&searchType=resultSet&cn1=&searchTerm=camelpak+lobo

Plenty of room, but 100 oz is too heavy in an agressive riding position. It pushes you down. Could hurt your back too. But this model allows more air circulation under the harness, and is quite cool for a pack this size.

Also have a 50 oz Camelpak. It has about enough storage for keys and an ID. Little else. Also, the cheaper models cover a large area on the back, and you sweat more. Definitely need to refill it if I'm out for hours in this heat. Even with spare bottles.

New model of the 50 oz. Mine only has one zip. Might be good for someone on a shorter ride:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Product_10053_10052_513423_-1___

What I need to get is a 70 ounce. Something that works better in an agressive position, but provides adequate storage and enough water to last.

So, I recommend a 70 ounce pak, one with a slim enough width to provide more ventilation to the rider, plus a few slim pockets.

Edit: another 100 oz pack, with more pockets. It's supposed to be good. Just remember how heavy 100 oz of water is. If you ride mostly upright, that might be okay though. Still, this pack would be warmer than the first 100 oz pack I mentioned.
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product2_10052_10551_1059997_-1

I have the 50 ounce Camelbak Aurora - which they don't seem to make anymore. I like the storage on it, a little more storage would probably be good - with more water.

I have a very upright riding position.... I keep swinging between the 70 and 100 ounce version of whatever I wind up purchasing - the 70 ounce would give me more fluid without doubling the weight of the water I am currently carrying. I really do not notice the weight of my current 'bak once I have it on.

[Catrin]

Aurora:

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&pageSize=16&beginIndex=0&sortBy=Dollar+Rank%2F%2F1&searchType=resultSet&cn1=&searchTerm=aurora

I remember considering this when I got my 50 oz. If this much storage is needed, I assume the person will be out longer, necessitating more water capacity (Now that I know how fast 50 oz goes).

Why is it I never see anyone wearing hydration packs, and yet they are a big topic on here?

This is the one that I have except it is in blue :)

I see at least a few on all of the club rides I have been on who use them. From what I can tell some roadies seem to consider them a fashion mistake - but I know a lot of mountain bikers use them.

[Becky]

Why is it I never see anyone wearing hydration packs, and yet they are a big topic on here?

I'm not lucky enough to live somewhere rural enough that I can't find a place to fill bottles while on my road bike. So, rather than carry the weight, I just re-fill. I'm also not lucky enough to have enough time to routinely ride for 4+ hours :( Some day...in another chapter in my life....

The mountain bike is a different story. No bottle cage braze-ons and, even if it did, I wouldn't use them. Some of our area trails are shared-use with horses :eek: