If you’ve heard that you need between 6-8 glasses of water a day, you wouldn’t be necessarily be wrong. For those spending their time in the outdoors, the need is likely higher, as we tend to lose water more rapidly with activity.
While many outdoorsmen carry a water bottle, the convenience, efficiency, and performance of a hydration pack is simply unmatched. When it comes to convenience, there’s no need to stop to get your water bottle; simply use your well-placed sip tube for effortless drinking on-the-go. And efficiency and performance? The more accessible water is to the hiker, backpacker, bicyclist, or camper, the more likely one is to drink more often. The result is more hydration and, thus, a better performing drinking apparatus.
Shop our extensive lineup of hydration packs at Outdoor Shopping.
Design
The ‘cool factor’ that goes with hydration packs lies in the design itself. They’re sleek, modern, and indeed designed with comfort and accessibility in mind. Thus, the anatomy of a hydration pack is simple and effective.
Anatomy
Padded Shoulder Straps : Your pack’s weight is distributed between the shoulder straps and waist belt. A well-padded set of shoulder straps can make your trip more comfortable.
Main Pocket : This is the section that will hold the pack or bladder itself. It typically has some extra room for a windbreaker or other light item as well.
Accessory Pockets : You can store keys, phones, or other small items in these convenient pockets.
Web Pocket : If you’re bringing a damp cloth or anything that holds moisture, use the web pocket to prevent the interior of your bag from becoming moist.
Reflective Loop : You can clip a rear safety light here if you plan to use your pack for any outdoor excursions that could extend into the dusk or nighttime hours.
Waist Stabilizer Strap : Like backpacks, the waist stabilizer strap for your hydration pack helps to offset the weight of the pack so that it’s not solely resting on your shoulders. It also helps keep your pack in place, which is especially helpful for runners, joggers, or bikers.
Bite Valve : This controls the flow of water from your pack and is typically comprised of a silicon material. This part will likely need to be replaced once or twice over the lifetime of your pack, as it experiences the most direct wear and tear.
Drink Tube : Typically comprised of polyurethane (which is less prone to tangling), the drink or sip tube is the means by which water is transferred from the bladder to the valve. You can easily replace this part if need be, but regular maintenance of allowing it to completely dry between uses will ensure it stays fresh and clean.
Sternum Strap : The sternum strap is just another area to provide stability and keep your pack firmly in place.
Materials
Different sections of your pack can be comprised of different materials, and those compositions will determine the durability and ultimate longevity of your pack (if all other variables are constant).
Design Component | Material | Why? |
Bite Valve | Silicon | Durable and able to withstand constant contact from biting. Gentle pressure is all that is needed, lest you force yourself to replace this piece more often than necessary. |
Drink/Sip Tube | Polyurethane | Durable and resistant to tangling and folding, which would restrict water flow through the tube. |
Pockets and Straps | Cordura or Nylon | Thicker materials (cordura) are more durable while thin (nylon pack cloth) weigh less. |
Reservoir
The reservoir is arguably one of the most important pieces to your hydration pack, as it’s the cavity that holds your water. Some packs are pre-fitted around a reservoir, making it easier to access, fill, and clean. While this may be ideal for some hikers, backpackers, and climbers, the majority of outdoor adventurers will choose from a pack with a sleeve/pocket that can hold a reservoir.
If you fall in the latter category, then you’ll find the best hydration pack for your needs (check the table further down in this article) and then choose a reservoir to fit inside it. Choosing the right volume for your reservoir is based on your needs, and there are a few major categories of volume sizes to consider.
Size/Volume | Guidelines | Best for: |
1-1.5L (34-50 fl. oz.) | This reservoir is for the minimalist, as it holds the least water out of the options while still being compatible with your pack. |
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2L (68 fl. oz.) | This is the most popular size, cutting the middle-ground for volume choices in terms of weight, bulk, and carrying capabilities. |
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3L (102 fl. oz.) | The largest volume capacity, this is build for long trips with little to no access to other sources of water. Will weigh an additional 2lb, so keep in mind the added bulk. |
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While these guidelines are all fine and well, it begs the question of how much water one actually should be drinking during outdoor activities. While extended exposure to higher temperatures will increase the threshold, the average person will need about 1L of water per every hour of activity.
Your best bet is to ‘play it safe’ and choose reservoir volumes that exceed your needs, even if slightly. If you’re opting to only purchase one reservoir for your equipment stash, then choose a large reservoir and opt to fill it only partially for shorter trips.
Cargo Capacity
You probably noticed in our diagram of the anatomy of a pack that there are multiple pockets designed for additional storage. We even mentioned that extra light jackets and additional items can be stored in the pocket with your reservoir itself! Cargo capacity for hydration packs should be considered based on its intended use.
Cargo Capacity | Guidelines | Best for: |
2,500 cubic inches (41 L) | These offer enough comfort and load-support features to perform well on light-and-fast overnight adventures |
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1,800 cubic inches (29 L) | Well-suited for all-day activities. |
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100-1,400 cu.in. (3-23 L) | This wide range can work for many all-day riding activities, but the smallest cargo capacities will only allow room for your reservoir, a spare tube, CO2 cartridge, wallet and an energy bar) |
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100 or less cu.in. (up to 3L) | Designed for lightness and aerodynamics. This can also be a waistpack instead of back-loading hydration pack. |
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Size of the Opening
Not all reservoir openings are created equal, and different size openings can allow for extra versatility. For instance, larger openings (3.5 inch or larger) are great for those who want to add ice cubes to their water. Most 2.5 inch openings are compatible with screw-on threads to filters, but you’ll sacrifice the ability to add ice. Smaller packs of 1L or less may come with a specialized opening of 1 inch.
Shop our extensive lineup of hydration packs at Outdoor Shopping.
Choosing Your Pack
There are a lot of variables to consider when choosing your pack, and sometimes it’s best to consider different options based solely on your planned outdoor excursion. Here’s the run-down on some general guidelines when choosing packs based on activity.
Activity | Popular Pack | Popular Reservoir V | Considerations |
| Hiker-specific hydration pack or reservoir-only pack | 2-3L | You can choose a pre-fitted reservoir pack or standard pack with reservoir pocket. Just make sure the reservoir will fit in the pack you choose. |
| Waistpack or minimalist pack | 1L | Specialized "multisport" packs usually emphasize low weight, small dimensions, and stability, and cargo space is minimal. |
| Small pack or no pack (use a bottle) | 1L | Choose a bare-essentials pack that feels light and stable. |
| Sleek pack with modest cargo space | 1-2L | You may be more willing to accept a larger load while sacrificing some comfort. |
| Small to medium pack with larger reservoir | 2-3L | You may be more willing to accept a larger load while sacrificing some comfort. |
| Large pack with ample cargo space | 2-3L | Extra cargo space often comes in handy. |
| Small to medium pack with insulated tubes | 2L | Choose a sport-specific hydration pack with insulated components. Some snowsport -specific packs include lash points or carry straps to allow hands-free transport of a board or ski.s |
Some additional tips to keep in mind:
Frigid Weather : Routinely perform a ‘blow back’ into your sip tube to prevent water from collecting and freezing in the line. Also, fill your reservoir with warm water to prevent freezing from happening early on.
Hot Weather : Pay attention to the opening in your reservoir, as larger openings allow for you to add ice cubes. You can also freeze your reservoir, but allow extra space for your water to expand while it freezes. You can also use an insulated reservoir and tube to keep your cold water cold for longer.
