The Very Best Hydration Packs To Carry Fluids, Food And Equipment

Activity: Hiking, everyday use | Pack Volume: 16 liters | Water Colume: 2 liters | Weight: 1.4 pounds

Pros:

• Stylish and versatile
• Ingenious storage options
• All-day comfort

Cons:

• High price for low capacity

The CamelBak Octane stands out as a rare example of a dedicated hydration pack loaded with trail-specific features that’s stylish enough to be used as a daypack or even a work bag. The Cordura Nylon 75 denier fabric makes the bag super strong and appreciably lighter than most, while the semi-ridged EVA foam back panel with molded air channels does an impressive job keeping your back cool when hiking. Camelbak has included the 2L Fusion reservoir, and we had no issues with it when refilling.

Great for fast hiking, slow running and everything in-between, the layout of pockets is impressive, and if you need additional space, one side pocket has the capacity for a spare 32-ounce water bottle. There’s also trekking pole attachment loops, and we even found room for a 15-inch laptop, although for safety’s sake, you may want to remove the hydration reservoir before stuffing your tech inside. Our final words of praise go to the combination of a roll-top closure, compression straps and side zip (much like a winter sports backpack) that makes accessing everything, even the stuff stashed in the bottom, quick and painless.

Activity: Hiking | Pack Volume: 24 liters | Water Volume: 2.5 liters | Weight: 3 pounds

Pros:

• Well-designed reservoir system
• Class-leading adjustable fit
• Intuitive pocket layout

Cons:

• Not the lightest

The Osprey Manta 24 is a compromise-free choice for anyone looking to cover distances with a loaded pack in the heat. Made with water-resistant Bluesign-approved fabrics, this serious hiking backpack has Osprey’s latest adjustable (five positions across 4 inches) version of the AirSpeed suspension system and tensioned mesh back panel that helps your back stay cool. It’s one of the best framed backpack systems available.

There’s a dedicated zipped sleeve and 2.5L Osprey Hydraulics bladder for keeping you hydrated, and the clip-together-pull-apart tube system makes cleaning easy. We also appreciate the magnetic attachment on the sternum strap for the bite valve, which keeps everything tidy but accessible. Twin zipped hip pockets can store loads of gear, and the main compartment has a wide-opening U-shaped zipper for easy access. There are two extra bottle holders, which you can access without having to take the pack off, plus a rain cover, robust trekking pole attachments and even an ice tool loop.

Activity: MTB, cycling | Pack Volume: 7 liters | Water Volume: 1.5 liters | Weight: 1.2 pounds (with reservoir)

Pros:

• Well-designed hip hydration system
• Generous capacity
• Large, padded hip panel

Cons:

• Too big for smaller riders

Designed predominantly for mountain bikers, but perfectly comfortable for hiking, the Osprey Seral 7 does away with the sweaty back commonly associated with active use backpacks. However, it still offers a generous capacity for gear and 1.5L of water. Made from tough recycled polyester, it’s a bag that can take plenty of abuse, which is important—as we discovered during testing—if you’re riding a bike without mudguards. Thankfully, the hose (with an excellent bite valve) wraps around the front and clips onto strong magnets, so it remains shielded from all but the worst mud and dirt. Crucially, it’s also easy to grab and take a sip while riding.

Having 7L of capacity may be too much for some people, and it’s certainly bigger than average, but we didn’t find the size to be excessive—we appreciated having extra space for layers and slacks, as well as tubes, pumps and tools. If you have a smaller frame, however, you may find it a little cumbersome.

Activity: Hiking | Pack Volume: 8 liters | Water Volume: N/A | Weight: 0.7 pounds

Pros:

• Exceptionally light and generous capacity
• Tear-resistant fabric
• All-day comfort

Cons:

• Soft flasks cost extra

Whether you’re hiking, fast-packing or trail running with plenty of kit, the Distance 8 backpack is one of the best I’ve ever used. It’s remarkably light but impressively robust thanks to the use of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) ripstop, a material more typically used, surprisingly, in knee and hip replacements. The harness has a tight-fitting running style, with stretch woven wings that extend from the back panel and hold the pack snugly, eliminating the risk of chaffing. These panels also feature stash pockets (big enough for a spare layer). As an added bonus for hiking pole users, the backpack has an ingenious Z-pole storage solution that enables you to access them without removing the pack.

Annoyingly, the Distance 8 doesn’t come with soft flasks, but if you’re in the market for this style of bag, you may have some already available with a running hydration vest. The Distance 8 is available in small, medium and large sizes, as well as a women’s specific fit.

Activity: Hiking, days out | Pack Volume: 18 liters | Water Volume: 3 liters | Weight: 1.2 pounds

Pros:

• Huge 3L reservoir
• Superb value
• Comfortable when loaded

Cons:

• Not especially stylish

Less expensive than than the Osprey pack on this list (but still packing plenty of features), this multi-purpose hydration backpack from Gregory is ideal for anyone on a tight budget. It’s a great day bag, with just enough capacity for lunch and layers, while the enormous 3L reservoir should keep the whole family hydrated. It has a top-zippered pocket, side stash pockets and a separate mesh water bottle holder (if you need even more water).

There’s not a huge amount of back support, but the grooved foam panel helps to keep your back cool. We were also impressed by the comfort, especially given the bargain price. It’s a no-frills choice to be sure, but given how well the brand has made the pack, that’s not a bad thing—we imagine many families will be grateful for the capacity, and huge amount of water it can carry.

Activity: MTB | Pack Volume: 18 liters | Water Volume: 2.5 liters | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Pros:

• Brilliant hydration hose system
• Loaded with MTB specific features
• Comfortable, even when fully loaded

Cons:

• Too heavy for some riders
• E-bike battery compartment not universal 

Thule, like CamelBak, offers a wide range of hydration packs aimed at cyclists, and the Rail 18L is specifically designed for electric mountain bike riders. As well as a rider-specific set of internal pockets for tools, pumps and spare tubes, there’s a large center pocket designed to carry a spare e-bike battery, so riders can explore well beyond their usual range.

A neat extra that will appeal to all MTB riders: The superb ReTract hands-free magnetic hose attachment, which keeps the mouthpiece tidy without needing fiddly clips. Then there’s the large 2.5L reservoir and inclusion of a removable, lightweight Koroyd CE certified Level 1 back protector, plus waterproof rain cover, easy-access stash pockets and excellent build quality. When fully loaded, you will greatly appreciate the wide hip, shoulder and chest straps that help distribute the weight.

Activity: Hiking, days out | Pack Volume: 5 liters | Water Volume: 1 liter | Weight: 1.2 pounds

Pros:

• Versatile capacity
• So many useful pockets
• Three practical hydration options

Cons:

• The best doesn’t come cheap

British trail running experts Inov-8 make exceptional footwear and world class hydration vests. This model acts as a 5L, supremely comfortable hydration vest for shorter runs or when you’re traveling light, but when the kit list does escalate, you can seamlessly attach a separate 7L bag for additional storage. The hydration flasks can be mounted either around the hips in a holster position or in the chest pockets, and you can swap the sip tube lengths to suit. You can even use a back-mounted reservoir, although we like how the holster option freed up bag capacity. The sheer number of pockets is another bonus, and the mesh side pockets can hold so much stuff, even with two full 500ml bottles.

Made from stretchy fabric and boasting plenty of adjustable bungees to help dial in the fit, the vest molds well to your torso. The slide-and-click mounting system for the separate bag is also ingenious, creating a seamless join to the vest and minimizing bounce as a result. Our only real issue with the separate compartment was that it wasn’t easily accessible when running. The top-to-bottom zip was great for packing, but make sure you don’t load it with kit you’re not prepared to stop for.