Hydration Packs
There is quite the variety of hydration packs on the market today. Just for fun, I took a screen shot from Bike Nashbar (see link over there --->).
That's not even the entire first page! Under Hydration Systems, they list 52 different packs. And they only carry three companies: Camelbak--by far the biggest contributor to the 52 variations--Hydrapak and Nalgene. They don't even carry Deuter, Ergon, Wingnut, Vaude, Dakine or Fox. What a crowded market!
And yet, every year, there are improvements and, it seems, every year another company wants to make a go at it. This time around it was Ergon. We've been looking at their BD-1 and have wrapped up the review. Check it out HERE, then come on back 'cause I'm not done.
[hold music]
Oh good, you're back.
What I find most interesting is that with all of this variation, all of these different options, so many different approaches to the same problem, there is still room for improvements. The BD-1 is a good example of a "clean slate" design--that is, looking the problem with a fresh mind, not building on any preconceived ideas--and the result is good. But it could be a little better. As I stated in the review, the pack puts the bladder further away from the rider so the hose needs to be quite long. If you are tall, the problem is worse.
That was the biggest issue I had. It made drinking from the pack harder than it should--I mean, it's made for drinking! They, Ergon, are introducing their own bladder any day now, so that problem should go away.
All in all, though, if you aren't able to find a hydration pack to fit your needs, you've got some odd needs. Seriously. There is a pack for every type of ride and every budget--though not necessarily at the same time.
2 comments:
The trick, it seems, is finding a store that has enough variety to try different packs to find that perfect fit. Even then, you really don't know what it is going to feel like until you've slugged it through a 4 hour ride, after which I doubt many store will be interested in taking back a sweat-stained, used, hydration pack if it doesn't work out. At $150, the BD-1 is an expensive proposition.
I've found hydration packs totally rock for staying hydrated when I'm snow boarding, but I have moved away from wearing them for bike riding as they make my back sore. I guess I haven't found the "perfect" pack yet.
craig,
You make a good point about needing to try them on. All packs fit a little different.
I, too, forgo using a pack on my normal rides. They aren't long enough, so I prefer to use a bottle for water and jersey pockets for my other stuff like tools and food.
For this reason I lean toward using medium size packs, when I use any. They allow me to pack enough stuff--extra food, more water, arm/leg warmers--for the epic rides that I try and do three or four times a summer.
However, leading up to the big rides, I use the hydration packs more often just to get my back/neck used to it.
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