What you should consider when buying a hydration pack for hiking

Here are some of the things you should personally consider before buying your hydration pack:

Size

Depending on the length of your hike and whether or not it’s a multiple-day hike, you would be packing less or more accordingly, so that means that you also need to consider what size pack you need. For multiple-day hikes or single-day hikes where you will need to bring more than just a few items or snacks, you should look into larger packs; usually something over 30 liters in capacity.

If however, you don’t really intend on packing so much with you, a pack less with less than 30 liters of storage space will do just fine. Even a 10-liter pack would do depending on how minimally you pack.

Water capacity

This depends more on your hiking trail; here you should consider the distance between each water stop and the next. On some hiking trails, there will not be any water stops for refilling, so the reservoir you’re carrying should provide enough water to keep you hydrated through the whole hike and back.

This also depends on how much you drink and whether or not you might need extra hydration if you’re doing any physical exercises in the process. Water bladders usually range from a mere 0.5 liters to 3.5 liters or maybe more.

Ventilation and Insulation

By ventilation, I mean the breathability of the pack and whether or not the straps permeate the air. Buying a pack with a breathable mesh back panel and straps might be necessary if you expect to exert lots of effort on your hike and you don’t want to be bothered by a sweaty back.

Insulation, however, is more about the water bladder. If you’re hiking somewhere where you expect the weather to be warm, you might want to consider a pack with adequate insulation so that it can keep your water cool all through the hike and not have it affected by the heat.

What Makes a Good Hydration Pack?

There are definitely some features that make or break a hydration pack, here are the most important ones in relation to hiking:

Durability

Hiking packs are expected to stay intact through tough terrains and unpredictable weather. Most packs are now being made out of well-bearing polyester and some are made out of ripstop or reinforced nylon to maintain a lightweight while also providing agility and toughness.

The zippers and pockets should also be of high quality so as they do not rip or break during use. That is especially true for the pocket where your water reservoir is to be stored. Your pack should provide a durable space for your reservoir in order to help maintain its integrity and not interfere with the drinking process and quality.

Leak-proofing

Speaking of water reservoirs, a proper hydration pack will provide some sort of leak-proofing. This might be in the form of waterproof interiors where you can place your reservoir and if it happens that the reservoir itself leaks, the water will not affect the rest of the pack.

Another form of proofing can be through the drinking tube itself where some brands now provide on and off levers and valve covers that provide protection for the mouthpiece while stopping the tube from leaking.

Comfort

Proper hiking packs are designed to maintain their comfort whether worn for 5 minutes or 5 hours. The best packs have padded straps and harnesses along with belts to stabilize and distribute its load evenly on your torso.

Wrap up

CamelBaks definitely lead the hydration pack category; however, another more affordable option of the same quality would be the Nathan HPL pack. These would serve really well for light hikers. If however, you want to be bringing more stuff with you, whether layers of clothing or gear, the Osprey Raptor 10 is the got to.