Do Your Really Need A Hydration Pack?

The importance of making sure you take in enough water when engaged in outdoor pursuits like walking, hiking and cycling cannot be understated. Hydration Packs are designed to allow you to drink all the water you need whilst on the move, thus avoiding having to stop to retrieve the bottled water from your backpack every time you want to take a drink.

Do you really need a hydration pack?

It would be insincere of me to suggest that everyone engaged in outdoor activities needs a hydration pack. There are, after all, some drawbacks to this technology, despite the positive aspect described above of allowing you to drink without interruption. The biggest drawback of hydration backpacks is that they cost money, compared to a water bottle, which to all intents and purposes is free. A hydration backpack will set you back on average between $50 and $150 and some models are even more costly.

Hydration backpacks can also be difficult to keep clean, particularly if you drink a lot of sports powders with your water. In addition, leakage can be a problem on some of the less durable models.

However, once you have decided you want a hydration pack, you need to decide which one to buy from the wide range of available models. This decision pretty much boils down to the activity you want to pursue.

Mountain Biking.

If you are a mountain biking enthusiast, then a hydration backpack is ideal for you because it allows you to drink whilst negotiating the rugged terrain. A hydration backpack also gives some protection to the spine in the event of falling off your bike and landing on your back. Models that are designed for mountain biking come with enough cargo room to hold everything you may need for a 3+ hour ride. Alternatively, if you are a mountain biker with a need for speed you may prefer a model with a quick access flap that lets you refuel faster and has enough storage space for bike tools, cell phone and keys etc.

Road Cycling

A lot of bikers prefer to use bottles as it is generally accepted that keeping weight on the bike is better that wearing it. However, some packs have been designed specifically with cyclists in mind. These are lightweight, with a hydration system that is fully integrated into a full-zip base layer garment

Running

As with road cycling, many runners prefer not to wear anything on their back, mainly because even the most stable hydration pack will bounce up and down whilst running. That having been said, if you are involved in long distance running, then a vest-style hydration pack can be ideal. These allow you to put weight on the front, giving more comfort and stability.

Hiking.

Day-long hikes are one of the best applications of hydration backpacks. Backpacks that are designed for hiking have enough storage for personal items and a rain coat. Because of the larger capacity, weight can be an issue, which is why it is recommended to go for the lightest model that holds the items you what to travel with.