Hydration Packs

[ratbane]

What do people reckon to be the best hydration pack, for UK trail riding, 3 to 5 hours in the saddle, water, plus pump, multitool, tubes, goretex shell (copat not the pack)?

I guess I want something very unobtrusive.

[vwsurfbum]

tesco's, £9.99 gets you a reasonable one,Decathlon have a nice range of very practical ones for under a nifty, or you could spend an absalute fortune like my wife did for my birththday and get the very tidy Scott 2ltr hydration pack which has a massive compartment for everything including the kitchen sink.

[mk1fan]

I use a Camelbak Blowfish and it does everything I need it to. Although I'm thinking of trying a Lezene one but that's just because I'm soooo materialistic.

[Henry Hawthorne]

Camelbak Cloudwalker is what I have, pretty much perfect.

[moles]

With camelbak ones do you have to open the outlet for the juice to flow or does it just rely on suction?.

[snotrag]

Deuter Race EXP air, or Vaude, or Ergon if your flush.

Camelbaks are a funny fitment and give you sweaty back.

[littleandy0410]

Another vote for the Camelbak Cloudwalker. Not too big, so ideal for half day rides.

moles: Camelbak bladders have a tap on the mouthpiece, so you can switch them off so no liquid comes out, but with the tap open, you just bite the mouthpiece and liquid flows pretty freely.

[craig_s]

Yet another vote for the Cloudwalker. I can fit in a change of clothes (including shoes), tools, pumps and 2l of water quite easily. It doesn't look or feel huge though and sits pretty securely and comfortably all day.

[moles]

Thanks andy that is what I was hoping for.

[littleandy0410]

moles No probs. Although, I actually tried to find a photo of the type of valve I've got on my Cloudwalker, but I can't find one. All the ones that come up on google images don't have the tap on. But they do have the bite valve, i.e. you have to buy or squeeze the valve end to allow the water to flow.

[RobDickinson]

Camelback MULE here, big enough for my stuff + 3l of water for a day ride.

[pdV6]

With Camelbaks it depends - some models give you the angled & tapped bite valve and on others you just get the straight-through bite valve. Couple of quid will get you one with a tap that you can swap it for though.

Hydrolock

To answer the original question, the Camelbak Mule is probably a good bet. Big enough for what you've listed but not too big.

Mule

For short rides I have a Rogue, which is just big enough for a few tools, phone and water.

Rogue

I also have an Octane which is much larger than a Mule (use it for commuting, so need the extra space for work clothes) but has a nifty zip & compression system so you can convert it into a smaller pack (not a lot bigger than a Mule) for all-day rides.

Octane