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What Is a Hydration Backpack

Last Modified: 07/13/2021


The term hydration pack implies several features, so keep reading to see what a hydration backpack really is. I give some great examples from the top brands.

What Is a Hydration Backpack

Practically all modern hiking, mountaineering, cycling, and backpacking packs can be described as hydration backpacks or at least hydration compatible. This implies a number of features that include the following:

  1. A hydration bladder sleeve. 
  2. Water pipe port(s).
  3. Webbing loops on the shoulder straps to route the pipe.
  4. Magnetic attachment for the pipe bite.
  5. Hydration bladder included.

Clearly, not all the packs on the market have all these features. But a hydration pack is expected to have at least the first 3 features mentioned above.

1. Hydration bladder sleeve

Most of the packs come with an internal sleeve placed in the main compartment. It is always in the area closest to the body, and this means directly behind the backpanel. The picture below shows it in my Osprey Stratos 24 pack.

Hydration bladder sleeve in the main compartment.
Hydration bladder sleeve in the main compartment.

But there are packs with a separate sleeve compartment behind the harness. The advantage of this is that you can take the bladder out and refill it without dealing with the stuff in your overloaded main compartment. This design you have in the Osprey Kestrel 32 and in all packs from their Kestrel & Kyte series. You can see it also in their Manta 34 pack.

The reason for such a position in both cases is that water is one of the heaviest items in the pack, and it should be carried as close as possible to the body, and if possible slightly above the center of gravity of your body plus pack system. I have described this in detail in my separate text.

2. Waterpipe port(s)

When the bladder is in its sleeve in the main compartment as described above, there must be an opening for the pipe. So it can be directly behind your neck and you can then route it over any of the shoulder straps. This example you can see in my Osprey Stratos 24 pack:

The hydration bladder pipe port in my Osprey Stratos 24 pack.
The hydration bladder pipe port in my Osprey Stratos 24 pack.

But it can also be on the sides of the pack, some of the packs on the market have it on both sides. Below you can see how this looks in my Deuter Futura Vario 50 + 10 Pack, it has it on one side only:

Side port on my Deuter Futura Vario pack.
Side port on my Deuter Futura Vario pack.

3. Webbing loops on the shoulder straps to route the pipe

The picture below shows how this looks in my mentioned Deuter Futura Vario pack. Note that some packs have a zippered sleeve that runs over the shoulder strap. One example of this type you can see in the Osprey Raven 14 pack.

Loops on the shoulder harness for pipe routing.
Loops on the shoulder harness for pipe routing.

4. Magnetic attachment for the pipe bite

This feature includes a magnetic port on the shoulder strap plus a piece of magnet close to the bite valve/mouthpiece. Examples of packs with this feature are the Osprey Manta 34 pack and also Gregory Inertia 25 pack.

5. Hydration bladder included

The term hydration pack is frequently used only for packs that come with a hydration bladder. Having a water bladder with a hiking pack is a true bonus. You can see the collection of best packs with reservoirs included in my separate list.

So this is what I wanted to say as an answer to the question of what a hydration backpack is which I received in a comment. Let me know if you have questions or if you think that I missed adding something important.

Check also my text about ventilated packs. Thank you for reading and have a nice day. 

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Mountains for Everybody site is reader-supported. This means that some of the links in the text are affiliate links, and when you buy products through our links we may earn some small commission to keep running the site. Filed Under: About Packs in General, FAQs Tagged With: hydration pack, what is a hydration pack

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My photo on the summit of Jalovec.Hi everybody and welcome to my site which I nurture with love and passion. Here I describe my own climbs and give reviews of equipment. I hope you will enjoy it. More about the site and about me here.

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