Choosing a Hydration Backpack

The key to excelling in one's favorite recreational pastime or serious athletic pursuit is to keep the body well-fueled and hydrated. For anyone seeking to participating in a sport or activity that requires more than 30 minutes of activity, having a hydration plan takes you a step closer to the objective. Here is where an investment in a hydration backpack can make the difference. With this, you are guaranteed of carrying water and/or electrolytes without the fuss of bottles, flip tops and cumbersome waist harnesses. A hydration backpack is convenient, efficient, and come sin a variety of styles each with its own 'cool' quotient.


How to Choose a Hydration Backpack

The most important factor in choosing a hydration backpack is matching the type of activity that you will be participating with your choice of hydration pack. Endurance athletes, trail runner, and ultra-marathoners will want minimalist backpack that is light, designed to be worn for long periods of time, and features anti-chafing design elements such as flat seams and fast-wicking fabrics. All hydration backpacks have removable hydration reservoirs that come in a variety of sizes. Runners usually prefer to carry no more than 1l of hydration at a time.

If you are a hiker, climber or mountain biker, then the best option for a hydration backpack that has a 2l-3l capacity and extra cargo room for gear is the way to go. Cyclists can usually handle a medium hydration pack with a 1l-2l capacity with modest cargo space. On the other hand, if you are a winter sports enthusiast, you will want to choose a hydration backpack that features insulated sip tubes to prevent freezing.


What Reservoir Capacity Works best?

The hydration rule of thumb is that athletes should consume 1l ounces of water for every hour of activity. This means that it is important to select the type of hydration backpack that is suited best for your choice of sport by determining how much liquid you need to consume to stay hydrated. The larger the reservoir capacity, the more infrastructure you will require to support its weight with ease.


Nothing Substitutes a Good Fit

After choosing the type of hydration backpack of choice and selecting the proper reservoir capacity, the next thing to focus on is finding the best size and a good fitting hydration backpack. With this in mind, you need to look for a smaller pack that will be more stable on the back. This means that if you are looking for both hydration and gear storage, it's best to look for a backpack with a waist belt to help distribute the load.

Finally, read up on the proper cleaning methods and storage procedures of the hydration backpack reservoir and sipping tubes after each use. This knowledge is instrumental in helping you to keep your hydration options clean, healthy, and ready for the next outing.