The dog days of summer are right around the corner, so we gave a dozen or so multisport hydration systems to a pack of ultrarunners to wear and abuse and see which ones would float to the top. The process involved a lot of arguing and a lot of hurt feelings, but very little dehydration.
Check out some of our favorites, after the jump.
OVERALL FAVORITES
Nathan's HPL #020: It comfortably carries a 70-ounce bladder, and its 275 cubic inches of storage, including a waterproof pocket, offer enough packing options to keep even the most demanding athlete happy.
One tester wouldn't even consider another pack because she loves this one so much. She said: "The front pockets are the true gem of this pack. There are two tiny pill pockets -- one on each side -- and one of them is actually waterproof! The lower pockets are even more awesome. The gel pocket has room for 4 or 5 gels and has a bungee cinch top to keep them secure. The pocket on the other side is actually two pockets. The larger has a zipper to ensure nothing falls out and fits a full SportShield roll-on, iPod and gel. The smaller pocket will fit more pills and/or a lip balm."
The straps are hard to adjust by yourself while wearing the pack (I needed a little help from a friend) but once you've got them dialed in where you want them, they stay put. Get it for $90
Runner-up: CamelBak's Marathoner 70-ounce pack is a lightweight, minimalist pack that still has plenty of storage to get you through a day. Front draw-cord pockets — finally! — are big enough to hold spare bottles or snacks, and the back bungee storage is great for a jacket. The shoulder straps are vertically adjustable, making this pack (and the Ultra LR, below) work for tall guys and petite women.
This is my go-to race pack since there isn't much to it, yet it still holds everything I want.
Our biggest gripe? The straps on this pack, as with the Ultra LR, consistently slipped, meaning we were constantly re-tightening them throughout the day. One MacGyver-like tester put safety pins through the straps, at the buckle, to keep them in place. I resorted to fitting my pack and then knotting the straps. We were all also looking for a "little things" pocket on this pack, and came up with nothing. It'd be nice to have a dedicated pocket, on the shoulder strap maybe, to store the important things, such as car keys. Get it for $100
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STORAGE KINGS
Gregory's Miwok/Maya 18: With more than 1,000 cubic inches of storage, this pack easily could be used for overnights. The men's pack — the women's is the Maya 18 — holds up to a 3-liter bladder (not included) and even has a fleece-lined media pocket. The waist belt pockets are a breeze to use, and the outer bungee pocket is ideal for items you'll want to stash for later — such as a rain shell. The pack has mesh bottle pockets on either side that aren't the easiest to get into, but mean that you can carry over 150 ounces of liquid at once.
I wore this pack during 9+ hours of pacing friends at a recent 100-miler. During the daytime gear shuffle -- and transfer among 3 different vehicles -- the Geigerrig bladder (listed below) came open. The bladder was clipped into the Maya's inside bladder pocket, and stayed upright -- and unspilled -- until I bent over to tie my shoes. I was carrying my iPhone in the pack's fleecey top pocket, which was placed high enough to be out of harms way then -- and still would be if there were ever a serious bladder leak or failure. I was really impressed with how well the pack fit, and how comfortable it was for such a long trek. My only complaint was it sits flat against my back so it gets pretty hot. Adding some sort of channel to allow for better air flow would be a nice improvement. Get it for $99
Runner-up: CamelBak's 70-ounce Ultra LR vest rivals the Miwok when it comes to storage. "By the time our 20-mile run ended, I'd stuffed gloves, sleeves, an insulated vest and a baseball cap into the pocket," one tester said. "And then I found a lightweight jacket on the side of the trail and managed to fit it in there, too."
It also offers the ability to carry 3 different kinds of drinks, another tester noted, with "the 70-ounce bladder at the waist and enough room to put two 22-ounce bottles in the front pockets. That way, you can have your energy drinks and straight plain water all on the go."
This pack has CamelBak's Antidote lumbar reservoir, so the triangle-shaped bladder sits low on your back. "My first reaction to the bladder being at the waist was that I'd hate it and my back would hurt or the pack would sway," one tester noted. "I was wrong on all accounts and actually liked the feel." Both testers cautioned against wearing this pack during races, as the bladder is difficult refill quickly. Get it for $130
Runner-up: Nathan's X-Treme pack is enormous; our tester recommended it for hiking and biking over running because of its bulk. He said: "Crazy amount of storage space: 815 cubic inches of storage space, you could go off on a small expedition and have enough supplies to last you a week. Expandable back pocket: Gives you enough room to expand the back pocket to fit a bike helmet or other larger items that you may want to carry. Front bungee cords: For the additional storage of energy gels at your fingertips or to store your gloves when the day warms up."
The X-Treme's back pockets aren't accessible while you're wearing it, but offer lots of storage options for things you don't constantly need. It even has enough room for a bike helmet. Get it for $90.
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BLADDER-FREE OPTIONS This category was by far the hardest to settle, and came down to testers exchanging virtual blows over email. Each person had such strong preferences on bottles that we decided to list them all:
Ultraspire's Revolution: If you're not a fan of bladder-based systems, then check out this pack. The bottle storage pocket will fit bottles up to 26 ounces, and a smaller, easy-to-reach cargo pocket is great for gels or a headlamp.
"If you're not stuffing a bottle into that secondary back storage pouch, it's capable of holding a lightweight jacket or vest, along with gloves and a hat," one tester said. "Plus, a second smaller cargo pocket across from the bottle pocket is great for odds-and-ends little items like gels or a headlamp -- it's easy to reach without taking the vest off."
His biggest complaint? "No bladder option. Yes, this vest is purpose-built for the runner who prefers bottles to bladders, but it'd be great if the back storage pocket were just slightly bigger, in order to accommodate a small 50-ounce bladder." Get it for $100
Runner-up: The Ultimate Direction Fastdraw Plus hand-held bottle strikes the right balance between durability and breathability, and the pocket on the carry strap is just big enough to keep a few small-but-important items. Get it for $19.95
Runner-up: Nathan's Quick Draw line of hand-helds features 22-ounce bottles with giant storage pockets. The pocket is big enough to fit an iPhone, or two to three gels and keys. It even includes an information card in case you're in an accident and somehow manage to keep the bottle on your hand. I think this one's shape makes it less comfortable to carry, but this is up for debate. Get it for $20.
Runner-up: Amphipod's Hydraform Hand-held Pocket bottle is ergonomic and very comfortable to hold, especially for people with small hands. The pocket is large enough for a gel, keys and -- with some strategic packing -- salt pills or an iPod shuffle.
There are several sizes, get this one for $19.95.
Runner-up: FLEXR's sport bottles (hand-held carriers sold separately) are ergonomically designed and have a single-use, biodegradable liner. If you can get past the extra waste, then the liners are great for those who use powdered mixes and forget to wash the bottle soon after. (Ever used a protein mix and left it in your car for a week? -- yuck). The bottles are super flexible, which make them comfortable to carry.
Update: The folks at FLEXR pointed out that the liners can actually be used multiple times.
"The insulated holder is a nice touch," one tester said. "Especially in the spring or fall when you're not wearing gloves but the water bottle feels cold on your hands."
The pocket on the hand-held carrier is laughably small. I could only fit my car keys, so this isn't a good choice for storage. Bottles start at $9.95, carriers at $8.95 and liner refills at $2.95 for a pack of 25.
My opinion? The FLEXR bottle material (sans the liner) + Nathan's giant pocket + Amphipod's great ergonomic shape = winner.
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PRESSURIZED BLADDER SYSTEM
The star of the Rig 500 pack is actually Geigerrig's 70-ounce Pressurized Hydration Engine. It has one port for the quick-release water tube and another for air. Fill the bladder with air to pressurize it, and the pack will spray. It's great for a midworkout spritz, can be used to clean wounds and is dishwasher safe. It also — in a pinch — makes a good shower.
Confused? Here's Geigerrig's video to explain.
We found it annoying to run when the bladder was pressurized; it's like having a giant water balloon strapped to your back. It's easier to pump on the go, spray what you need, then release extra air through a valve on the air tube.
We weren't such fans of the Rig 500 pack itself. ($115) The rear pockets aren't very convenient, and the inside pockets are hard to use when the bladder is full.
Our recommendation? Put the Geigerrig bladder — made by Hydrapak and available separately ($48) — in the Gregory pack for the best of both worlds. Adding an optional Geigerrig filter ($28) makes this a great choice for through-hikers or those prone to getting lost in the backcountry.
Sara Davidson is the lead editor at PT365, an ultrarunner and our resident women's gear destroyer.
