Hydration Pack Review

SteveTries

I posted earlier in the week to get opinions from people who had tried a hydration pack, specifically those for runners. For those who don't know what these are, they are lightweight backpacks containing a water bladder with a connected feeding hose that allow ready access to substantial volumes of fluid.

The feedback I received was mixed. There were some fans and some far less convinced.

The big name brands can be very expensive £60, £70, £80+ Given the mixed reviews I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that kind of money. UK Supermarket chain Tesco carry a budget version for just £12 so I decided to give that a go. I expected it to be a fairly low quality product that will wear out quickly but that will give me a good idea as to whether or not I should invest in a quality brand.


Yesterday was my first run with the backpack. It has a 1.5 litre bladder, perfect for the 20kms/12.5miles I intended. By 1mile/1.6kms the bloody thing had clearly started leaking, had leaked through the padding in the bag and was soaking my back. With every few kms my back got wetter and wetter and I was acutely aware that I had a wet stain running down the back of my shorts. I was worried this would cause a lot of chaffing and also that I was going to run out of water before the end of my run.

The bite valve was hopeless. I couldn't draw water through it hardly at all. This could be my technique or perhaps I haven't worked a big enough slit into the valve. After much trial and error I took it off and put it in my pocket, using the twist valve on the hose instead. That was great actually. I got a pleasing amount of water each time and it was easy to use. A little water remains in the end of the tube after you've turned off the tap and that drips onto your vest but it's no big deal.

I feared that the bag would jump around on my back a lot but it did not at all. If fit well, the straps didn't chafe, it didn't bounce and it distributed the weight far better than other solutions I have tried (carrying a bottle in my hand, in a bum-bag/fanny pack or in my pockets). Every step does make a loud audible sloshing sound as the water moves around the bladder. With earphones in you don't hear it of course and I couldn't feel the movement.

It was great having a pocket in the bag for my iphone which I use for both iMapMyRun for audible feedback on pace and as a music/podcast player. Normally this is either in my bumbag where it's weight causes it to bounce or it's on an armband that starts to annoy me after about 10km.

Halfway through the e run the bag felt weightless as half the water was gone. By the end I'd kept well hydrated but my back and shorts were absolutely drenched and I looked like I had soiled myself.

I was extremely surprised when I took the bag to the kitchen sink to clean it that it had not leaked at all! I was totally convinced for 20kms that it was pouring all over me and had mentally written several strong worded reviews for the Tesco website. The bladder was totally dry as was the inside of the bag. In fact it was the bag causing my back to sweat profusely.

Overall I think these packs are good to have, but I wouldn't use it on shorter runs where I can carry water in a couple of small bottles more easily. I will definately use it on long runs in hot/humid weather again. I wouldn't pay big money for one though, I think this solution to hydration brings with it too big a negative with the sweating issue.

Hope that is useful to anyone else thinking of purchasing one.

tabinmaine

I am glad you got a chance to try one, the sweating part I am not sure what to say. It could be that the one you bought has no ventilation in it so your back sweats more or it could be that you just sweat a lot hehe. I never have that issue. I have used mine for up to 5 miles, ( i know I know, not a far distance but I need water when I run) but you said you were experiencing this at mile 1 ??

It could be the shirt you were wearing too, usually I have a tank on when I wear mine... yes my back sweats, but no more than usual, maybe you could actually feel for once how much your back actually sweats ?? did you have a wicking shirt or one that breathes ? Possibly it might have been done up to tight too.

I think you should give it another try..... they are a great piece of gear in my opinion.

Good luck on your race this weekend !

SteveTries

that is a good point Tab.

My t-shirt was a ventilated running tank top/vest/singlet.
I do sweat fairly heavily with intense cardio but relative to the rest of my body my back was bad.
The back is not ventilated where it meets the back, so if products exist that are, I would recommend them. I wonder if I can poke a bunch of holes in mine :-)

tabinmaine

hummm.... not sure why you could not cut some holes in it.... or.... wet it down before your race and freeze it , then wear it frozen..... nice and cool as it thaws....hehe

I know that when I am done a run if I touch my back my shirt is soaked without wearing my backpack, so I think it's the fact that your shirt is pressed up against your back the whole time that you are more aware how much you are sweating. if you have wicking material on it can't wick through your back and that rubber bladder...... so it has to drip......

I guess you have to decide if it's something you can live with, you also may not notice it as much once the weather cools down some.....

I have seen photos of many marathon runners who do not have any sort of hydration with them, just some gels in their pockets, they just take full advantage of the water stations...... maybe that's a better option for you

tabinmaine

Just took a look at the two packs we have here at our house.

Mine is an authentic "Camelback" one, it has ventilated straps on the front, mesh like , and then the part that touches my back is soft cotton material, so I bet that is absorbing my sweat. The pack is washable

The other one we have is a knockoff of a Camelback, it's new, no one has run with it yet, but the part that touches your back is waterproof shell like material..... which would NOT absorb sweat.....so although it looks the same , it's really not.

So based on that, what is the back part like on yours ? If it's not absorbing material.....that could be your issue right there