Consumer Reports

Give the outdoor enthusiast a new reason to enjoy their time in nature—and a break from lugging around a water bottle. Hydration backpacks—typically outfitted with a water reservoir or bag—sit directly against your spine, allowing your core and back muscles to remain balanced. They’re also designed so that you can (mostly) carry more liquid than you would in a traditional bottle and remain adequately hydrated. The Teton Sports Oasis is a low-cost, versatile pack that is available in 18-liter and 22-liter versions. It fits more bodies comfortably and features its own reservoir, which has a bite valve that shuts tight when you’re not drinking from it, meaning you won’t find it unexpectedly leaking.For more options: The Best Hydration Backpacks

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This pack is affordable, easy to use, and comfortable for hikers who are taller than 5-foot-8. The hydration system holds more than enough water (2.5 liters) for a hike of three to four hours.

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Osprey Skarab 22 Daypack | Review - Outdoors Magic

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The Gregory Endo 15 is recognized for its outstanding storage and organization, boasting a large 3-liter 3D-Hydro water reservoir, a comfortable and adjustable suspension system, and a pocket or sleeve for every piece of gear. In addition to a large main storage compartment that houses the water reservoir and a removable tool pouch, this pack includes a front zippered compartment with a padded and lined sunglasses pocket, an external zippered valuables pocket, and zippered hip belt pockets. A ventilated back panel supports the cleverly designed storage features with moisture-wicking mesh and an adjustable Shift RS hip belt to help dial in a comfortable custom fit.   
While the high-end features on this pack are undoubtedly impressive, they do come with a weight penalty, making the Endo 15 one of the heaviest packs in our lineup. And although the 3-liter reservoir provides plenty of capacity, it's a little bit trickier to access and remove than models with a separate reservoir sleeve, and its smaller circular opening makes refilling and cleaning more complicated than with some of the other top-rated hydration systems. However, the Endo 15 makes a great choice for a heavy-duty hauler to help organize hiking gear, bike tools, camping equipment, or tools for fieldwork.
Read more: Gregory Endo 15 review

Gregory Endo 15 3D-Hydro | Blister

The Nathan TrailMix 7L is a lightweight but rugged, trail-specific hydration pack for more minimally-minded trail runners. We love the burly yet breathable backing, especially because it is surprisingly comfortable. The TrailMix has well-placed pockets to stash quick-draw items, like nutrition and your phone, and offers ample back-pocket storage for lesser-used items. The ruggedness of this pack makes it awesome for heavily wooded areas &mdash; the fabric won't snag on stray tree branches as you bound through the forest at top speed. 
The TrailMix didn't score as highly across the board as other hydration vests we tested, but it held its own for sure. The 7-liter storage capacity is smaller than some but still plentiful enough that we could stash everything we needed for a day in the mountains. If you are looking to go on ultra-long adventures, you might like a vest that offers a few liters more of storage. However, if you are a daily trail runner looking for a hearty pack that won't break the bank, we can't recommend the TrailMix enough. 

The Nathan TrailMix 7L is a lightweight but rugged, trail-specific hydration pack for more minimally-minded trail runners. We love the burly yet breathable backing, especially because it is surprisingly comfortable. The TrailMix has well-placed pockets to stash quick-draw items, like nutrition and your phone, and offers ample back-pocket storage for lesser-used items. The ruggedness of this pack makes it awesome for heavily wooded areas &mdash; the fabric won't snag on stray tree branches as you bound through the forest at top speed. 
The TrailMix didn't score as highly across the board as other hydration vests we tested, but it held its own for sure. The 7-liter storage capacity is smaller than some but still plentiful enough that we could stash everything we needed for a day in the mountains. If you are looking to go on ultra-long adventures, you might like a vest that offers a few liters more of storage. However, if you are a daily trail runner looking for a hearty pack that won't break the bank, we can't recommend the TrailMix enough. 
Read more: Nathan TrailMix 7L review

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The Gregory Hydro 3D caught our attention for its durable and easy-to-use design. It is made from a thick, soft polymer that is pliable but strong and resistant to punctures and delamination. It utilizes a unique body-length handle that makes filling super easy in sinks and doesn't lose its position and rigidity, even when full. The screw-top lid is well built and easy to open and close, without the worry of threading it incorrectly. All components come completely apart, so it's easy to rinse out and dry, and there's also a drying hanger that we found especially useful in our kitchen. The flow rate is great, and it has a magnet to quickly adhere to a pack's chest strap &#40;if also magnetic&#41;, preventing the hose from flopping around while you're in motion. Without a zip-top, there are no rigid corners to poke into your back through a thin pack.
This is not our favorite for ultralight excursions, as it's a touch heavy at 7 ounces. Also, when empty, the rigid handle doesn't allow the user to roll it up into a small package. It's also difficult to fit a scrub brush into the body of the bladder because of the smaller lid opening. However, these minor drawbacks are us being hyper-critical. After testing many bladders over multiple years, this is the one that has impressed us the most. For those seeking a reliable bladder that can be used for most purposes, this user-friendly model is our top choice.

The Gregory Hydro 3D caught our attention for its durable and easy-to-use design. It is made from a thick, soft polymer that is pliable but strong and resistant to punctures and delamination. It has a unique handle that runs the length of the reservoir, keeping it rigid even when full. This handle makes filling the reservoir in sinks super easy. The screw-top lid is well built and easy to open and close, without the worry of threading it incorrectly. All components come completely apart, so it's easy to rinse out and dry, and there's also a drying hanger that we found especially useful. The flow rate is great, and it has a magnet to quickly adhere to a pack's chest strap &#40;if also magnetic&#41;, preventing the hose from flopping around while you're in motion. Without a zip-top, there are no rigid corners to poke into your back through a thin pack.
This is not our favorite for ultralight excursions, as it's a touch heavy at 7 ounces. Also, when empty, the rigid handle doesn't allow the user to roll it up into a small package. It's also difficult to fit a scrub brush into the body of the bladder because of the smaller lid opening. However, these minor drawbacks are us being hyper-critical. After testing many bladders over multiple years, this is the one that has impressed us the most. For those seeking a reliable bladder that can be used for most purposes, this user-friendly model is our top choice.
Read more: Gregory 3D Hydro review

Gregory Hydration 3D Hydro 3L Reservoir Review - Active Gear Review

If you need a mountain bike hip pack for bigger rides, we feel the Osprey Seral 7 is an excellent choice. With 7-liters of storage capacity and a 1.5-liter water bladder, it has you covered for long days in the saddle. While it might be tough to fit all of your trail essentials, a sandwich, and a jacket in most of the packs in this review, it is a non-issue for the Seral. It also delivers stellar levels of comfort with an angled hip belt and compression straps that keep the load tight against the body and impressively stable. The back panel features a functional ventilation system along with breathable airmesh on the hip wings to help keep sweat at bay. Water flows quickly from the hydration system's bite valve, which is secured at the waist with an easy access magnet. Instead of routing the hydraulic hose through a little hole in the side of the bag, Osprey takes a simple approach where you route the hose out of the corner of the main zipper for quick and easy filling and cleaning. 
Given the size and width of this pack, it may not be the best option for smaller riders. Your back only has a limited amount of real estate available for a hip pack, and riders with a proportionally smaller lower back may feel that the Seral occupies a lot of that space. While we love how quick and easy it is to access the hose and bite valve with the magnet system, it can be prone to picking up sand and small rocks, which can decrease its integrity and may require occasional cleaning. Considering the larger storage capacity, this also isn't the best choice for riders who don't carry a lot with them on rides.

The Evoc Ride 12 is a new offering from the German company and is designed as an "all-rounder" hydration pack. Our testers found this pack to be incredibly comfortable for loads of various sizes, thanks to its supportive structure. The large main compartment is rectangular shaped, allowing us to easily fit in our first aid kit, down jacket, raincoat, snacks, and other items. Several small storage compartments kept our keys, lip balm, wallet, and snacks organized and in easy reach. Well thought out features such as an integrated whistle, helmet carry straps, and elastic strap retainers add additional value to this pack. 
One of the pack's drawbacks is that this pack comes with only a 2-liter bladder, which is too small for all-day pursuits. But, the pack is large enough to accept a 3-liter bladder. The High-flow Blaster™ bite valve has a very good flow rate and is comfortable to use. The Ride 12 shines for its comfort, storage, and weight, and we have no qualms about granting it one of our top awards.  
Read more: Evoc Ride 12 review

Hydration Pack Comparison