HYDRAPAK ROOST HYDRATION PACK
“You don’t need us lecturing you. Proper hydration during your rides is as important as carrying a spare tube and tire pump. The Hydrapak Roost will help you do both. Features: The Roost uses an insulated reservoir pouch, padded shoulder straps with a side-release buckle attachment, removable waist strap, a large main pocket and a smaller gear pocket. Total cargo space is 260 cubic inches. The pack with an empty 100-ounce bladder weighed only one pound, six ounces (two ounces less than Hydrapak’s claim.) Removing the waist strap (most cyclists don’t use them) reduces the weight an ounce. The Roost sells for $57.99 in red, blue or camo colors. Contact Hydrapak at (510) 595-8318.
MBA Rating 5 Stars: The Roost’s construction is flawless. There wasn’t a dangling thread or broken stitch on the bag. The bag’s materials (we counted six of them) are an ideal blend for durability (the shell) breathability (the back panel and shoulder straps), fit (the elastic straps) and insulation. We carried a jacket shell, tire pump, shock pump, spare tube, camera, duct tape, first aid kit, SKS Toolbox multi-tool, Park Tool tire boot (3) Park Tool Tire patch kits, a Hammer Bar, cash, keys, Chapstick and a comb (to remove cactus, not to comb our hair). There was still room left. Using the Hydrapak bladder’s wide-mouth, roll-top closure used to require reading an instruction manual. No more. Following the steps printed on the bladder is all you need to do. The last Hydrapak we tested suffered from driposis of the Easyflo valve. This one didn’t. The true test of any hydration pack is how it feels on a ride. The Roost is large enough to carry everything you need for a four-hour ride, but it definitely doesn’t feel bulky. The light, compact pack is a perfect companion for your rides.”

Mountain Bike Action

Barracho from Hydrapak

The Barracho from Hydrapak has now been updated.
Said to be suitable for both cross country or road riding, the design features a moldedEVA shell to protect a very large gear pocket, which has internal organizational pockets. It has a Hydratunes cord port and a gizmo gear pocket for an MP3 player and a helmet light. The padded, integrated shoulder shoulder strap also contains a cell phone pocket.
The drink tube can be zipped inside the shoulder strap for insulation and easy access, and can be routed inside or outside the strap.
There is a large removable bungee strap for storage. Front webbing straps can be used to secure the chin guard of a full face helmet. There are further carrying loops beneath the pack, a fully padded back and a removable waist strap, which also has pockets for quick-access items.
the drink reservoir has a 100-ounce (3-liter) capacity and the storage is 1300cu in (21.3 liters).
Overall dimensions of the Baraccho are 20 x 11 x 7.5 in, with a weight of 3lbs.
Hydrapak will be found at booth 6704 at the dealer expo in Indy.