Hydrapak’s Big Sur Pack : A Long, Tall Drink of Water
“Here are some of the annoyances I’ve had with hydration packs in the past:
The reservoirs leaked. The leaky water then leaked into the main compartment. The bite valves leaked. The reservoirs sank to the bottom of the bag when they were half empty.The drinking tubes flew all over the place. The inside of the reservoirs were covered with what looked like algae. There wasn’t a place to attach a red bike light. The hip straps weren’t detachable. Et-cetera.
Not so with my new Big Sur pack by Hydrapak. Whoever designed this little gem was on point.
One of the company’s signature elements is its reversible reservoir. It’s designed after a dry bag, so to open it, I slid a clamp off its top and unfolded it a little. Then I could easily turn it inside out for a thorough cleaning and drying.
So, at the start of my ride, I happily filled the 100-ounce reservoir with water, and I was off for a few hours. I didn’t have to worry about sipping from a bag of funk. I was also happy to be able to attach the top of the reservoir to a clip at the top of the pack, which kept it from sinking to the bottom of the pack as I drank. It might seem like a minor detail, but it really boosted the pack’s comfort since it kept the weight of the water evenly spread over my back.
Oh, and before I left my house, I also loaded up my Big Sur with tools, food, a wind jacket, my keys and phone, a blinking red light, and my iPod (in a specially designed iPod pocket). Everything fit into its own organized pocket — including the reservoir, which fit into a waterproof sleeve. Nice. I used to always get annoyed when I had to pull everything out of my old pack half way through a ride just to find that one energy bar, so I appreciated the organization. The Big Sur also has a loop on the back for a blinker, in case I need to ride home at night.
On the trail, I forgot I had a pack on; the Big Sur is equipped with comfy shoulder straps and a padded back, so it wears well. I was also happy to be grooving to my iPod as I cranked up the 12-mile fire road to the top of the descent. On the way down, I realized how nice it was to have a form-fitting hydration pack. The Big Sur is neither wide nor deep, so its 465 cubic inch capacity comes mostly from its height — and that’s a good thing. I found the shape to be appropriate for technical, fast singletrack, where I need to use a lot of body English to maneuver over, under, and around obstacles. Fat little packs seem wobbly, which is never a good feeling at top speed.
Kudos to Hydrapak for putting so much thought into this hydration system. It’s one of the most intelligently designed pieces of outdoor gear I’ve seen in a while. The company’s attention to detail is excellent, and the Big Sur is loaded with numerous little features that make it oh-so-easy to use.
Bottom Line: Smartly designed hydration system that will keep you charging on long rides, trail runs or climbs. — N.W. (Sept ‘07)
Price: $85″
fitnesstravelgear.com
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