Looking for advice on whether to get a hydration pack for gravel racing? Looking at this one pictured if I do, 2L of water plus some storage for a tube and fuelling.
Got a few 130k+ races this season (haven’t raced before) and wondering if I should get a hydration pack or just rely on bottles and filling up at the aid stations.
Plan to carry 2 bottles on the bike but no additional storage other than jersey pockets.
Any advice appreciated!
by gwa29
22 Comments
I feel like I don’t cool as well when I’m wearing a pack and drink more water. I’ve worn a Camelbak Chase on a few longer rides without water stops and was pretty miserable. If there is water available I wouldn’t wear one.
Fuck it bro, sounds like you’ve already made your mind up, have the piece of mind and cruuuuush.
I love my USWE pack. It’s so much easier to drink from than a bottle. I’m never going back. Especially when racing in gravel roads where I don’t like to take my hands off the bars.
Ive the one from apidura and I really like it so far. 2l in back an 500 ml on frame with iso stuff. And one frame pack with tools and food 🙂
Depending on how hard I’m riding and how warm it is, I go through a bottle every hour/15 ish miles. I carry 3 bottles on my bike. So if I know there is a chance that it will be more than 30-45 miles between pit stops, I wear my CamelBak. It’s also good insurance in case something happens to one of your bottles, like cage screws coming loose 12 miles into an 80 mile race with high temps and aid stations only every 30-40 miles. Yeah, that one sucked and is why I now wear a CamelBak if it’s going to be close to my limits.
For me, the choice to use or not use a hydration pack comes down to if I plan on racing or riding the event. If I’m racing then stopping at aid stations is out of the question and I need to carry all of my supplies. If I’m riding then stopping at aid stations is the plan and I make the most of it.
I got a super lightweight hydration pack because I had been riding with a small backpack which sucked. When my lightweight hydration pack came in, I did a 35 mile ride I was so excited!
Turns out wearing a small hydration pack sucks *almost* as much as wearing a backpack. I then got a bar bag and put the bladder in the bar bag. It’s wonderful.
You have to try it for you. It’s like saddles in how personal it is.
veloToze just released a new hydration pack at Sea Otter 🚵♂️
I wear one on longer rides, just water no storage. The pack doesn’t bother me at all. Usually have water in the pack and fuel in the bottles on the bike.
Water in the pack (no tools, not really room)
Liquid fuel in the water bottles
Minimal toolkit in saddle bag
Gels etc in jersey pockets
Longer rides/races I might also use a top tube bag, good for shoving empty gel packs in as well.
I keep a 3L Apidura frame bladder in my frame bag, don’t notice the weight at all and no backpack is way more comfy, no water bottles either, room for snacks and tools all in one bag.
I use the USWE Outlander Pro and have no complaints.
USWE hydration packs are awesome.
They are great for long rides. They also make hydrating at speed way easier. I run a small frame so I typically only have room for one bottle cage so hydration pack is my best option. Plus I’m an old school XC Mountain Biker. I’ve used hydration packs for years. I’m just used to it.
For cool weather it’s great. But if the ride is warm I’d do a bum bag instead. Backpacks get hot.
I picked up the MTB Hydro 3 a couple months ago. Love it for MTB, have yet to try it on the road/gravel bike. There’s definitely a slight penalty from the trapped heat on my back, but being able to hydrate at will more than makes up for it. As some others have said, I do pure water in the bladder and then carbs in my bottles on the bike – makes it easier to measure carb intake and hydrate when needed.
A USWE pack is the single most favorite accessory I got for cycling.
The only reason I’d wear a hydration pack over bottles is because I’ll drink three times as much that way. It’s your back; I’d say it’s just personal preference.. I used to wear one when I first started riding longer distances but I haven’t worn one on a bike in over a decade.
As someone that wanted a little more storage I went with the new Osprey pack but I also see more people with the pack you shared and opt for more on bike storage.
CamelBak Ambush is my go-to
I use a USWE pack for gravel. Love it. I also carry bottles full of calories, gels in my pockets and water with electrolytes in my bladder. I used to use LMNT but now I use Canada Rock.