[Closed] Hydration pack

Alpkit Gourdon 20 plus a cheap bladder from Decathlon.

Comfy, waterproof, capacious and pretty much indestructable, all for under £30.00.

Depending on how much you want to spend, you can't go wrong with a Camelbak Mule. 3L bladder, which is plenty, and enough storage for a day ride. Comfy and durable too - had mine for a few years and it's still in great nick.

EDIT: Currently £50 at [url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Camelbaks/Camelbaks++Bottles/Camelbak+Summer+Range/2011+Camelbak+MULE_CMK-MU.htm?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googlebase&utm_term=Camelbak+Summer+Range ]Merlin[/url].

Osprey Raptor here. Great pack for all day rides. think its the 18 I have

[url= http://www.sourcehydration.co.uk/products/Hydration/5/Widepac ]null[/url]Source 3 litre bladder in a bog standard back pack. I use a Berghaus freeflow pack and the source bladder justs get in the pouch. Cheap as chips at about £25 - £30 for the 3 litre folds flat when not in use and you can bung it in the freezer when it's empty.

If you know you won't need a spare top, nothing beats a couple of bottles of water and pump on the bike and a saddle bag and rear pockets for repair kits, tube, tool, etc.

The Wingnut Hyper 2.5 is next best thing.

Was looking at the Camelbak The Don 3 as I found it on offer somewhere (can't remember where now though:/) has anyone used this? Is it too big? I want to make sure I can get some spare parts, lunch and maybe even a kitchen sink in there too.

Was planning on spending up to £70ish as I want to make sure it is pretty robust cos quite frankly I'm sh** on my bike and fall off hard every now and again.

+ 1 for singletracksurfer
Unfortunately the trails are a bit too muddy at the mo' and the water-bottles don't taste so good through the layer of muck thats been splattered all over them.
If you want something that takes your falling off into account, look into evoc packs. built in back protectors in some and seem pretty well built.

Thanks loum, the evocs look fantastic but heavy, I suppose that's the price you pay for wanting to carry more stuff/ having protection. I may take a trip to Evans cycles to have a look at them.

I'll second the Osprey Raptor mentioned above. Comfortable and feature packed, I'm really impressed with it after owning camelbaks.

Dakine Nomad.

Best pack, best bladder.

Unfortunately the trails are a bit too muddy at the mo' and the water-bottles don't taste so good through the layer of muck thats been splattered all over them.

Get some with covers - I use them all the time as I don't want to stick shit in my mouth any time of year.
I also have A Wingnut 2.5 and find it much better than a standard pack.

camelbak blowfish is immense

Think I'm going to go for the Dakine Nomad as it sounds right up my street and looks awesome in blue

osprey raptor here for me too. comfy and good storage!!!

I ride the Osprey Raptor - switched from a Source Freeride (not sure if they make these any more). Both are great but if I am out for just a quick run - 1-3 hours - I tend to do the roadie thing of stuffing things in my pockets on the back of my top. I seemed to be getting more an more stuff in my backpack and it became a real dead weight. The freedom afforded by just having a water bottle, spare tube, pump, gel and patches was amazing.

Camelbak HAWG NV, love mine, usual 3ltr with decent storage.

Osprey are pretty heavy as are most Camelpacks; you'd pay alot of money to shave 200g off a set of cranks. The Wingnuts are pretty light and I quite liked mine (but was no good for running), Inov8, OMM and Salmon do nice light ones too which you can pair up with a decent bladder.

Dakine Nomad is an excellent choice. The whole organisation of the pack is superb, 180deg opening pockets everywhere so you don't have to fish around for stuff inside the pack, the best bladder by a mile (and no matter how many times Camelbak "update" theres it still isn't close) and very, very comfortable to wear. Mine replaced a Mule. Nuff said.

I love the camelbak HAWG, but the zippers are to flimsey, they simply break, check the dakine nomad out, go for something more sturdy.

Another vote for the Osprey Raptor. I've got a 14 litre one and seems to do me for the bulk of my riding - nice and stable, comfortable and seems to hold more than the 14litre capacity suggests it should.

I have a burghaus remote 8+4 for shorter rides and freeflow 20 for longer days out.

Totally coincidental that they are the same make. Both are built to last and very comfy for my small size. Add a couple of decathlon bladders and Bob est ton oncle.

I've got a Camelbak Mule NV, it fits enough in and is plenty comfy. TBH just get whichever is cheapest of the usual recommendations as they all do more or less the same job.

Got my girlfriend to get me the dakine nomad in blue as its only £50 at Evans...nearly half proce! Bargain as I hate paying full price for stuff (yeah yeah I know I'm a Scrooge).