Girlfriend needs a hydration pack, who has a recommendation?

Kiwi Kranker

Well as the title says the g/f needs a hydration pack. She has a modest budget of £40 and only needs the ability to carry 2l of fluid and a thin jacket, jersey, couple of tools and some food. So in effect what you typically need for about a 3 hour ride in UK weather.

She doesnt ride often enough to justify an expensive Camelbak higher end model (they all seem to be £50plus?) she is just after a comfy one that will do the job.

Anybody had any good experiences with some.

Cheers as always

Chaka Ping

Search eBay for Gelert hydration packs.

I got one that sounds like it would suit her perfectly for £15.

Kiwi Kranker

Cheers Chaka Ping, will check them out. Is it lasting?

Any other suggestions?

Chaka Ping

Yep, is pretty well made - has put up with lots of minging winter rides.

If you want to go even cheaper, Tesco do a backpack and bladder for £10, but I couldn't vouch for the quality.

Larok

I know your budget is £40 but the extra £10 gets you the mayhem which is an excellent pack.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... n%20System

the cargo capacity is 10.5 litres and it sounds as though you need that kind of space.

Ciaran500

Are the Camelbaks really worth the extra?

toasty

I bought my missus a Camelbak Magic and use the cheapy Gelert one myself, the only noticable difference is the much better valve on the Camelbak one, certainly not worthy of an extra £40 though in my opinion. Saying that, if I ever have a particularly rich feeling week I might make the upgrade To it's credit, it's lasted the best part of a year and it's in perfect condition (except the valve).

I think the lady specific ones are designed for shorter lady torsos too, I'd be careful. You can pick up one like the magic for about £40 if you shop about, we got the newer version but either one is very similar.

Andy B

Get a women's specific one, they're designed for women's bits

Camelbacks are worth the money, as are Source Hydration packs (better bladder IMO, you can open the whole of the top up)

Rich Hcp

Wiggle are doing special offers at the mo.

BlackSpur

You could also look at Lezyne packs. Bladder is easier to fill/clean but I don't know about the quality of the pack itself.

grantway

Buy her a camelback MULE and that would put her in place

lunaeventer

I got a gelert one in Asda a while ago - not woman specific but I have had no problems with the fit. 2 litre bladder & enough room for carrying the bits & pieces you suggest.

Don't know which "model" it is - occasionally thing I would like a slightly larger pack, but would probably end up just carrying things (& extra weight) that I don't really need. Has held everything I needed for Trailquests/adventure racing so far.

pinza1973

Why not try Merlin they always have camelbaks on offer.Maybe this one: http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=50 .Imo camelbaks are the way too go,best bladder out there.

Larok

daystar there looks good value.

The Spiderman

I recently got a Camelbak Serpe in Decathlon reduced from £45 to £20.Its a snowboard pack but very similar to the Rogue.Decathlon`s own brand Rockrider packs are also excellent value for money.

Chris`I

I got a Tesco pack the other day (browsing while buying sandwiches is dangerous!) and its a very good little pack. It only holds 1.5l of water (2l bladder avaiable for a tenna but that doubles the price of the pack!), and only takes about 5litres of other stuff in the pack. Its a brill little pack for a tenna and I use mine for when I am doing the local loop and just need wallet/phone/keys and water. For a day pack it would probably be too small, although my plan is that my missus will have the Tesco pack with little in it and I will have a bigger pack at some point which I will put tools and stuff in. For a tenna its a bargin, but it is pretty small. Build quality seems to be pretty decent too.

John Stevenson

Bugger the budget, you - or rather your lady - wants a Camelbak LUXE or similar.

My wife got one of these last year, despite being reluctant to spend big on a hydration pack, and loves it.

The women's Camelbaks have narrower straps that are properly shaped to snake round her breasts, shaped waist belts and high sternum straps that are actually usable.

They're worth the money.

Surf-Matt

So John , any photos then...?!

I borrowed a girls Mule the other day (hadn't got my own at the time) and they are definitely shaped quite differently!

Kiwi Kranker

Well cheers for all the advice guys and girls, I bit the bullet for her and covered the extra and bought her a Camelbak Luxe....so typical with cycling kit isnt it, you think 'oh that will do' and then buy something usually better and more expensive, I never seem to regret it though!

Wiggle does have some pretty good deals too, could be time to upgrade my HAWG as the zip is starting to go hmmmmm........

Cheers

bwoody

I got a High Sierra 2l pack from Costco a while back. Been really happy with it. Did look at camelbacks but couldn't justify the price. Think it was around similar money to this one on t ebay. Don't think you can really go wrong at under 20 quid.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 65ffe56c7a