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Frequently Asked Questions
For a half-day walk, 1.5 to 2 litres of water and 5 to 12 litres of storage is plenty. For a full day, carry 2 to 3 litres and choose a pack of 12 litres or more so food, a rain jacket and first aid fit. In summer heat, carry more than you think you'll need.
For most walkers, yes. Sipping from a tube means you drink little and often instead of waiting for a stop, and a full bladder sits close to your back, which carries better than bottles in side pockets. Many hikers carry both: a bladder for water and a bottle for electrolytes.
Usually. Most hiking backpacks have an internal sleeve and a port for the tube. Buy a reservoir such as the CamelBak Crux in 1.5, 2 or 3 litres, or the CamelBak StoAway, which has its own insulated jacket so it works in packs without a sleeve.
Empty it after every walk, rinse with warm water and hang it open to dry. Clean it with a brush and mild detergent or bicarb soda every few weeks. Storing it in the freezer between trips also helps. The USWE Elite bladder turns inside out, which makes drying easy.
A hydration pack carries the load on your back like a small backpack. A running vest, like the Deuter Ascender or Traick, wraps your upper body with soft flasks on the chest, so it moves less at speed. Vests suit fast hiking and trail running; packs suit walkers carrying more gear.
How to choose a hiking hydration pack
Three questions narrow it down: how far, how fast and how much you carry.How to choose a hiking hydration pack
Three questions narrow it down: how far, how fast and how much you carry.
• Day walks with gear: a hydration backpack with a reservoir and room for food and a layer. The CamelBak Octane 12 carries 2 litres of water plus 10 litres of cargo. The Rim Runner X22 is a full day pack with a Crux reservoir in its own sleeve and a hip belt.
• Fast hiking and trail running: a vest fits close and doesn't bounce. The Deuter Ascender 7 (315 g) and Ascender 13 (340 g) carry soft flasks on the chest and a bladder behind; the Traick 5 and 9 and the Mammut Aenergy TR 5 Women are lighter again.
• Short walks: a waist pack keeps your back cool. The Deuter Shortrail III weighs 175 g and holds a 1.5 litre bladder; the USWE Zulo comes in 2L and 6L.
• Use your own pack: most hiking backpacks have a sleeve for a water bladder. Add a CamelBak Crux reservoir (1.5, 2 or 3 L) or the insulated CamelBak StoAway.
Hydration packs we stock
CamelBak is the brand most people mean by "camel pack": we carry the Octane 12, Lobo 9 (and Women's Lobo 9), Rim Runner X22 and Chase Adventure 8, plus Crux reservoirs and Big Bite valves. Deuter covers the running vests and belts. USWE adds bounce-free packs with a 4-point harness and the Elite bladder, which turns inside out for cleaning. For larger loads see hiking backpacks; for bike-specific packs see MTB hydration packs.
Carrying water on Australian tracks
Many of our best walks have no reliable water. On the Larapinta in the dry season, the Overland Track in summer or a hot day in the Glass House Mountains, plan on 3 litres or more and carry a water filter for creeks and tanks. In Queensland heat, a reservoir you can sip from is the water you actually drink. In the Alps in winter, an insulated tube stops freezing; see snow hydration packs.
Why buy from Oz Backcountry
Free shipping Australia-wide over $150 (T&Cs apply), sent from our Helensvale warehouse on the Gold Coast. Use the "In stock – ships immediately" filter to see packs ready to go today.
Related: All Hydration Packs · MTB Hydration Packs · USWE · Snow Hydration Packs · Hiking Backpacks · Water Filtration & Treatment