HydraPak Contour Evaluate | CleverHiker

Backside Line

The Hydrapak Contour combines sensible options with a light-weight, packable design, making it our best choice amongst this season’s finest hydration bladders. 

The Contour incorporates a chunk valve with a shutoff swap, a quick-disconnect hose, a magnet to stop the hose from flopping round, a large opening with a slider closure, inside baffles, and a deal with for simpler filling. Regardless of all these options, it nonetheless weighs slightly below six ounces. 

For backpackers, hikers, and path runners seeking to cut back weight whereas having fun with loads of options, the Hydrapak Contour is a superb selection. Though it’s not the most cost effective bladder in our lineup, its value stays aggressive and offers a greater consumer expertise, making it a incredible worth. 

Uncover extra nice choices in our finest hydration bladder gear information.

And for more information, try a few of our different standard gear guides:

How We Examined

We took the Contour on day hikes in Joshua Tree in the course of the winter, and we even introduced it alongside whereas snowshoeing in Minnesota throughout a chilly snap. Its hose did freeze at 15-degree climate, however we might count on that with any non-insulated hydration bladder. 

Weight & Packability

Amongst our full hydration methods with hoses, the HydraPak Contour was one of many lightest. Weighing underneath six ounces, it was lighter than all different comparable merchandise besides the Platypus Hoser. It supplied many extra options than the Hoser, which shall be worthwhile for a lot of regardless of the marginally heavier weight. 

We measured its minimal packed dimension at 8.5 by 3 by 2.25 inches, which is kind of compact for a bladder with a hose. The Contour achieves its spectacular packability by incorporating fewer cumbersome plastic elements than different bladders.

Whereas the CamelBak Crux incorporates a inflexible plastic deal with for filling the bladder, HydraPak features a versatile deal with on the Contour, decreasing bulkiness. After detaching the hose, the Contour simply rolls up and shops conveniently throughout journey.

Ease of Use

The HydraPak Contour’s feature-rich design makes it simple and pleasant to make use of on the path. It features a loop built-in into the plastic slider that can be utilized to hold it in backpacks with a buckle or Velcro attachment level.

The chunk valve incorporates a shutoff swap to stop leaks, and we noticed that the valve presents a very excessive movement in comparison with different bladders we examined. We additionally recognize the inside baffles; whereas path working, these assist decrease water sloshing round an excessive amount of. 

It additionally incorporates a magnet that may connect to a backpack’s sternum strap, stopping the hose from flopping round whereas mountain climbing or working. The attachment mechanism appears a bit much less safe than the one on the Osprey Hydraulics bladder; it hasn’t fallen off but, however we’re involved about dropping it.

General, we observed that the magnets entice numerous sand, particularly when mountain climbing within the desert.Certainly one of our testers took the Contour on a snowshoe day hike in fifteen-degree climate in Minnesota. Inside an hour of mountain climbing, the hose fully froze, making it troublesome for him to get water. We’d count on this from most non-insulated bladders. For a system with a totally insulated hose and bladder, try the HydraPak Hydrasleeve. 

Ease of Cleansing

The slider closure permits the Contour to be flipped inside out for a radical scrubbing of the inside. This characteristic additionally facilitates fast drying, though the inside baffles may cause it to retain moisture longer than less complicated fashions. 

After being flipped inside out, cleaned, and hung to dry, the Contour was absolutely dry inside an hour and twenty minutes. As compared, a number of the bladders with twist caps took hours to dry.

Style

The HydraPak Contour had a gentle rubbery style, although it was not as pronounced as a number of the different bladders. All the reservoirs made by HydraPak – the HydraSleeve, Seeker, and Contour – ranked within the center with regards to style. They don’t seem to be taste-free, however they don’t have the iodine taste like a number of the different bladders.

Sturdiness

Throughout our testing, we didn’t discover any leaks or failures within the HydraPak Contour. The bladder is considerably difficult to show inside out, and we anticipate this might be a possible failure level sooner or later.

Ought to You Purchase the HydraPak Contour?

For hikers and runners in search of a light-weight hydration bladder that doesn’t compromise on options, the HydraPak Contour is a superb choice. We have been impressed by how mild the Contour is whereas nonetheless offering options like a sternum strap magnet, an on-off swap on the chunk valve, and a deal with.

The light-weight design, together with the inside baffles that stop water from sloshing round, makes this selection significantly interesting for path runners. 

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Think about?

If the HydraPak Contour isn’t fairly what you’re searching for, you’re certain to discover a hydration bladder that matches your wants among the many remainder of our favorites.

HydraPak Hydrasleeve Evaluate: In case you benefit from the options of the Hydrapak Contour however plan to be outdoor within the winter, contemplate the Hydrapak HydraSleeve. The HydraSleeve is an insulated sleeve that accommodates a 3-liter HydraPak Elite reservoir. The hose is insulated to stop water from freezing or warming up. Weighing 10.8 ounces, the HydraSleeve is significantly heavier than the Contour, however this further weight could also be essential to cease the hose from freezing in chilly climate. 

Osprey Hydraulics Evaluate: The Osprey Hydraulics is barely heavier and bulkier than the Contour, however it presents much more helpful options at the same value. The Hydraulics has a inflexible again on one aspect, so it retains its form higher whenever you slide it right into a backpack. This may make it simpler to reload into a totally packed in a single day bag. It additionally incorporates a arduous plastic ergonomic deal with that simplifies filling it with water.