HydraPak Velocity Hydration Bladder Assessment

Backside Line

Hydrapak stripped away all of the bells and whistles to provide its lightest full hydration system, the Velocity. The general design is much like the Contour, which is our Editor’s choose and greatest total water bladder. Equally, the Velocity has a sliding closure, making it simple to fill and switch inside out. However the Velocity shaves ounces by eliminating extras like a sternum strap magnet, inside baffles, or an on-off change. 

Fastpackers or hikers searching for a light-weight system that features a hose will like this feature from Hydrapak. It’s extra reasonably priced than a number of the extra featured choices, and it’s fairly simple to make use of. Whereas we didn’t expertise vital leaks whereas testing, we do ponder whether its light-weight materials shall be sturdy in the long term. 

General, the Hydrapak Velocity stored us hydrated on lengthy desert hikes and on approaches to multi-pitch climbs this spring. To check the Velocity’s execs and cons to related merchandise, take a look at our line-up of this season’s greatest hydration bladders. 

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different well-liked gear guides:

How We Examined

We packed the Hydrapak Velocity for lengthy approaches and scrambles in Pink Rock Canyon exterior of Las Vegas, NV, this winter and spring. We used it in climate as much as 85 levels, filling it with electrolytes to maintain us hydrated. We additionally introduced it on shorter hikes in Joshua Tree and whereas cragging in each desert venues. 

Weight & Packability

At simply over 4 ounces, the Hydrapak Velocity is the second-lightest full hydration system on our checklist. However it ranked greater total than the ultralight Platypus Hoser due to superior design options we’ll talk about under. Clocking in at 4.4 ounces, the Velocity is considerably lighter than lots of its rivals, due to the elimination of additional options. 

The Velocity can be fairly packable; its minimal packed dimension is 6.5 inches by 2 inches by 3 inches when rolled up. This may make it supreme for airplane journey for a far-flung backpacking journey.  The Velocity does make sacrifices to attain this gentle weight, which we’ll talk about within the subsequent part.

Ease of Use

The Velocity has extra restricted options than most of the different full hydration programs we examined. The massive opening and sliding closure make it simple to fill from numerous water sources, and the chunk valve gives good circulate. There isn’t any shutoff change for the chunk valve, which may trigger some leaking should you’re not cautious. 

There may be additionally no sternum strap magnet to carry the chunk valve in place, nor a chunk valve cowl. On a couple of event, we thoughtlessly set our backpack down on the bottom, and the chunk valve flopped instantly into sand or grime. We additionally don’t love how the chunk valve flops round except we tuck it underneath a chest strap whereas mountaineering, because it lacks a magnet. 

Nonetheless, a number of of the bladders on our checklist don’t embrace these options and nonetheless aren’t as gentle because the Velocity. If saving weight is the highest precedence, skipping these options could also be price it.

Ease of Cleansing

The massive opening and sliding closure make the Hydrapak Velocity very simple to wash. It’s simple to suit a sponge contained in the bladder to wash it out, and the entire thing turns inside out to dry. The Velocity was among the many first to dry throughout our take a look at; after about half-hour, the bladder was utterly dry. The hose held condensation for for much longer, nevertheless.

Style

HydraPak Velocity doesn’t make you’re feeling such as you’re going to get most cancers from consuming out it. That’s good.

Sturdiness

Though we didn’t encounter any leaks throughout our testing interval, the long-term sturdiness of the Hydrapak Velocity stays our greatest query mark since that is our first season with it. The bladder’s ultralight materials feels thinner than that of a number of the different merchandise we examined. We did drop it onto rocks within the desert a number of occasions, and it held up, nevertheless it feels prefer it may puncture pretty simply. 

We’re additionally involved in regards to the safety of the sliding closure. The slider strikes backwards and forwards extra simply than these on different merchandise, and it feels prefer it may grow to be opened if it wasn’t packed very rigorously. That being mentioned, we didn’t expertise issues with leaking throughout our testing interval.

Ought to You Purchase the Hydrapak Velocity Hydration Bladder?

For these searching for an ultralight hydration system with a hose, the Hydrapak Velocity is a strong alternative. You’ll sacrifice some options to attain a light-weight design, so hikers who like all of the bells and whistles ought to think about a unique product. In contrast to different ultralight gear, the Velocity doesn’t cost a premium for its low weight. Its worth falls someplace within the center, making it a good worth for fastpackers who wish to hydrate on the go. 

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Contemplate?

Try this season’s full checklist of our favourite light-weight water-hose reservoirs and hydration bladders to match the Velocity in opposition to its rivals. Beneath are some related choices should you just like the Velocity:

Hydrapak Contour Assessment: The Contour is our best choice for hydration bladders, and its design is pretty much like the Velocity. Each are light-weight, have sliding closures, hydration hoses and may each flip inside out to wash. The Contour provides a pair key options to enhance the consumer expertise whereas not including an excessive amount of weight.

Platypus Hoser Assessment: On the flip aspect, the Hoser is even lighter and cheaper than the Hydrapak Velocity. It has solely of a bladder, screw cap, hydration hose, and chunk valve. The primary draw back to the Hoser in comparison with the Velocity is that it can’t be turned inside out to wash or dry. Platypus does promote cleansing kits.

Evernew Water Carry or Platypus Platy: In the event you’re searching for one of many lightest choices on our checklist, take a look at our evaluations of the Evernew Water Carry or the Platypus Platy. These are minimalist water luggage with a hydration hose offered individually. That mentioned, these two bladders pack down smaller and weigh lower than any of the opposite merchandise we reviewed.