A nice pack for the money. I got this for longer runs and training hikes in the hot summer months. I'm getting older and where I used to be able to get away with a 12 mile run or hike in humid summer weather without taking water and losing 5 lbs of water weight, I found that last summer I was coming back nauseous and dizzy then consuming 2 liters of water. It has finally sunk in that I've developed a bad habit that I can no longer just bull my way through now that I'm a geezer. Also, after decades of running, my right knee is showing some signs of wear.
So these days, I've taking to hiking longer distances (12 miles) with lots of elevation gain (about 1,500 ft) rather than running most of the time. I tried running / hiking and holding a lightweight disposable water bottle but that's just a pain when I'm out there for three hours. I thought hip belts would be just as uncomfortable. So I looked around for a hydration pack and decided to try this.
I couldn't be happier. It fits my frame fine. Design, materials, and construction are all good. And the feature set suits my needs. I can carry all the water I need and not even feel the weight. My wallet, keys, sunglass case, a hat, and iPhone all fit in the lower pocket so I have nothing in my pockets which makes hiking much more comfortable. The pack carries well very close to your body with a very low profile and no annoying design features and is very easy to get on or off quickly. The back and shoulder strap padding is a very lightweight foam but that's appropriate for a pack that will typically see less than 10 lbs of weight. And with the Molle system, this can be expanded for a day trip if you want to carry food and a first aid kit or rain gear.
The bladder is a nice design for this pack. At 3 liters, it's a little big for this class of pack but the simple solution is to only fill it with as much water as you need. The welded partition in the middle of the bladder does its job of limiting the ability of the bladder to bulge out and keeps the profile to a slim 3". It also helps limit the sloshing of water in a half full bladder. Two things I don't like about this bladder is that 1.) It doesn't have the top opening with a clip closure. That allows you fill the bag from the top or reach all the way in to clean it. 2.) The wide mouth opening will not allow me to screw my First Needs XLE water filter to a set of Nalgene compatible threads like my other bladders. That's really handy for filling a bladder in the field.
As for the drinking tube, it's really nice. It snaps on and off the bladder with a push button quick release with no leaking. Likewise the bite valve snaps on and off with a push button quick release. That makes cleaning and flushing the drinking tube much easier. I was a little worried about the complexity of this drinking tube with two quick connects, and angled bite valve, and a separate thumb operated on / off valve it seemed a little too over done. I usually go with a simpler design with one connection to the bladder and a straight, simple push / pull bite valve that I can operate one handed. I experimented with this tube on my first hike (12 miles) with it yesterday and I'm happy to say that after a little experimentation it can also be used one handed. It's just a different method. I was comfortable with it after about 20 minutes of playing around. It's a big deal if you want to carry a hiking staff or trekking poles for going up and down over tree roots, rocks, and streams.
Looks are a completely subjective thing. I didn't want black because any pack with a black interior makes it hard to find stuff inside. Especially in the shade or at dusk / nighttime. Black also means it will be a little hotter in the summer weather where I intend to use it. I didn't want the camouflage because I'm not going hunting with this and frankly I'm not trying to hide from anyone on the trail so I thought it just looked silly. That left the tan version so, that's what I bought. It's lighter in color than the black so it should be a little less of a heat sink. The tan color makes it easier to spot stuff inside. And the color matches up pretty well with other gear I have that's described as desert khaki, desert tan, coyote brown, sand, etc. Another side benefit is the buckles, zippers, and straps are easier to see on this tan version. It should also handle dirt and trail dust better than the black fabric. But on great thing about a small nylon pack is that it can go right in the washer if it gets too grimy.
Lastly, here are some numbers on this pack that are missing from the product listing.
Length: 19 inches
Width: 9" at the top and bottom tapering to 8" in the middle between the pockets
Thickness: 4" with a full bladder and stuff in the pockets
Weight: Pack only 568 grams , 20 oz, 1.25 lbs
Weight: Bladder only 153 grams, 5.4 oz, .34 lbs
Weight: Drinking tube 83 grams, 2.9 oz, .18 lbs
Total Weight: 804 grams, 28.36 oz, 1.77 lbs
Weight Water Max 3 liters: 3,000 grams, 6.6 lbs
Weight Pack and Max water: 3,804 grams, 8.37 lbs
Edit 5/6/2018: I've been using this pack for about 2 weeks now for training hikes and runs from 8-12 miles and elevation gains of up to 750 feet. No obvious annoyances have surfaced. The pack carries well with no chafing. It hugs my back and stays in place when I'm jumping off logs and boulders. There are 2 things I've really enjoyed. 1.) Having my pockets empty is much more comfortable on the trail. 2.) Having the water available has made a huge difference as teh temps start to climb. I could bull my way through 12 miles in 90 degrees but I'd end my workout nauseous and then down massive amounts of water while I recovered for an hour or so. With water available throughout the workout I'm getting a better workout and there's no nausea or recovery time where I just collapse after 12 miles. It's just smarter to carry the water instead of allowing myself to lose 5 lbs of water weight in two hours.
Also, I've added two Molle pouches that give this little pack the ability to be a passable day pack. One carries my first aid gear and the second holds an ultralight stove and cookset. That leaves me enough room for food and ultralight rain gear plus wallet, car keys, sunglasses, and a point and shoot camera.
| Strap Type | Shoulder, Waist Strap, Adjustable |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3 Liters |
| Pocket Description | Utility Pocket |
| Number Of Pockets | 2 |
| Tank Volume | 3 Liters |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 10.28 x 9.96 x 4.96 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.87 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 19 x 9 x 2 inches |
| Brand Name | MARCHWAY |
| Manufacturer | MARCHWAY |
| Part Number | HYDB01ACU |
| Outer Material | Nylon |
