The 7 Best Hydration Packs for Every Outdoor Activity, Tested by Gear Editors

This one blew us away in testing, so much so that it made the grade for the Men’s Health 2025 Outdoor Awards. What’s to like? A lot, turns out. A one-of-a-kind hose and valve system ensures that sips are nice and chilly, even when you’re nearing the end of your supply. That kind of refreshment, plus the fit of this pack, make it next-level.

While perhaps a little heftier than other packs, we could hardly tell during testing as the straps and support created a second skin-like wear. That made it great for any kind of outing, from hikes in Joshua Tree to full days at a music festival. Your water truly stays cold for up to 24 hours, something a lot of packs just can’t pull off.

Now, it addition to looking good, the pack offers some serious tech. That 40-ounce hydration system comes with a stainless steel vessel fit with a mouth wide enough for ice. It also comes with a special straw to keep plastic from hanging out in your water supply all day. No leaks, kink-free delivery, and coldness every time by way of a fantastic drinking valve.

Read More: 2025 Outdoor Awards

When empty, this hydration pack weighs just over one pound, so between the two liters of water it holds and whatever essentials you wish to carry around, you’ll be able to travel light. Best, it’s a bargain and often on sale. No, it does not have some of the special features that the others have, but if you’re just looking to stay hydrated on the go, you’re in good shape.

Breathable mesh nylon straps keep you cool, and the entire outer shell is nylon and weather-resistant. Not bad for a pack that comes in well under $30. Just give it a could clean to begin with if you don’t want to taste any of those plastic notes.

Runners in our testing group were really drawn to this vest from Salomon. With a plethora of colors and sizes, you’re bound to get the perfect fit and look. No matter how hard or long we ran, the pair of soft water flasks just didn’t move, which is exactly what you want either on the pavement or the trail for extended periods.

The Y-shaped design allows for ample arm motion and the breathable fabric is great for those big and strenuous outings. You get eight pockets in total and the band can be adjusted even on the fly to keep things snug and aerodynamic.

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CamelBak has been a revolutionary brand in the hydration pack game, and this product is another great issue from the brand. You get the signature hose and nozzle in an extremely lightweight build at just 12 ounces. Your water capacity is 1.5 liters and the mesh harness kept us from overheating when on long journeys.

You can fit a laptop in the pack with a low bladder (or water removed entirely), making it a nice hybrid of sorts you can use on commutes to the office. Best, you can up your water capacity but utilizing that stretch pocket and packing an extra full bottle for hotter or longer adventures.

We did, however, notice that the pack can feel a little awkward when being really active as it does not come with a stabilizing and supportive waist belt.

This was our favorite vest model that we tested. Combining sleek design with plenty of pulleys to create the ideal fit, we found users of all sizes enjoyed this one. It’s only around seven ounces, making it ideal for those long hikes and trail runs, while still offering the storage or ability to clip on things like a rain shell, protein bars, or extra water.

The mesh is a little puffier than most, making it all the more comfortable. And the seamless, thin collar area does not chafe at all. You get six pockets plus the main compartment and the HydraPak soft flasks fill quickly, are set up with decent spouts, and can even be thrown in the dishwasher. It’s even made with some recycled materials.

Meant for all-day adventures, this Teton model is one of the best hydration packs for mountain biking or heavy-duty hiking. And it very much looks the part, a bit burlier than some. The pack itself is roomy so you can fit plenty of gear in addition to your water, which our testers found to stay chilled for approximately five hours.

There’s padding pretty much everywhere, making this pack a go-to for backcountry enthusiasts who like to log the trail miles. The three-liter bladder is a good size and the well-placed hydration ports make sipping convenient. The paddlers and skiers among us loved the pack too. There’s even bungee cords to tie on even more gear, like trekking poles.

And the coolest part might just be the rain cover, which stows away neatly and pops out like a parachute when you need it most.

The Raptor has a special helmet attachment point for easy access while crushing some mileage, or just keeping you hydrated on your daily commute in the bike lane. The hip belt keeps your pack securely in place, but don’t fear sweat, because the whole pack is designed to be breathable.

The sternum strap magnet is a nice touch for convenient sipping and the slash pocket is great as it’ll protect sensitive items like sunglasses. Our bikers fell for this bag, drawn to the roll-up tool pouch, helmet latch, and superior ventilation. There are even hip belt pockets to stores those protein pouches or other snacks.