This is a very good hydration pack. I've carried it on a number of trail ultramarathons. It rides well, holds lots of water, is easy to refill, and carries a fair amount of gear. My one complaint is that it has no pockets that are accessible while it's being worn, which means I have to take it off to get gel flasks, stash trash, etc. I'm adding detachable pouches to make up for this, but it's definitely a design oversight.

BTW, I don't believe that this is really a bike hydration system -- it rides like a runner's pack.

My overall evaluation -- very useful piece of gear, I consider it one of my main pieces of gear for wilderness activities.

Customer Service

Threshold is a very good store; the owner, Chris Axelson, told me that Ultimate is a good company to work with. He gave me a free spare valve that the company had given him as a freebie.

Similar Products Used:

Previously used several different bottle packs plus handheld bottles. This pack is better for carrying substantial amounts of water.

The X-Spurt was a bit smaller than I had imaged when it arrived, and I was surprised that all my gear fit--but fit it did. I wanted a hydration pack that would carry 3 litres of water and allow me to carry rain gear, sandles and a book. This bag fits the bill, yet is still compact. There are plenty of clips so I can tie stuff to the outside of the pack too. It could have been a tad larger, but overall, it works for a day hikes close. I have enough room to carry only light raingear...nothing bulky. The yolk harness is very comforable and all straps are either removable or stowable. The harness itself can be removed which will save space when I want put the hydration bladder inside my large pack. The hip straps distribute weight from back to hips effectively. The roll top bladder is easy to fill and clean. And 96 ounces is a nice capacity for day hikes. The pack itself has room to carry two 96 ounce bladders, though be prepared to sacrifice some gear. The only thing I didn''''t like about the pack is poor insulation around the bladder. The padded wicking on the pack mostly protected my back from the cold, but the bladder sits a little below the padding. I would not carry frozen water in this pack. brrrrr.

Customer Service

MSRV is $80, I got this for a steal on sale at Campmor.

Similar Products Used:

This is my first hydration pack. I have carried bottles up til now. I will never go back. I''''ve found that I hydrated better now with the water readily available--that''''s worth lots right there.