I have a long history of destroying hydration packs. From scraping and tearing them while climbing chimneys to ripping the nozzles off while cartwheeling down the slopes on my snowboard. I’ve jammed jackets and tools in the packs until the nozzle pops open and water gushes all over the floor. Don’t even get me started with bag punctures – I’ve busted holes in more reservoirs than I can keep track.
Not so with the Deuter Race EXP Air. After several months of rigorous use including all-night bike rides, ascending a few thousand feet of fixed ropes and long hikes there is not a hole in the pack or the reservoir.
The 2-pound, 2-ounce Exp Air expandable hydration pack is made of 210-denier Ripstop Polyamide and has thick reinforcement threads. Two mesh side pockets are great for carrying electronics, sunglasses or stashing a wet pair of swim trunks. It has soft, contoured shoulder straps and a rain cover.
The water reservoir is suspended in the pack with a Velcro tab so it doesn’t ride low on your back. This makes the contents of the pack feel lighter than they otherwise would. With the 100-ounce reservoir full of water– roughly enough for 4-6 hours of riding – there is still enough room in the pack for a large camera (DSLR), puffy jacket, bike tools and small, miscellaneous items. A bike helmet can be clipped to the outside of the pack.
The EXP Air keeps its rigid shape because of the tensioned steel frame. The frame keeps the pack centered on your back. It has lightly padded, contoured waist straps.
The bladder has thicker plastic than other hydration systems, and it doesn’t taste like plastic because of a glassy layer within the reservoir and tube. The mouthpiece stays securely shut when not in use, and comes with a detachable rigid plastic cover. This means I don’t have to worry about laying the pack down on dusty roads and smearing filth on the mouthpiece. A simple twist of the Helix valve allows water to be sucked out of the bladder. Even when overstuffing the pack I have yet to bust a zipper, or accidently force open the mouthpiece.
($129.00, www.deuter.com)
