One important part of hiking is determining what kind of bicycle backpack best fits your needs. You may find that you prefer a smaller hydration pack for short hikes while a larger hydration hiking backpack may work better for you on longer hikes. There are several options to choose from, and I’ll discuss all of them.

Many things have changed the way that people hike in the last 20 years. As a Boy Scout, I remember hiking with a clumsy canteen or water bottle in my backpack, and they would constantly bounce around in my pack, causing the backpack to be unbalanced and uncomfortable. Since then, backpacks are lighter, smaller, tougher, and more comfortable. The introduction of the hydration pack made it possible for hikers, mountain bikers, backpackers, and runners to carry water in a stream-lined, comfortable, balanced hydration pack. The water is carried in a plastic bladder that fits into the hydration pack which balances the weight of the water evenly across the back.