Gear Review-Hydrapak

This month you can get 40% off an item from Hydrapak. Just type in the discount code MUSTO10 when checking out. The offer is good until April 30th.

The 2 main reasons why I race and train with Hydrapaks are pretty simple:

1. I stay hydrated

2. I can stop less during races and training rides

And those 2 reasons can make or break a race. I've learned the hard way that racing with just water bottles don't work for me. Even during a short XC race with hand-ups, I never take my hands off of my handlebars often enough to grab a bottle and stay hydrated.

The Chute is my #1 pack for racing because it's pretty minimalistic. It allows me to carry 50 oz. of water, and has a little extra room for anything else I want on me during a race. I use it for XC, 100 milers that have aid stations, and 24 hour racing. During 24 hour races I usually come to a rolling stop every couple of laps. I'll hand off my empty pack, and my crew will put a new one on my back. It makes for very quick pit stops! Plus the pack is super lightweight, which is a HUGE bonus for endurance races.

I'm always "squirreling" things away in the pockets. Case in point...look what I found inside today. 2 powerbar gels, a tire lever, and a cadbury egg.

In Arizona I rode with the Flume. It's very similar to the Chute, just a little bigger. It has a 2-liter reservoir system, which is always a good thing to have when riding in the desert. I also raced with the Flume during the Whitetank Marathon and loved it. I never had to stop once. This is a pack that I could easily use for 100 milers as well, since it was very comfortable to wear.

Side view of the Flume....

I gave my BFF Juli the Streamline to test out while we were in Arizona and she loved it so much it went home with her. It had a bit more storage then the flume, which she liked. Since she lives in Colorado she has to carry a lot of gear (like a rain jacket) that I don't have to carry on the local trails in Michigan. Apparently storms move in very quickly when you are riding in the mountains!

Juli modeling the Streamline....

Another pack that I have my eye on is the Morro. It seems like a really good pack to have for those epic rides when you need to carry a lot of gear and food with you. Plus, I dig the orange color!

The reservoir system that Hydrapak uses deserves a post of it's own, so all I'm going to say is that it's the best available. I've never had it leak, it's really easy to refill at aid stations, and cleaning it is a breeze. After a long ride the last thing I want to do is clean anything, but the fact that the reservoir flips inside out makes it super easy.

Hmmm...what this picture is supposed to show is me holding the reservoir upside down and shaking it. I guess you'll just have to take my word that the thing DOES NOT LEAK!!!

This is quite possibly the best mouthpiece ever invented. It does not leak or clog, and the bite-valve allows a lot of liquid to come out at once. Plus it has a twist shut-off that you can use. Personally I never use the shut-off because the mouthpiece doesn't leak while open, but it's nice knowing that it's available.

So there you have it, my first gear review of 2010. Let me know if you have any questions about any of the packs. And if you want to order a Hydrapack and get 40%, just go HERE and enter the discount code MUSTO10 at checkout. It's good for one item until April 30th.

I'll post the discount code at the top left of my blog too. See it? Yup, there it is :-)