intransit1217

I’ve gone to a hydration pack recently and I love the single source and extra capacity of it. Most days it’s excellent and served me perfectly during the race the lake 2 years back.

Yesterday I was on a recreational ride and it was hot with high humidity. I made sure I was well hydrated and fueled. But I wonder if the backpack style isn’t reducing my body’s ability to cool by blocking airflow to my back.

Anyone else have this issue?

thank you

wheelsmcgee

When it’s really hot and humid, I feel like I sweat more when wearing my hydration pack, and it that if does inhibit air flow a bit, but it’s worth it. I drink a lot more water when I’m wearing it than carrying bottles, and the mouthpiece doesn’t get coated in dust or mud like water bottles.

jcg878

Well, I'm sure it's making your back hot, which is not a plus. It is a tradeoff.

unterhausen

I have an Osprey, and I think the design does a fairly good job of keeping my back cooler than one would expect with a backpack. I find it fairly uncomfortable though, trying to get used to it again.

One issue I have with it is that I drink too much plain water and that can cause problems with nausea.

Rides4Beer

Probably a bit, but the tradeoff is that you're able to stay hydrated. For me, once it's hot, it's just hot, I'd rather have the water, and I like the convenience of the drinking tube when offroad.

DorkDisk

When it was first introduced, it was a simple sleeve and bladder. The advertising claimed that it kept you cooler. I remember it actually did, if you filled it with ice. Now they are backpacks

rosefarts

They had the ice back model that had no insulation between the bladder and you. Haven't seen one of those since the early nor mid 90s.

I have a 3L bag, I use it in big rides. I actually haven't used it this year, even on some bigger rides. I should go find it and make sure it isn't molding.

2cam16

Sure I get hot with my Camelbak but I'm fine with that just as long as I have my water.

biker128pedal

When it’s hot I pack ice in mine. Used to have a Camelbak mule and could feel the cold. Now I have an Osprey and it rides off my back so I don’t get the cooling. But then again the Osprey is cooler on rides.

Ubie

I still use a 1st gen Camelbak Rogue, fill that sucker 1/3-1/2 way with ice and it keeps me (relatively) nice and cool for a couple of hours, even on misery index days of 150+ like today.
I don't love that I lose easy access to my jersey pockets, but it's a minor trade off

msu2001la

Fill up the bladder and toss it in the freezer the night before, then ride around with a big block of ice strapped to your back?

gus6464

You could always use a hydration fanny pack like the Osprey Seral.

Bryan C. 

I thought this was more of a" "Do these pants make my ass look fat?" type question at first.

Sadly, the answer is yes. Your camelback IS making you hot. Thankfully you have a lot of water to cool you down. This subject has been debated over and over again in the MTB world. Some MTB frame designs make it almost impossible to mount a cage so these hydration packs are a must have.

I hate backpacks of any kind whether I'm riding a bike or not. I save the hydration pack for long rides rides where I can't refill my water bottles. I rarely use it at all anymore.

Toadmeister

I used to sport a Camelback hydration back but eventually Discovered it was more of a burden than a help. I’m 6’4” and already top heavy, so 3-4L of water on my back didn’t help that.

The pack/bladder effectively acted as a turtle shell that trapped heat on me. The water would typically get warm toward the end. My back would be sweating down my @ss crack!

Filling them was a PITA. As was keeping them clean. Bottles seem easy by comparison and I can sling them low on the bike frame. I like hydration mixes, which don’t do well in the bladders, gets slimy. Bottles are easy to clean.

I’ve seen some bikepackers mount bladders to the frame inside a frame bag or front bag. This idea intrigues me some for that type of riding.

kar

I dont feel at any time that it is heating my back for rides longer than 3hours, upto temp: 35deg C in normal humidity.
Camelbak setup seems to works for me.

I have a 6 or 8 years old Rogue that is quite narrow in shape which is good. But by default, it came with a 2L or 2,5L hydration reservoir which I found to be quite bulky, uncomfortable and bothersome to my shoulders/chest even when half filled.

So I use 1L reservoir which keeps the narrowest shape on the back and there is extra space to keep spare tube, Pump etc.. I freeze 1L Water overnight and keep nut/Chocolate bars, phone, key, cash in the bag pockets. Bars are not melted as side effect due to ice cold water. I don't even feel that the bag is there. When camelbak shoulder straps feel just like bib suspenders on shoulder, that's when I know the setup is optimal.

I also keep one 700ML water bottle on bike with isotonic tablet which lasts for around 50-55km. Then I refill the bottle.

Last Sunday did 86km loop full road ride around a lake. 3:05Hrs, ~570meters elevation, average 28km/hour. And ready access to ice cold water and unmelted bars in camelbak was so convenient.

And it was a lot easier to setup than writing it down here

Captain266

I’m with you, when it’s hot and I’m biking I need water. I started drinking electrolytes/mixes in my water and adding pink Himalayan sea salt and it really helps a lot!