ErgaLogik Gravity 70 Ultralight 2L Hydration Pack - Great for Running, Hiking, Cycling and Skiing

I was looking for a very light hydration pack that I could take on backpacking trips to use on days when we're day-hiking from a base camp. So, I specifically wanted something very minimal that would not add much weight to my backpack--my regular daypack is way too heavy to add on to a loaded backpack. This pack only weighs about 10.5 oz, and the weight of the bladder and tube doesn't really count since I'm carrying one for my main pack anyway.Other light packs that I looked at held only a 1.5-liter bladder (the ErgaLogik holds a standard 2-l size) or were designed only for runners and lacked any space for snacks and such. The ErgaLogik Gravity has a front pocket and two full-length side pockets, plenty of room for lunch, snacks, maps, GPS, sunscreen or whatever you carry. It also has stretch-cord to hold trekking poles or a jacket. AND, it cost me $30, less than half the price of a comparably light Major Brand pack I considered.For the record, I was NOT paid for this review, and I did NOT receive free or discounted products as incentive to write it.

I bought two of these packs in preparation for a trip out to Utah after doing some fairly extensive research into hydration packs. We were planning on doing a bunch of day-hikes in the 100+ degree weather through Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon National Park and thought it would be prudent to invest in a hydration pack, so as to stay far away from dehydration. We also thought that a pack would be nice as opposed to water bottles for both convenience sake as well as in the event that we needed to do any scrambling.I decided to go with the Ergalogik pack, as opposed to a comparable Camelbak pack, both because of the price difference and because I was impressed by the reviews received by Ergalogik. Camelbak seemed to be leading the industry when it came to both the pack and the hydration bladder itself but at over double to price I had a hard time justifying the purchase. Also, despite receiving many good reviews from their customers, Camelbak didn't keep up with the impressive costumer satisfaction shown by Ergalogik... and for good reason.When the packs came I gave them a quick look-over to make sure they were all good to go. I filled up the reservoir and found no leaks which is a fairly common complaint of other reservoirs. The pack has two zip pockets, one on either side that open into separate compartments. The compartments actually overlap inside of the pack making both of them very spacious for a wallet, phone, keys, snacks etc. There is also a pouch on the back which is convenient for a small camera, more snacks, or anything else that you want easy access to. The pack also has a bungee strap which I used to carry my water shoes on one of the hikes. The pack fit very nicely on the back and I could imagine were it was work very well for biking or running.The hydration bladder itself is designed very well. It has a large opening on the top making it easy to add ice as well as easy to clean afterwards. It also has a convenient handle underneath the opening that provides a great grip for filling the reservoir. The first time a drank from the bladder I did taste a slight plastic taste coming from the bladder; however, during subsequent hikes the taste was either gone or I was just didn't notice it. I straw and bite valve both functioned very well as did the valve just proximal to the bite valve.A couple of issues: When I received the packs and tested out the bit valves, neither would open. Looking carefully I found the line where the cut had been made and pricked it gently with a razor blade (I'm sure a pin would have worked just as well); afterwards, the valves split open as they were designed to. Also, after a couple day-hikes into the trip we noticed that the lower, thinner strap of one of the shoulder-straps on one of the bags was beginning to fray and detach itself from the sack. Fortunately we wouldn't need that bag for the rest of the trip.When buying the product I had received an email from Ergalogik that basically checked in to make sure that everything was good-to-go with their product and it explained their warranty on the bags. After I returned from the trip, I snapped a pic of the frayed strap and responded to the email to check if it is was covered by the warranty. I received a response back that same day and a few days later I received a brand new bag to replace it. I was quite impressed by their costumer service and will definitely be buying form them again!

I purchased this when summer began and the D.C. humidity starting to roll in resulting in consistent "feels like" temperatures in the 80s and 90s, even at 5am. Long runs became difficult with only a hand held bottle so I gave this a shot and it ended up being a very nice solution.First, it's actually kind of stylish - good coloring and design. Doesn't stand out too much. The pack itself is easy to clean and dries quickly - I hand-washed it with oxiclean and never had any after smell. The 2.0L insert is effective. I imagine all of these are more or less the same so I can't really comment on them. I would recommend a cleaning kit for the water hose. After a couple dozen runs, I'm not sure of the integrity of the water bottle itself due to some discoloring in the plastic and I may need a replacement to feel comfortable wearing it next summer without leaks. I recommend filling it, drying off the bottle, and letting it sit for a little while to make sure you have everything tight and no leaks before going on a run.My only real criticism is with the adjustable straps. When I was really sweaty on those mid summer runs (read: soaked), the strap material would loosen resulting in the bag hanging lower on my back. That was annoying. I'm not sure what the solution for this could be, perhaps a small clip to keep the straps tight. Otherwise, the bag is great. I would also wear it on hikes or other outings if you are going to be out with limited access to water.

I just received my hydration pack a few days ago. I was tired of carrying a water bottle with me as a ran. This is my first time using a hydration pack and I love it. It took me a little bit to figure out how to put it together and feed the hose through the back pack because I have never used one before. As I run, it doesn't slosh around like I thought it would. I wish I would have bought this sooner.