HydraPak Contour Hydration Bladder Evaluation

Backside Line

The Hydrapak Contour combines sensible options with a light-weight, packable design, making it our best choice amongst this season’s finest hydration bladders. 

The Contour incorporates a chunk valve with a shutoff swap, a quick-disconnect hose, a magnet to stop the hose from flopping round, a large opening with a slider closure, inside baffles, and a deal with for simpler filling. Regardless of all these options, it nonetheless weighs slightly below six ounces. 

For backpackers, hikers, and path runners trying to cut back weight whereas having fun with loads of options, the Hydrapak Contour is a wonderful alternative. Though it’s not the most affordable bladder in our lineup, its value stays aggressive and offers a greater person expertise, making it a incredible worth. 

Uncover extra nice choices in our finest hydration bladder gear information.

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different well-liked gear guides:

How We Examined

We took the Contour on day hikes in Joshua Tree throughout the winter, and we even introduced it alongside whereas snowshoeing in Minnesota throughout a chilly snap. Its hose did freeze at 15-degree climate, however we might anticipate that with any non-insulated hydration bladder. 

Weight & Packability

Amongst our full hydration techniques with hoses, the HydraPak Contour was one of many lightest. Weighing beneath six ounces, it was lighter than all different comparable merchandise besides the Platypus Hoser. It supplied many extra options than the Hoser, which will likely be worthwhile for a lot of regardless of the marginally heavier weight. 

We measured its minimal packed dimension at 8.5 by 3 by 2.25 inches, which is kind of compact for a bladder with a hose. The Contour achieves its spectacular packability by incorporating fewer cumbersome plastic elements than different bladders.

Whereas the CamelBak Crux incorporates a inflexible plastic deal with for filling the bladder, HydraPak features a versatile deal with on the Contour, lowering bulkiness. After detaching the hose, the Contour simply rolls up and shops conveniently throughout journey.

Ease of Use

The HydraPak Contour’s feature-rich design makes it simple and gratifying to make use of on the path. It features a loop built-in into the plastic slider that can be utilized to hold it in backpacks with a buckle or Velcro attachment level.

The chunk valve incorporates a shutoff swap to stop leaks, and we noticed that the valve affords a very excessive move in comparison with different bladders we examined. We additionally admire the inside baffles; whereas path operating, these assist reduce water sloshing round an excessive amount of. 

It additionally incorporates a magnet that may connect to a backpack’s sternum strap, stopping the hose from flopping round whereas mountaineering or operating. The attachment mechanism appears a bit much less safe than the one on the Osprey Hydraulics bladder; it hasn’t fallen off but, however we’re involved about shedding it.

Total, we observed that the magnets entice plenty of sand, particularly when mountaineering within the desert.One among our testers took the Contour on a snowshoe day hike in fifteen-degree climate in Minnesota. Inside an hour of mountaineering, the hose fully froze, making it tough for him to get water. We’d anticipate this from most non-insulated bladders. For a system with a totally insulated hose and bladder, take a look at the HydraPak Hydrasleeve. 

Ease of Cleansing

The slider closure allows the Contour to be flipped inside out for an intensive scrubbing of the inside. This function additionally facilitates fast drying, though the inside baffles may cause it to retain moisture longer than less complicated fashions. 

After being flipped inside out, cleaned, and hung to dry, the Contour was totally dry inside an hour and twenty minutes. Compared, a few of the bladders with twist caps took hours to dry.

Style

The HydraPak Contour had a light rubbery style, although it was not as pronounced as a few of the different bladders. All the reservoirs made by HydraPak – the HydraSleeve, Seeker, and Contour – ranked within the center on the subject of style. They aren’t taste-free, however they don’t have the iodine taste like a few of the different bladders.

Sturdiness

Throughout our testing, we didn’t discover any leaks or failures within the HydraPak Contour. The bladder is considerably difficult to show inside out, and we anticipate this might be a possible failure level sooner or later.

Ought to You Purchase the HydraPak Contour?

For hikers and runners looking for a light-weight hydration bladder that doesn’t compromise on options, the HydraPak Contour is a wonderful choice. We had been impressed by how gentle the Contour is whereas nonetheless offering options like a sternum strap magnet, an on-off swap on the chunk valve, and a deal with.

The light-weight design, together with the inside baffles that forestall water from sloshing round, makes this alternative significantly interesting for path runners. 

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Contemplate?

If the HydraPak Contour isn’t fairly what you’re in search of, you’re positive to discover a hydration bladder that matches your wants among the many remainder of our favorites.

HydraPak Hydrasleeve Evaluation: If you happen to benefit from the options of the Hydrapak Contour however plan to be outdoor within the winter, take into account the Hydrapak HydraSleeve. The HydraSleeve is an insulated sleeve that accommodates a 3-liter HydraPak Elite reservoir. The hose is insulated to stop water from freezing or warming up. Weighing 10.8 ounces, the HydraSleeve is significantly heavier than the Contour, however this further weight could also be essential to cease the hose from freezing in chilly climate. 

Osprey Hydraulics Evaluation: The Osprey Hydraulics is barely heavier and bulkier than the Contour, however it affords much more helpful options at the same value. The Hydraulics has a inflexible again on one aspect, so it retains its form higher once you slide it right into a backpack. This could make it simpler to reload into a totally packed in a single day bag. It additionally incorporates a laborious plastic ergonomic deal with that simplifies filling it with water.

Extra Photographs