I have the osprey seral 7. It dissapears on the bike for me. Walking around it sucks. I like the bladder versus bottles in waistpak.

Not sure on waist size I was 210 lbs and fit me with extra strap leftover.

 

Not sure if it’s fits a size 40 waist but I have both the Bontrager Rapid Pack (no bladder) and the Rapid Pack Hydration (with a bladder). The first one is masterpiece in design. The hydration one is an absolute fail. Do a hard pass on it. I hate it. Walking around is absolutely brutal and forget about trying to take a pi$$ with it on. It’s one of the worst bike products I have bought. Yet the OG Rapid Pack is one of the best.

 

Definitely avoid the dakine one. It is maxed out on me and I am a 33 waist. No idea who they designed it for.

Something you might want to look into is the camelbak skyline. It sits low like a fanny pack, but stays put way better with the shoulder straps. I hated wearing regular packs and didn’t like the pressure the fanny packs put on my bladder. The skyline is the perfect middle ground for me.


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Definitely avoid the dakine one. It is maxed out on me and I am a 33 waist. No idea who they designed it for.

Something you might want to look into is the camelbak skyline. It sits low like a fanny pack, but stays put way better with the shoulder straps. I hated wearing regular packs and didn’t like the pressure the fanny packs put on my bladder. The skyline is the perfect middle ground for me.


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Looks like it would be worth a try while they still are available. Just checked Camelbak's website and they are no longer listing it amongst their current models.

 

Definitely avoid the dakine one. It is maxed out on me and I am a 33 waist. No idea who they designed it for.

Something you might want to look into is the camelbak skyline. It sits low like a fanny pack, but stays put way better with the shoulder straps. I hated wearing regular packs and didn’t like the pressure the fanny packs put on my bladder. The skyline is the perfect middle ground for me.


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I have the Skyline. I actually love/prefer 😳 wearing it. Another great product. I have been using mine for 3 years straight and am hoping it lasts forever. 10/10.

@fftfk - happy to measure the waist straps if you are interested.

EDIT: you need to be careful when you detach the hose from the bladder. Mine started leaking and so did my daughter’s (she has the female version of the Skyline). CamelBak was awesome - they sent me 2 new bladders free of charge within days of emailing them. Those packs have been to hell and back so it’s no wonder they broke down. In any event, the new bladders are fine. They said it may have been a bad batch, which they had at one point.

 

I just purchased a Skyline based on your post,(I didn't know this product existed), so far so good, it holds enough water and tools and rides nicely on your lower back/lumbar area taking the load off your shoulders/upper back. The included tool roll with dedicated pocket is a nice touch. 👍

 

Bontrager makes a fantastic waste hydration pack that doesn't choke you like the Osprey varieties...

IRRC it's called the "Rapid Pack Hydro".

 

Wow. Crazy! See post #3. What is one man’s junk is another man’s treasure I suppose. I absolutely despise that pack.

I am concluding that there is no great hydration waist pack. Sounds like they all kinda suck because of their very nature. At best, some may suck less badly than others.

I’m going to stick with my Skyline. Or my non-bladdered Rapid Pack if I want to go waist pack. Both are da bomb.

if I have a minute, I will measure the waist belt for both the Rapid Pack Hydro and the Skyline. See if either or both are bigger than 40 inches.

 

The best MTB hip packs reviewed

Personally I went with the Evoc Pro 3L, have found I forget about it even on the chunkiest of trails, and we sure have some good chunk in Santa Barbara CA like Tunnel Trail

 

I have Osprey and like others have said, you don't even feel it on the bike. The straps have a ton of adjustment and allow you to quickly cinch down if you want to adjust.

 

I'll vouch for the Osprey. 265/40 waist. I use the one that holds 1 bottle. Love it after 30 yrs of hydration backpacks.

 

I don’t know about the waist size, but the Lab Austere hip pack is really comfortable. I have an Osprey as well. I think the Osprey has a better adjustment system, but I usually choose the Lab Austere when I go for a ride.

 

I've tried hydration packs but I keep going back to my waist pack with 2 water bottle holders. Carries all my other crap also

 

This is the way.

That is how the OG Rapid Pack is designed (except there is only one bottle holder) and it’s a veritable masterpiece.

Carrying a waist pack with a bladder is like trying to carry a water balloon tied to your a$$. Doesn’t matter what the brand is. At least that’s how it is for me. I now know what vigorous activity must have been like for Dolly Parton.

Bottles on a waist pack or a low rider pack with a low centre of gravity and flat bladder like the Skyline.

Of course, everyone has a different view on this. The waist pack/back pack threads might be more plentiful than the bar width threads.

 

I only have tried Osprey. One carries a 1.5L bladder and is just ok. Tbh, just too heavy when full but not bad when half full.

Recently grabbed the single bottle version on sale for $35 and love it. A second bottle goes on the frame and that’s plenty of fluids for summer rides in the southeast heat.

Cooler seasons bring out the traditional hydro pack.

Edit: the Osprey will fit a 40” waist.

 

Sierra designs from Target, was maybe 25$ max, works fine.
I also keep a bottle on the bike.
yer welcome 😜

 

CAMELBAK Repack Lr 4 will deffo fit you

 

Agree. 36" waist and Repack has extra slack to go up to 40". Also prefer bladder over bottles while pedaling ... fewer moving parts

 

I think large capacity hip packs are worse than back packs. With anything more than 1ltr of water, they are continually sliding towards your butt crack. The bend around the waist makes it tough to store anything long, like a shock pump.
For any trip needing capacity, a backpack is the way to go.
I do think the back packs are trending toward stupidly big. Not all of them need to be epic ride capacity.
I have a very old Mule, that is pretty slim. The new Mule will carry 2.5 days of supplies.
Most of us ride for 2-2.5hrs. My small CamelBack butt pack that carries a small bottle and phone/wallet, along with medium bottle on the bike, is sufficient as long as I drink a bottle before starting.

 

I tried the Dakine hot laps pack with the 2X water bottle pockets and it was not a good experience. I used it exactly 1 time and with 2 water bottles in it it felt like someone was grabbing my waist and yanking me backwards every time I hit a bump. and if you cinch it down tighter it squeezes you at the waist. No thanks, went back to my Camelbak MULE.

 

Make an extension for your Evoc. Evoc Pro is the best one for carrying a bladder IMO.

https://www.rei.com/product/737298/bluewater-1-climb-spec-tubular-webbing

https://www.rei.com/product/867926/gear-aid-tri-glide-buckle-set-package-of-2

 

I bought an Evoc hip pack pro 3L (water bladder included). It's mostly heavy guy approved. It has a velcro strap and it's reinforced with a buckle system. Pretty nice! I have it tapped out (the waist strap) on my waist. Luckily it's not too bad. I think size 38 is the max for this bag. I'm closer to 40 and it's still comfortable. However I only carry a water bladder in it just to keep the weight down.

 

Love my Lab Austere hip pack. Size 40 waist here.

 

Can we get back to calling them fanny packs?

NOT in the UK we won't, ever!

 

40 size waist for me rocking the Osprey Seral. Plenty of adjustment to go larger and feels great.