Photo Courtesy of Wingnut

Wingnut Adventure Hydration Pack

Created specifically for cyclists, runners and adventure racers, the Wingnut Adventure Hydration Pack ($140) offers a more comfortable fit than any other pack I've used in years of adventuring. Weighing just 22 oz., this 1600 cubic inch pack holds a 3 liter water bladder and all the gear you need for a full day on the trail or a long tour (sleeping bag and tent excluded). The secret to its supermodel weight is a body made of light, tough sailcloth - typically used only in sailboat sails. The pack features one large zippered pocket, several small pockets and a compression lacing system to hold items that need to be reached or stashed quickly, like raingear.

The secret to the pack's comfort is Wingnut's patented shoulder strap system. The unique "Lowrider" straps system allows one to position the pack where it should be - lower and closer to your hips for a more comfortable ride, especially when pedaling for several hours.

Last year I used this pack on over 700 miles of singletrack and loved it. The only negatives are that the pack comes without a water bladder, and the pouch that holds the bladder can only be accessed from the bottom of the pack. This means you have to take the bladder completely out of the pack to fill it, which isn't a huge deal, but sometimes annoying. However, for the tradeoff in comfort, it's well worth it.

Wingnut also makes the smaller and ultralight Hyper 1.5 which fits a small water bladder and eliminates the upper storage compartment.  This pack doesn’t carry much, but still uses the cool Lowrider shoulder strap system and my girlfriend says it puts much less stress on her back.  Try it out.  Go fast.

For more information on Wingnut packs, check out www.wingnutgear.com or call 845-691-7278