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Hydration Packs for Sprint-24 Hour Races
By John Walter
 Let's face it—race directors are sick people. No, race directors aren't even human. They are some hideously mutated descendent of a demon conjured up from the pits of hell. Their own mothers can't stand them (if they actually have mothers). They're as trustworthy as con men and used car salesmen. They sit around thinking up ways to push the physical and mental limits of racers. They are notorious for picking bushwhack terrain. They delight in finding "mountain biking" trails that can be traveled only while pushing a bike. They'll change the course during the middle of a race, just to throw off your navigation skills. However devious and twisted these tactics are, I can look past them all.
But the one thing that I cannot forgive race directors is the deceitful practice of forcing racers to carry an exorbitant amount of required gear. They plot and scheme the most insidious places for checkpoints. Then, when the course is set, they'll deliberately plan the race with the intent to make racers carry the most gear possible.
As the list of required gear becomes longer, racers are faced with a familiar problem-how to carry it all. This is especially true in races that fall into the sprint-24 hour races. In some respects races that are longer are easier to plan for. But the shorter races have less of a margin for error and yet still have a long list of required gear. The compass, whistle, pocketknife, headlamp, pen, and tube patch kit don't take up much room in your pack. However, add a 3-liter water bladder, rain gear, fleece sweater, tire pump, extra tubes, tool kit, race passport and map and now your pack has little room left. Not to mention your trail shoes for the next leg, and how are you going to carry your helmet, harness and descending device, as well as all the energy gels and bars that you'll need for fuel?
This month's review focuses on packs for sprint to 24-hour races. There are as many options out there as there are racers it seems. So to cut down the playing field, we used the following criteria. The packs had to have a volume of at least 800 cubic inches and have the capacity to carry at least a 2-liter hydration bladder. The packs also had to be lightweight and easily adjusted. While we definitely didn't review every pack that falls into these categories, we did find the following options:
GoLite Pulse
CamelBak H.A.W.G or HAWG
Camelbak TransAlp
Salomon FastTrack 200
Ultimate Direction Diva
GoLite Pulse
 Last year GoLite burst onto the adventure racing scene with their sponsorship of Ian Adamson's Eco-Internet team. GoLite's philosophy of creating lightweight products that will hold up to the rigors of trail use fit well into the adventure racing market. Every adventure racer knows GoLite's Speed pack. Few, however, know that GoLite offers the Pulse, a smaller pack that fits well in the sprint-24 hour race category.
At 11 oz., the Pulse is the lightest pack that we reviewed in this category. It's constructed with a Pertex Nylon body and 1 oz. rip stop Cordura in the high wear areas. The top of the pack is a high tensile strength mesh to cut down on weight and allow easy access to the main compartment. The harness system and back of the pack are mesh, allowing ventilation during activities. The Pulse sports a 1.5" webbing hip belt with panels for the hip. It also comes with a 2 liter Platypus reservoir but the hydration pocket easily fits a 3-liter reservoir.
The most notable features of the Pulse are the elastic pockets and the x-strap system, both on the back of the pack. The pockets rise about 1/3 of the way up the back of the pack and are bellowed to allow to carry bulky items. At first I felt the pockets should extend higher up the back, but I found that the position of the pockets and the elastic construction allowed me to get things in and out of the pockets easily while on the move, both mountain biking and running.
The straps extend from the top of the pack to the hip belt. The straps release with a squeeze buckle from the hip belt and a sliding buckle in the middle of the "X". This enables you to carry up to 20 lbs. with this pack quite easily. The x-straps could allow you to carry your helmet on the your pack, but it wouldn't be very secure. The straps do, however, secure anything that stick out of the top of the elastic pockets, like running shoes needed for your trekking leg.
Overall, the Pulse is a good fit for this category of races. It allows you to carry enough gear but still stays out of the way during activity. It would be nice, however, if the hip belt panels had pockets in them to carry an energy bar or a gel packet. At $79 dollars, this pack offers a good value and a great balance between features and lightweight.
GoLite can be contacted at 888.546.5483 or at www.golite.com.
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CamelBak H.A.W.G.
 CamelBak is and always has been the first name to come to mind when discussing hydration packs. The only thing they do is hydration packs and accessories for hydration packs. Plus CamelBak bladders and mouthpieces are the standard for comparison. So it's fitting to include their products.
The H.A.W.G. was recently awarded the Editor's Choice award from Bicycling magazine, and for good reason. This pack was designed with endurance activity in mind.
The H.A.W.G. holds up to 1200 cubic inches of cargo and comes with a 100 oz. CamelBak Omega wide mouth bladder with their patented mouthpiece. The bladder can be carried internally in the main pack compartment or in a pocket between the main compartment and the molded foam back panel. The back panel allows air to circulate between the padding for ventilation. The H.A.W.G. has multiple compartments with pockets and sleeves to keep things well organized and easily accessible.
The harness system is independent and fully adjustable. The waist belt has a 1.5 inch belt, slightly padded hip pads, and mesh pockets on the hips that are big enough for a gel pack, vial, energy bar, or even a set of keys.
The H.A.W.G. has a mesh pocket with an elastic mouth and a free-floating strap system on the back for carrying extra cargo. I found that my biking helmet could easily be secured and carried in this system, or any jacket or extra shoes that you might need to carry. During one race, my support team was able to perform a miracle by securing my inline skates on the back of the H.A.W.G. I ran and trekked with them overland for about 3 miles to the start of our last inline skating leg of that race.
All in all, the H.A.W.G. was one of the better-liked packs in the review because it's versatility. It carried water and gear so comfortable that it invariably became an extension of my back. The one major drawback is the weight of the bag, weighing in at 25 ounces. Even at the $100 price tag, the H.A.W.G. would be worth the investment.
Contact CamelBak at 800.767.8725 or at www.camelbak.com.
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CamelBak TranAlp
 The bigger brother to the H.A.W.G. is the TransAlp. It has the same basic features as the H.A.W.G. and more—a lot more. More cargo space (1923 cubic inches), more pockets (internal and external) and more space in those pockets. Like the H.A.W.G., it comes with a 100 oz Omega bladder.
The mesh pocket from the H.A.W.G. has on the TransAlp become 2 mesh pockets with elasticized drawstring, large enough for shoes. There is an extendable pack panel with mesh sides on the pack that will easily hold a helmet plus other gear as well. A vertical zipper provides closure for a 6" x 9" back panel pocket that could easily hold maps, passport or any other item that your teammates need quick access too.
Unlike the H.A.W.G., the TransAlp comes with it's own rain cover that stows away in a zippered pocket at the base of the pack. The rain cover is easily removed, but the pocket is too small and too awkwardly placed to be useful for carrying much else. However, the rain cover comes in handy during an unexpected, high altitude, mid summer thunderstorm.
The TransAlp weighs in at a hefty 37 ounces and costs $120.
Contact CamelBak at 800.767.8725 or at www.camelbak.com.
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Ultimate Directions Diva
 Following a refreshing trend in the outdoor industry, the Diva from Ultimate Direction is an adrenaline pack that is designed specifically for women.
Instead of the standard harnessing system, the Diva incorporates the full movement Torsion Link harness with a fully adjustable shoulder yoke. The Torsion Link system can be locked into place with 2 side squeeze buckles. The harnessing/waist belt system provides a fully customizable fit for the Diva for unrestrained freedom of movement. The Torsion Link system takes a little bit of getting used to at first, but some reviewers actually came to prefer it after they became accustomed to it.
The Diva comes with a 64 oz Sport Tank, Ultimate Direction's patented roll-top hydration bladder, but will easily fit a 128 oz bladder. The bladder has a wide mouth that rolls down and is secured by a patch of Velcro. If this sounds insecure, don't worry. We never experienced any leaking from the bladder due to the roll top. Our gear stayed high and dry even when over stuffing the pack and putting pressure on the bladder (sounds uncomfortable). The Screamer Mouthpiece was the only real weakness that we saw in this hydration bladder. The design of the mouthpiece was too complicated and had too many pieces, making it prone to malfunction. (Ultimate Direction has completely redesigned their mouthpieces for 2003, so look for something more user friendly.)
The Diva has a Delrin frame that holds the shape of the pack and gives stability when carrying heavier loads. It sports a several external pockets and a generous main compartment that allow capacities of up to 1000 cubic inches. It also has a mesh QuickStash pocket with a quick release that allows you to carry things like an ice axe or avalanche shovel easily.
The Diva weighs in at 36 oz. and costs $85.
Ultimate Direction can be reached at 800.426.7229 or on the internet at www.ulimatedirection.com.
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Salomon FastTrack 200
 Salomon has been at the forefront of products for adventure racing since the inception of the sport, sponsoring more teams than any other single company. They have invested a great deal into the adventure sports market and it pays off well for them.
The FastTrack has few bells and whistles. The design is elegantly simple. The main compartment is generous and the zippered opening extends 2/3 of the way down both sides for easy access. There are no internal pockets, save for the sleeve to stow your favorite hydration bladder (the FastTrack 200 does not include a bladder, but, again will easily accommodate a 100 oz bladder). Externally, the pack has two mesh side pockets that are easy to get products in and out of.
The most complicated thing about the FastTrack 200 is the large mesh pocket on the back with the elastic draw cord. Salomon has relied on the lacing system of the widely popular Raid Race shoes for the inspiration of their drawstring system on this pack. The drawstring crosses the back several times before finally being secured by a quick release that is hidden in a pocket. At first glance the adjustments seem wildly convoluted. However, it is very easy—one pull in the right place and everything cinches down evenly.
The mesh pocket/drawstring system is large enough to hold those bulky items like your helmet or shoes. Again, it took me a little time to get used to it, but the system held my helmet securely.
The FastTrack Tips the scales at just 16 oz. and has a capacity of 1220. At just $55 the FastTrack 200 is one of the best deals for sprint-24 hour packs.
The Salomon North America can be reached at 800.654.2668 or on the internet at www.salomonsports.com.
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Summary: There are as many products on the market as there are racers, it seems. While all products aren't going to work for every situation, these products will give you a good start on the a pack that works well in the sprint-24 hour race category, or for any mountain bike ride or day trip, for that matter.
Walt is the climbing editor/managing editor/webmaster/grounds crew/janitor at GearReview.com
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