Deuter Hydro M3
By James Sharp

When hydration packs first hit the scene, they were merely bags of water that the user wore on his or her back. It didn’t take long before riders demanded more space; we needed pockets for tools, food, a pump, spare parts, body armor, a cell phone, maps, lights and… well, you get the idea. The longer the ride, the more can go wrong and the more stuff we feel the need to carry. As well, the longer the ride, the more water the rider needs. Deuter’s new-for-2004 Hydro M3 fits the bill, and then some.

The Hydro M3 is actually an update of a similarly named pack that was previously available from Deuter, but, other than the name, little is the same. The old pack was long and narrow, with a smaller pocket on the outside held in place with shock cords. That’s all gone, and in its place we find a shorter, slightly wider pack. The reservoir holds 100 oz. of water and the drink tube is routed out over the users shoulder in a very clean manner. The bladder is still made by Source-Vagabond, which means that it is made of PVC, doesn’t leak, has a wide opening, and an adequate bite valve. In short, it’s a good thing that Source is making it.

The Hydro M3 has one main pocket that holds the bladder. This pocket is fully insulated to keep whatever beverage you choose to fill it with cool. Next is a secondary pocket sized just right for tools, food, tube and patch kit and headlight battery. Finally, there is a little pocket perfect for keys and Gu packets. Between the little pocket and the secondary pocket is a helmet holder. I still don’t quite understand the reasoning here, your helmet should be on your head. Instead we ended up using the holder for a rain jacket, leg armor and other large items that don’t really fit inside the pack. As with all Deuter packs, there is a loop to attach a blinking light.

Deuter was one of the first companies to try and keep the wearers back free from sweat. They have two ways of doing this--the Air Stripes system and Air Comfort system. That Air Comfort system suspends the pack over the users back on a mesh panel. We first saw this on the Race X Air pack we reviewed last year. It works fabulously. The Air Stripes system relies, instead, on a pair of padded foam "stripes" with air channels. The idea being that the space in the center creates a chimney effect drawing air across the wearer’s back to speed cooling. The shoulder straps are made of a mesh material and are wide enough to distribute even the biggest loads, eliminating sore shoulders. The pack is also equipped with a sternum strap and a waist belt to keep the pack from shifting during technical riding.

Throughout our test period Deuter’s Hydro M3 has performed almost trouble free. The pack itself has survived many trips over the bars (and to the side of the bars and other tumbles off the bike) without so much as a scratch. Brush the dirt off and both the cloth and stitching looks new. Really, we only have two gripes. First, the bite valve has a tendency to drip for a short while after use. It doesn’t lose much water but it does lose some--leaving the rider with a damp thigh. I find this unfortunate, since the valve is comfortable to use. It seems that this dripping develops over time, though it never gets out of control. It’s almost like the plastic part inside might wear out. The other problem we have had isn’t really a problem. If you are coming off of any pack, other than one equipped with Deuter’s Air Comfort system this pack will be very comfortable. Since I was coming off of the Race X Air, I never really felt like I had the pack adjusted that well. Once I switched back to the Race X Air it was like coming home and putting on a pair of well-worn jeans. It isn’t that the Air Stripe system is bad, it’s not, it’s just that the Air Comfort system is that good! If the Hydro M3 had the Air Comfort system, I would use it until the day I died and would be happy. As it is, I found that I kept wishing for the mesh back, even with the increase in weight it would represent. None of our other testers felt this way since they were used to other brands of packs. They all enjoyed the fit and comfort offered by the Hydro M3.

Summary: Deuter’s $69 Hydro M3 has everything needed for an all day epic ride. It is compartmentalized enough to keep small items from rattling around and has room to strap on a rain jacket or helmet. With the insulated main pocket, the Hydro M3 will keep water cool longer than a non-insulated pocket would. Deuter makes durable, well thought out hydration packs. I recommend the Hydro M3 to anyone looking for a pack. Frankly, the fact that Deuter was their own toughest competition speaks volumes about the quality of packs that come out of Germany. If shorter rides are your thing, check out the smaller Hydro M2, most of the features of the M3, but without the bulk, and a 70 oz. bladder.

James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
Deuter USA Inc
PO Box 606
Niwot, CO 80544-0606
Phone: (303) 652-3102
E-mail: info@deuterusa.com
www.deuterusa.com