HydraPak Velocity Hydration Bladder Review

Bottom Line

Hydrapak stripped away all the bells and whistles to produce its lightest complete hydration system, the Velocity. The overall design is similar to the Contour, which is our Editor’s pick and best overall water bladder. Similarly, the Velocity has a sliding closure, making it easy to fill and turn inside out. But the Velocity shaves ounces by eliminating extras like a sternum strap magnet, interior baffles, or an on-off switch. 

Fastpackers or hikers looking for a lightweight system that includes a hose will like this option from Hydrapak. It’s more affordable than some of the more featured options, and it is pretty easy to use. While we didn’t experience significant leaks while testing, we do wonder whether its lightweight material will be durable in the long run. 

Overall, the Hydrapak Velocity kept us hydrated on long desert hikes and on approaches to multi-pitch climbs this spring. To compare the Velocity’s pros and cons to similar products, check out our line-up of this season’s best hydration bladders. 

And for more info, check out some of our other popular gear guides:

How We Tested

We packed the Hydrapak Velocity for long approaches and scrambles in Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, NV, this winter and spring. We used it in weather up to 85 degrees, filling it with electrolytes to keep us hydrated. We also brought it on shorter hikes in Joshua Tree and while cragging in both desert venues. 

Weight & Packability

At just over 4 ounces, the Hydrapak Velocity is the second-lightest complete hydration system on our list. But it ranked higher overall than the ultralight Platypus Hoser because of superior design features we’ll discuss below. Clocking in at 4.4 ounces, the Velocity is significantly lighter than many of its competitors, thanks to the elimination of extra features. 

The Velocity is also quite packable; its minimum packed size is 6.5 inches by 2 inches by 3 inches when rolled up. This would make it ideal for airplane travel for a far-flung backpacking adventure.  The Velocity does make sacrifices to achieve this light weight, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

Ease of Use

The Velocity has more limited features than many of the other complete hydration systems we tested. The large opening and sliding closure make it easy to fill from various water sources, and the bite valve provides good flow. There is no shutoff switch for the bite valve, which can cause some leaking if you’re not careful. 

There is also no sternum strap magnet to hold the bite valve in place, nor a bite valve cover. On more than one occasion, we thoughtlessly set our backpack down on the ground, and the bite valve flopped immediately into sand or dirt. We also don’t love how the bite valve flops around unless we tuck it under a chest strap while hiking, since it lacks a magnet. 

However, several of the bladders on our list don’t include these features and still aren’t as light as the Velocity. If saving weight is the top priority, skipping these features may be worth it.

Ease of Cleaning

The large opening and sliding closure make the Hydrapak Velocity very easy to clean. It’s easy to fit a sponge inside the bladder to scrub it out, and the whole thing turns inside out to dry. The Velocity was among the first to dry during our test; after about 30 minutes, the bladder was completely dry. The hose held condensation for much longer, however.

Taste

HydraPak Velocity doesn’t make you feel like you’re going to get cancer from drinking out it. That’s nice.

Durability

Although we didn’t encounter any leaks during our testing period, the long-term durability of the Hydrapak Velocity remains our biggest question mark since this is our first season with it. The bladder’s ultralight material feels thinner than that of some of the other products we tested. We did drop it onto rocks in the desert several times, and it held up, but it feels like it could puncture fairly easily. 

We are also concerned about the security of the sliding closure. The slider moves back and forth more easily than those on other products, and it feels like it could become opened if it wasn’t packed very carefully. That being said, we didn’t experience problems with leaking during our testing period.

Should You Buy the Hydrapak Velocity Hydration Bladder?

For those looking for an ultralight hydration system with a hose, the Hydrapak Velocity is a solid choice. You’ll sacrifice some features to achieve a lightweight design, so hikers who like all the bells and whistles should consider a different product. Unlike other ultralight gear, the Velocity doesn’t charge a premium for its low weight. Its price falls somewhere in the middle, making it a decent value for fastpackers who like to hydrate on the go. 

What Other Hydration Bladders Should You Consider?

Check out this season’s complete list of our favorite lightweight water-hose reservoirs and hydration bladders to compare the Velocity against its competitors. Below are some similar options if you like the Velocity:

Hydrapak Contour Review: The Contour is our top choice for hydration bladders, and its design is fairly similar to the Velocity. Both are lightweight, have sliding closures, hydration hoses and can both turn inside out to clean. The Contour adds a couple key features to improve the user experience while not adding too much weight.

Platypus Hoser Review: On the flip side, the Hoser is even lighter and less expensive than the Hydrapak Velocity. It has only of a bladder, screw cap, hydration hose, and bite valve. The main downside to the Hoser compared to the Velocity is that it cannot be turned inside out to clean or dry. Platypus does sell cleaning kits.

Evernew Water Carry or Platypus Platy: If you’re looking for one of the lightest options on our list, check out our reviews of the Evernew Water Carry or the Platypus Platy. These are minimalist water bags with a hydration hose sold separately. That said, these two bladders pack down smaller and weigh less than any of the other products we reviewed.