Hydration packs are underestimated pieces of kit for motorcyclists that are a serious game changer.
There is nothing better than riding on a hot day, and being able to have a drink as you ride to keep cool and hydrated.
You don’t have to stop and take your helmet off, then get your water bottle out, you can just sip as you ride.
We have picked 7 of the most excellent hydration packs specifically for sportbike riders so you can stay hydrated on the move.
Our 7 best motorcycle hydration pack picks:
- Vibrelli Hydration Pack
- CamelBak HydroBak Hydration Pack 50 Oz
- OGIO Black Dakar 3L Hydration Pack
- USWE Raw 12 Hydration Pack
- OGIO No Drag Mach 5
- Fly Racing Hydro Pack
- Fox Racing Utility Hydration Pack
Let’s get straight into each pack in some detail before I have put together a short buying guide so you know what to look out for to get the best hydration pack for you.
7 Best Hydration Packs for Sportbike Riders
Vibrelli Hydration Pack
Overall a great value, adjustable hydration pack that sits securely and comes with extra storage space including external bungees. The no-leak bite valve is tough and effective delivery of high-flow liquid from the 2L bladder.
Pros
- High-flow bite valve
- Adjustable straps
- Waist and chest straps
- 2 liter bladder
- Adjustable hose placement
Cons
- Lightweight construction means not as durable as others
- Straps won’t suit bigger riders
CamelBak HydroBak Hydration Pack 50 Oz
The CamelBak pack is a straight up hydration pack with no frills, it does exactly what it says on the tin. With a 1.5L bladder that is easy to fill up and a mouthpiece that delivers high-flow water that works by a secure no-drip on/off lever.
Streamlined this pack is perfect for those shorter blasts on the weekend.
Pros
- Lightweight 1.5 Liter bladder
- Perfect for minimalists and shorter riders
- Aerodynamically streamlined
- Secure ventilated straps
- No leaks on/off lever mouthpiece
Cons
- Mouthpiece lever requires some practice with gloves on
- Very stripped back
OGIO Black Dakar 3L Hydration Pack
The Dakar hydration pack is built with distance in mind. Carry more water in comfort with a 3 Liter reservoir held in an ergonomically designed comfort pack.
The anti-sloshing design means that you won’t feel off-balance when hitting the twisties as the water stays in place. The adjustable harness can be tailored completely to fit you correctly.
This pack is best suited to sports-tourers who need more water on their longer rides.
Pros
- Multi-way adjustable harness
- 3 Liter anti-sloshing bladder
- Insulated bladder compartment to keep liquids cool
- Ergonomically focused design
Cons
- Heavier than smaller packs
USWE Raw 12 Hydration Pack
Just like the OGIO the USWE is a 3L hydration pack so it is built to keep you hydrated over some distance.
The pack is designed for off-road riding, so implements a strap-down bounce-free design keeping the pack secure, which also makes it great for sportbike riders.
When riding into bends at speed you won’t feel the weight of the pack shift and can just focus on your lines.
Pros
- Designed to sit flush with the rider
- Adjustable secure harness
- Multiple storage options
- Bounce-free design
- 3 Liter Reservoir
- Easy-use mouthpiece – hands free system available
Cons
- A bit pricey
OGIO No Drag Mach 5
A brilliant all-round motorcycle backpack that gives you the option to fit a 2L hydration pack. It is a streamlined, multi-purpose piece of luggage that has an adjustable harness for maximum comfort.
This pack would be well suited to sports-tourers and those who use their sportbikes to commute to work as even with your hydration pack fitted there is plenty of space for a change of clothes and a laptop etc.
Pros
- All-round motorcycle backpack
- Aerodynamic
- Multi-purpose
- 2 Liter hydration pack can be fitted
- Adjustable harness
Cons
- Expensive
Fly Racing Hydro Pack
Another stripped back 1.9L hydration pack, that is comfortable to wear and designed for motorcycle riders. Don’t expect much else from this pack, as it is built for one job only, it is nice and lightweight and can be adjusted to stay tight when riding.
Pros
- Stripped back, simple hydration pack
- Lightweight
- Designed like a race hump
- 1.9 Liter bladder
- Comfortable to ride with
Cons
- Mouthpiece restricts a high-flow of water
Fox Racing Utility Hydration Pack
A solid fairly-priced hydration pack with a 2L bladder, and plenty of storage space for other stuff you need to carry.
Adjustability for extra comfort and an easy to use drinks tube that won’t leak. The pack is streamlined in a race-hump style shape for reduced wind resistance.
Pros
- Race-hump style shape, aerodynamic
- 2 Liter reservoir
- Magnetic hose retention
- No leak mouthpiece with bite-valve
- Adjustable shoulder and waist straps
Cons
- Durability questionable
Motorcycle Hydration Pack Buying Guide
There are just a few things to keep an eye out for when buying a hydration pack, if you consider these few features you will be sure to get the right one for your needs.
Hydration Pack or Bladder in a Backpack?
One of the first things you want to think about when looking for a hydration pack is whether you want a certified hydration pack or do you want a backpack with the capability to turn into a hydration pack with a bladder?
This decision can be made by thinking about how much you need to carry when you ride and if you have other luggage options.
If you just want a pack so that you have access to water when you ride a hydration pack is the way forward, most of these will have pockets for the bare essentials too like your wallet and phone.
However, if you want something with a bit more space and luggage carrying capability then a backpack might be the way to go that has the option of fitting a hydration bladder into it.
Bladder Size
The next thing to think about is how much water you want to carry and how much you need for your journey.
The bladder size is not only important to make sure you have enough water for your ride, but the bigger the bladder the heavier the pack gets.
So you need to consider how much weight you want to be carrying on your back at any one time.
If you don’t want to carry 2 or 3 liters of water on your back, stashing a bottle of water elsewhere on your bike, maybe in your saddlebags will mean you can top your pack up when you stop so that you don’t run out of water on your journey.
Ease of Use
You also want your pack to be easy to use and by that I mean it needs to be easy to fill up, easy to remove the bladder and put it back and also easy to use the mouthpiece when on the bike.
Getting out on your motorcycle requires a lot of kit, leathers, gloves, helmet, it can be a bit of a drag, so anything extra like your hydration pack you want to make sure is easy and makes the process of getting out on your bike smooth.
The mouthpiece should also be easy to open and close, even with gloves, the last thing you want is to try to have a drink to realize that the mouthpiece was open for an hour while riding and all your water has gone.
The mouthpiece also needs to fit under the chin bar of your helmet with minimal effort so it isn’t distracting while riding.
Comfort
The key to any backpack when riding is that it is comfortable and stays in one place.
A good hydration pack will have multiple straps to keep it tight against your body, but the harness itself will be comfortable on top of your jacket and not restrictive.
When it comes to riding sportbikes we want as little wind resistance as possible so packs that are aerodynamic and low profile are going to be preferable.
The OGIO No Drag Mach 5 is a great example of an aerodynamic shaped backpack built for cutting through the wind even though it is a large capacity bag.
Something like the FLY Racing Hydro Pack is also a great choice for this reason as its profile is low and when strapped to your back the wind can’t get between you and the bag to create any drag.
Let’s look at how we have rated our 7 favorite hydration packs.
| Hydration Pack | Bladder Size | Ease of Use | Comfort | Features | Value for Money | Overall Rating |
| Vibrelli | 2L ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| CamelBak 50Oz | 1.5L ★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| OGIO Dakar | 3L ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| USWE Raw 12 | 3L ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| OGIO Mach 5 | 2L ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★ | ★★★ |
| Fly Racing Hydro Pack | 1.9L ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Fox Racing Utility | 2L ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
FAQ
What makes a hydration pack good for sportbike riders?
A hydration pack that straps down properly, is low profile and aerodynamic to reduce any wind resistance is the best pack for a sportbike rider.
Lightweight hydration packs with smaller bladders are also best suited for sportbike riders as we don’t generally do long tours on our sportbikes so we won’t be carrying loads of extra stuff in our packs, of course there are exceptions to this.
Is a hydration waist pack a good idea?
The riding position on most sportbikes doesn’t lend itself to making a waist pack a great idea.
You could find yourself struggling to find your mouthpiece and find the set up more fiddly than a conventional hydration pack where the mouthpiece is on your chest/shoulder within easy reach.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a roundup of our favorite hydration packs and what you need to look out for when buying one. Overall the OGIO Black Dakar pack comes out on top for the 3L capacity, extra features and adjustability. However, if you are looking for something that bit simpler then the CamelBak HydroBak Pack is an excellent choice to keep you hydrated.
