This Winter, Dakine sent us their Hot Laps 5L Bike Waist Bag. It holds a 2 L/70 oz Hydrapak bladder, and retails for $70 USD. The bag is backed by a lifetime warranty.
The pack is built with robust Nylon Ripstop, and seems to hold up really well to abuse. It weighs 1 Lb with no contents. The pack has got plenty of room to strap a jacket to the bottom, of stuff kneepads inside.
The 2L bladder is shaped to contour the waist, but it’s hard to not feel the weight of it when full. We got some leaking from the bite valve, and installed a bite valve with an on/off knob from a different Hydrapak bladder we already owned.
The pack sits high on the waist, needing some hips so rest upon. Our reviewer is a 29″ waist, and found the pack to move around while packed full of water and tools. When filled up less, or halfway through the water, things stay a bit more stable and the rubberized mesh keeps things from slipping. We liked the magnetic clip for the hydration hose, it makes it easy to grab a drink with one hand and re-secure the hose.
The Dakine Hot Laps Hip Pack is something that isn’t for everyone, but if you dislike backpacks, don’t have a bottle cage, or are simply trying to simplify your riding setup, it’s a great option. Don’t be scared of getting judged to hard, because hip packs are definitely headed back into the spotlight of being ‘cool’ again, and this one is visually pretty darn awesome.
More at: Dakine
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