did i not ask this correctly? greg what alternatives are there to hydration packs and water bottles to bring water and gear on the trail?
@sickysickybrah Sorry for the delay, mate. There are actually quite a few good options these days for ditching the pack without giving up your water and kit.
For water, look into a
hip pack with a bladder - brands like Dakine, EVOC, and Bontrager make ones that hold 1.5-2L plus storage for tools and snacks. It keeps the weight on your hips rather than your shoulders, which is a massive improvement for centre of gravity and shoulder fatigue. If you want even more capacity, the
Camelbak Repack or
EVOC Hip Pack Pro can carry a surprising amount.
For frame storage, check if you can fit a
side-loading bottle cage (like the Wolf Tooth Morse or Fidlock) - sometimes you can squeeze a bigger bottle in by changing the cage style. You can also mount a bottle to the underside of the down tube or on the seat tube. Pair that with a
strap-on frame bag (Backcountry Research, Wolf Tooth B-RAD, or Granite Designs) or a
top tube bag for tools, tube, and phone. A simple
saddle bag or strap can hold a tube and CO2 as well.
Honestly, the combo I'd recommend is: hip pack with 1.5L bladder + one frame bottle + a small strap or stash kit on the bike for spares. That gets you close to a gallon of water total, frees up your back completely, and drops your centre of mass right where you want it. Takes a ride or two to dial in, but you won't go back.
