Ridgeline Hydro Daypacks

With the weather starting to warm many hunters now use what are known as Hydro Packs to not only carry their kit, but also their drinks as these standard looking backpacks also have the ability to carry cold liquids via an internal water bladder. Made by Ridgeline of New Zealand the models featured here are both available in the company’s own Buffalo Camo pattern. To save on repetition they are manufactured from Ridgeline’s own Quiet-Tex material with a PVC lining. This makes for a very strong, hard wearing and silent outer, it’s also fully waterproof and similar in feel and concept to the old Saddlecloth!

BASIC BLADDER!

The ‘Compact Hydro Daypack 3 litre with bladder’ is seemingly quite basic.

It measures 17.25 x 6 x 8” and this pear-shaped design has a depth of 1 ¾” at the top opening out to 5” approximately 3” from the bottom of the semi-rigid back section. It comes complete with an internal/removable 2 L bladder. This doesn’t reduce the main stowage space because the bladder is discreetly hidden and protected in its own Velcro top fastening pocket, ‘sandwiched’ between the back of the pack and the main 3L storage compartment.

When full and in place it doesn’t feel uncomfortable as the ‘Compact’ has a practical strengthened spine flanked by generous padding, overlaid by external nylon mesh. This allows air to circulate around the rear section so you don’t feel clammy if just wearing lightweight clothing. Although it uses a similar carrying harness as the other, the shoulder straps are un-padded and made from square cut ‘rubber mesh’ with tough double stitched heavy-duty Nylon trim with ‘attached’ sections of webbing that lead out to adjustable buckles that are securely attached at the bottom.

Other plus point that perhaps not everyone appreciates about any form of hydro pack is the fact that they do not make any noise when half full. This is unlike a water bottle or canteen which does splash around which could alert your quarry. Finally access is easy so if for example you were in an ambush position just drop your mouth to the vale and bite ‘n’ suck. So no having to fumble for a canteen and break your position!

 

BITE ‘N’ SUCK!

Typically the water tube can be rooted to run down either the right or left shoulder straps. A plastic clip retains the tube and slides up and down to give the optimum position for individual users. On that point the mouth piece with rubber, pull-off cover is also detachable so making it easy to position it on either right or left shoulder. Completing the harness is an adjustable sternum strap with QD buckle, the adjustable, 48” waistband shows an identical fastening. All webbing has captive retainer loops (as does the other pack) so when adjusted ‘spare’ webbing can be tucked away so it doesn’t dangle. There’s also a grab handle on top for a quick pick up!

The main compartment is accessed by two heavy-duty zip fasteners with long pull tabs. The half-length clam shell opening reveals two, opposing, zip top mesh pockets. The top one facing you, has a zipped, clear PVC pocket directly beneath it. Handy if you’re leaving your shoot with ‘wet gear’ stored. An external captive bungee cord with toggle adjustable/ fastener affords a useful added carrying option for camo nets or such like. As a warm weather, short session pack it’s a practical and comfortable design with the added bonus of a self-contained and unobtrusive water supply.

 

BIG 30

The larger Medium Hydro Daypack 30L measures 22 x 14 x 6” at the deepest point of the crescent shape well-padded and fully waterproof base. Two heavy-duty zips with toggle grabs allow access to the full, clam-shell opening main compartment. A 2 litre hydration bladder can be bought as an optional extra that neatly slips into the elasticated, opentopped internal rear pocket secured in position by two strong Velcro straps.

It has two adjustable well-padded shoulder straps with D-rings and elasticated ‘rise and fall’ ABS snap buckle sternum strap plus a larger buckle fastening waist band. As before a top-mounted grab handle affords a quick and easy pick up. The back of the pack is contoured, well-padded and semi-rigid making it very comfortable when worn. The underside has a reinforced Nylon bottom with waterproof liner so nothing will get wet should it be placed on the ground. The inner edge of the underside has a discreet, full-length zip fastening pocket holding a Hi-Viz, orange pull over rain cover.

 

TAILOR MADE

A large adjustable QD buckle secures the top overflap and four adjustable compression straps with QDs (two on either side) allow you to ‘tailor it’ to suit the amount of kit carried. There are also two elasticated, open topped side mesh pockets. A useful ‘pouch’ for a mobile phone or two-way radio is included on one side of the carry harness.

In recent years as hydration backpacks have become increasingly popular amongst the UK hunting fraternity, I’ve no hesitation in recommending the Compact for those short warm/hot weather sessions, while the ‘30L’ is a practical, well priced, robust and comfortable ‘rucky’ in its own right, even without the ‘Hydration’ facility fitted.

FOR: Build quality, overall design and comfortable Well priced
AGAINST: Not a Lot
VERDICT: Clever idea that will pay dividends