HydraPak Velocity 1.5L Review

The Hydrapak Velocity stood up to many rigorous hours of hiking, climbing, and biking in the arid canyons and high alpine passes of Colorado. This is the right option for anyone who wants an easy-to-use hydration system and doesn't care for the bells and whistles of more built-out options.

Ease of Use

Hydration bladders are fairly straightforward items, but certain features can really add to user convenience. The Hydrapak Velocity has a no-frills design while keeping features that really make a difference in ease of use.

The flexible grab handle makes it easy to hold and fill the bladder with one hand, and rolls up small when it's time to stash the bladder away. Of all the hydration bladders we tested, the Hydrapak Velocity fit into the greatest variety of packs. It even fit into an old mountain biking hip pack, making it our go-to for an afternoon of cruising the trails.

One feature the Velocity lacks that may have been worth the extra ounces is an internal baffle. The lack of structure means that the bladder can be bulbous and bouncy when full, and some users complained of the water sloshing around. In an empty pack, the saggy nature of the bladder could be felt pressing into the shoulders and sitting awkwardly on the back. Thus, it required a bit of adjustment to make it more comfortable.

Ease of Care

We all know that properly cleaning a hydration system is essential to extend its life and keep the user safe from mold and bacteria; but when a bladder is a pain to clean, it's hard to stay consistent.

In this regard, the Hydrapak Velocity really stands out. It's top-rack dishwasher compatible and can be flipped inside out to dry. For those without a dishwasher, the wide mouth makes it easy to scrub out by hand.

For those who like adding electrolytes to their water, bacterial growth and mold can be a real pain. The ease of cleaning makes this hydration reservoir a much better option than most if you like to enhance your water.

Ease of Filling

For on-the-go adventures, it's important to be able to fill your hydration bladder at a variety of different natural and artificial water sources. While not outstanding, the Hydrapak Velocity proved convenient to fill at bottle-filling stations, from water filters, and from natural streams.

The Velocity's slide-top meant that it fit more easily into water fountains and bottle filling stations. This comes in handy for urban environments and more commercially developed wilderness areas, where these types of water sources are abundant.

This was also exceptionally nice when going for a long run around town, as we could easily fill this bladder halfway at the park water fountain.

The large loop of the handle makes it easy to hang the Hydrapak upright from a branch, which is useful for filling from a filter when sourcing your water from backcountry streams. However, the mouth of the bladder doesn't stay open on its own, which can be challenging if your filter requires two hands to operate.

Quality & Durability

A durable, leak-free hydration bladder is essential; no one likes finding annoying wet patches on their gear, or finding themselves waterless several miles into a hot hike.

The Hydrapak Velocity stands in the middle of the pack in this metric. There is no leaking at the hose connections, and the mouthpiece seals well and features an adjustable flow rate when drinking.

We pulled at the seams and tugged hard at the handle, and didn't notice any delamination or disfigurement. However, the lightweight design means that there is less reinforcement at the handle and other points of stress, making this bladder a slightly less durable option than the more built-out hydration systems.

One thing that stood out to us is how thorough and transparent the manufacturer was about the materials used to construct the Hydrapak, going into further depth than simply stating the material as “food-grade TPU”.

Weight & Packability

When a family member was visiting from out of town, she remarked that she'd wanted to bring a hydration bladder for the trip but didn't have room for it. We showed her the Hydrapak Velocity and her response was, “Oh, that's perfect!”

Travelers who like to have easy access to their water under all conditions, and often find themselves going between an urban and outdoor environment, will love the versatility and packability of this bladder.

Should You Buy the Hydrapak Velocity?

If you're looking for a no-nonsense hydration reservoir and are tired of struggling to keep your hydration system clean, the Hydrapak Velocity is well worth the money. The reversible and top-rack dishwasher-safe design makes this one of the easiest bladders to properly maintain, and the packability is an excellent feature for travel or local adventures alike. Although this bladder's lightweight nature means it's not the most durable option, with proper care, this handy little guy can keep you hydrated and happy for years of adventures.

What Other Hydration Bladders Should You Consider?

If you are a fan of the slide-top closures and would like something with more features and a more durable build, consider the Osprey Hydraulics LT. It was a personal favorite of ours during the testing process. If you prefer screw-tops and bulkiness isn't a deterrent, the Gregory 3D Hydro offers a unique 3D structure and a durable construction, with many thoughtful features that contribute to ease of use. If you like the washability of this design and want a lightweight option, but find the lack of an internal baffle to be an insurmountable flaw, consider the older and slightly heavier Hydrapak Contour.