Source Hydration has engineered the best all around hydration pack I’ve ever used and it is fair to say I’ve gone through my fair share going back to the initial days of plastic hydration bladders and backpacks. Much like the Internet, hydration packs are now so common it is difficult to imagine life without them. Innovation, however, has remained somewhat stagnant across the industry and it is in this realm which Source Hydration yields a distinctive technological edge over competitors. There are hydration packs and then there are hydration packs.
Their distinctive edge over competitors is accomplished through a combination of the company’s proprietary Glass-Like™ Film which is remarkably smoother than standard TPU films used in hydration bladders. This multi-layer Polyethylene film prevents bio-film build up, making the system virtually self-cleaning. The second component is Source’s GrungeGuard™-technology which inhibits bacteria growth on the reservoir and drinking tube for the life of the system by using an FDA-approved and EPA-registered antimicrobial agent.
In order to put the Source Hydration technology to the test, I used my Durabag Pro for a year without cleaning it. The result? The water from my pack tastes as fresh and clean today as it did on its first use. The pack is truly remarkable and has greatly exceeded my expectations.
Source Hydration incorporates their technology into a range of hydration products from packs to bottles and individual bladders. I found the Durabag Pro to be a great sized pack that is not trying to do too many things and is best in its class at what it is designed to do. The pack has a slim, padded profile and fully integrated bladder which alleviates the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking your bladder. The drink tube on the Durabag Pro is protected by a woven exterior casing and the bite valve has a removable cap which keeps it clean when not in use. There is one pocket on the back which works great for holding a cell phone, keys, and an energy bar or two. Perfect for a day out when you want to travel light.
The Durabag Pro is not designed specifically for water sports, but there is no reason you can’t take it paddling. I’ve used mine extensively on hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is coincidentally how I first got into SUP (I wanted to see the mountains from the water.), paddling, and more recently, land paddling along the beach on my 6’6” Hamboards Classic.
The Durabag Pro is available in three sizes: 2L, 3L, and 5L. I tested a 2L model and found it had a sufficient capacity for most of my outings. Of note, Source has developed two new packs for 2017, the Verve and Hipster Wave, both of which are designed specifically for an aquatic environment. I’ll be testing out the Verve later this year – stay tuned!
Durabag Pro MSRP: From $53
About Source Hydration
Source was founded in 1989 by Yoki Gill and Daniel Benoziliyo and now employs more than 200 workers. It has always been a groundbreaker in hydration and sandal technology and is well-known in the Tactical Gear, hiking sandals, hydration and travel accessories categories worldwide for over 20 years, currently available in more than 25 countries around the world. Our products are produced in-house at our ISO 9001, located in Tirat-Carmel, Israel. Each year 5% of the company’s net profit is dedicated to social or environmental activities in the nearby community.
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