No more hydration pack for me, but what options are there?

I've been using hydration packs for decades. First on mountain bikes and now on dirt bikes.
When I first started dirt biking I used to carry all of my tools and tube and everything in there. But I quickly realized that was too much weight on my back and shoulders. So my tools and snacks are on the rear fender, and tube and tire irons in a front tube pack. That's a relief. But I still don't like the weight of the water on my back and shoulders. And riding in 90 - 100 degree temps, I'm starting to realize that the waist, chest and shoulder straps cut out a lot of airflow.

One of the pluses for using a pack are that you can freeze your bladder overnight and it being in the pack, out of the sun, will render ice cold water all day.

But if I ditch the backpack all together, what options do I have to carry water? I'd like to have some sort of a pack to keep the water out of the sun, but where should I put it?

Does anyone have any interesting links to tank bags or maybe a front number plate pack?

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks.

I hear you in the heat. A cheap bare bones camelback/bladder and simple cover you could stitch some loops to and then attach as you can with velcro straps or some webbing. I've just gotten used to the pack for my tools and water at least now that I'm not packing a tube and irons.

Maybe consider the waist pack size since not as tall and probably better fit between gas cap and front of seat. 45 ounces I think.

If the riding is not too aggressive I put water bottles in a Wolfman Enduro tank bag (that's their smaller size ).

Same here... I use a Walmart deal and it works well enough for me. I use a waist pack for tools, my phone, license,snacks and what ever other crap I might need

Number plate bag is what I have been using.

I prefer the fanny pac dual water bottle set up , puts the weight on your hips and it is not as hot as a back pack to me .

USWE is the answer.
My 3 liter rides very high has super ergos great racing hydro pac. USWE is a big supporter of offroad motorsports.
my model has small pocket not a tool carrier really. a pure racing hydro pack.
but they make others like the F4 model, key here is the ergos make it feel featherweight, the way they have the set up is ergo superior to other brands.
Mine is the A2 challenger blu with red hose.
http://www.uswe-sports.com/dept/MOTO_11236/ENG/EUR

FFFF camel bak they support orgs that want to shut down offroad motorized sports !

go to their website they have zero for motorsports... F%#K them dont support non supporters!!!

but they sure did cash in on the war budget for sure.....with their mil-spec stuff

I was in same dilemma. I run fastrax tank bag. Honestly I only feel it when I first take off. the bikes now are so narrow its not an incumbrance at all. Then I have a camelback hydration inside the tank bag with just the drink tube stick traight up in air. This way I can simply lean down and drink just fine.




http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dowco-fastrax-xtreme-tank-bag

That's pretty cool. I think that's the direction I'l going to go. Thanks!

Thanks for the link, robertaccio.
I forgot about USWE, been meaning to take another look.
I like the idea of a smaller hydro pack and optional refill bladders to carry in a tank or bar bag.

I see that USWE has plumbing for a helmet handsfree kit, wondering how well that works? I remember Kurt Casselli (RIP) and others riding with one.
Dave

USWE has loads of top tier racers using their products as well as their own tribute to Kurt66. I like to support the supporters of our small sport.
http://www.uswe-sports.com/page/MOTO_2286/ENG/USD

I am so used to packing a hot, sweaty, 20 lb pack that I wouldn't know how to act with just a hydration pack. But I am not competing other than making sure I make it back to the truck from the middle of nowhere.

I wear one every race, a Fox XC Hydration pack, but get so caught up in the racing I end up never drinking from it.

I just saw at REI today that Camelbak has a coupling for $10 ... 1/2 the cost as the coupling from USWE. That's about the only thing I need to adapt one of my many hoses and 90 degree bite valves to a helmet mounted hose. The 90 degree bite valve could be zip tied and simply come up under the front of the helmet or anywhere else.

Another option I'm considering is EVS G6 armour with integrated drink bladder. Seems to hang inside the back guard, but have only found 1 comment on it so far.
I like the tank bag option too. I really dislike a backpack in hot weather!

Johnrg,
Seems like the hose has to route along side of helmet... turn your head and hose follows.
See this USWE pdf file... page 10.
http://www.uswe-sports.com/shop/assets/shop_files/en_catalog_uswe_2012.pdf