Airborne 9L MTB Hydration Pack

The USWE Airborne 9L is a mountain bike hydration pack with 9 L of storage and a 3.0 L Elite bladder, held in place by USWE's NDM 1.0 four-point harness. It fits chests from 84 to 110 cm, weighs 600 g without the bladder, and carries a full-face helmet on the outside for the ride to the top.

Who it's for

USWE built the Airborne 9 for mountain biking: a full day out on the trail, or an enduro race where the pack has to stay put on rough descents. It is unisex, and USWE call it a 9 L daypack for personal gear and hydration. Riders who carry a full-face helmet and pads for the climb get attachment points for all three.

Capacity and fit

The bladder holds 3.0 L, and the pack has 9 L of storage around it. The NDM 1.0 harness is a four-point system: two shoulder straps plus stretch chest straps that hold the pack against your back while still letting you breathe normally. It fits a chest circumference of 84 to 110 cm, which USWE call M to XL; measure all the way around your chest, under the breast, to check.

The harness ships on its outer size loop. If you need it smaller, move to the inner loop, then set the horizontal velcro straps. If you ride with a chest protector, USWE say you may need to adjust the vertical straps too. The back panel is ventilated with foam ridges that stop it sliding, and cargo compression pulls the load in close.

Drinking and refilling

The 3.0 L Elite bladder has a Slide-Seal top for filling and a Plug-n-Play coupling, with a Hydraflex drink tube. A compression sleeve inside the main compartment keeps the bladder from shifting, and a magnetic tube clip keeps the drink tube in a secure, accessible position.

Pockets and attachment points

There is an organiser pocket for tools, a quick stash pocket for a layer or rain shell, and a water-resistant phone pocket at the back with an inner size of 8 to 16 cm. Outside, the pack takes a full-face helmet, knee and elbow pads, and a bike LED light, with reflective points front and back. It also works with USWE's helmet handsfree and action camera harness accessories. The pack measures 45 x 19 x 14 cm.