Hydration Pack H20 Haul Three 1.5L Bladder

The Albek H2O Haul Three is a minimalist 3 L hydration pack for riders who want water on their back and very little else. A 1.5 L Albek FFP bladder comes with it, the pack weighs 350 g without the bladder, and at 35 x 32.5 x 6 cm it stays slim enough to forget about once you are moving. It is cut from 240D polyester ripstop.

Who it's for

Albek pitches the Haul Three at mountain bike, moto and gravel riding, and its size points it at the short, fast end of all three: an enduro race or XC event, a two-hour loop at Nerang or Mt Coot-tha before work, a gravel ride where bidons are not enough. If you carry a full tool kit, a jacket and lunch, the larger Haul packs in the range are the better fit; the Haul Three is for keys, phone, a tube and a drink.

Capacity and fit

One and a half litres in the bladder and 3 L of storage around it, laid out simply:

• A front pocket you can get into without taking the pack off, for gels and a multi-tool
• An inside stash pocket, water-resistant, that keeps your phone out of the sweat
• An emergency ID card with your contact details
• LED light attachment points for the ride home after dark

The straps form an X across your chest, Albek's X Brace design, meeting at a Swivi-Lockster buckle that rotates as you twist. HiFlex four-point suspension then lets the pack follow your shoulders when you are out of the saddle. Vented straps and the ErgoFlow back panel let air through on a sticky summer morning, and a U-I.D. embroidery zone lets you put your name on it.

Drinking and refilling

The Albek FFP 1.5 L bladder rides in the pack with its clear drink tube running over the shoulder strap and clipped across the harness, so the bite valve is a short dip of the head away. Top it up before the start and you have enough for a race lap or a quick loop without stopping.

Looking after it

Mould starts in a bladder left damp in a zipped-up pack, so rinse it when you get home and hang it upside down and open until it is bone dry. Wash the pack itself by hand and let it dry before the next ride. Albek backs the pack with a limited lifetime warranty against material defects and faulty workmanship.