Frame Bag Water Bladder!? Apidura Frame Pack Hydration Bladder Review

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

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[@ryanolinger639]

Been touring with various bladders in my frame bag for years and have been dreaming about a wedge shaped bladder. Can’t wait to buy this.

[@Squirrel_Rides]

I'm a big fan of a retractable badge leash for anchoring my bite valve somewhere in the cockpit. I can pull it back easily to drink from it, and then it just snaps back into place without having to fiddle with anything. This bladder is certainly a better design than the standard bladder and hose that I've been using for a frame bag, but it might be worth waiting to see if Apidura improves upon it or if other brands come up with a more robust version.

[@chasetherooster]

This is a great idea that I never even considered!

[@peteostro]

Did this when I did the green mountain gravel growler a few years back. Worked really well

[@frbrable]

Yup, I just started using a retractable thingy and it works great attached to my handlebars. You can just let go and it zips back into place.

[@SteveFullerBikes]

I've been using a now discontinued 3L MSR Dromedary bag for quite a few years now and it's worked well. I usually have it "standing" inside of my frame bag, next to the seat tube, so I can pull it out to refill it and not have to completely readjust items in the frame bag. The material is stout and takes abrasion well. I DO like the Apidura's efficient use of space, but I'm not sure I would want to use it in anything but a frame bag with some sort of protective divider. I also like that they've figured out how to seal the bag without using the giant clip that Platypus and Osprey use.

[@jameskolar9655]

It’s a very good system. I ride with it empty mostly, but fill it up late afternoon/evening to ensure that I have enough water for an overnight camp. I ride in the U.K., we don’t do deserts here and can usually find water, even if it means using my Sawyer filter. I’ll use normal bidons for my day’s riding, I might even have a litre or so in the bladder, just in case! I don’t know what’s not to like about it really, if you don’t want a 3 ltr water carrier on your bike, don’t use one. If you do, this’ll do the job for you. Thanks for the vid, interesting and enjoyable, as always.

[@barrybogart5436]

My Journal just arrived today. It is gorgeous as usual. I really appreciate the story on the Bike Wanderer. To my great regret I never met him although I must have come close in my 45 years of rides out of Vancouver. I have had depression (after being run down by cars), and sleep deprivation (Randonneur!), so I have a little idea how bad it can get. Fortunately going on a long ride always cures me. Take care, everyone.

[@vishsolo2879]

Hi Barry thanks for sharing, I strongly recommend you to check out Vipassana ✨

[@barrybogart5436]

@@vishsolo2879 Actually I have been studying Buddhism since college ('60s) and doing Buddhist meditation since 2015. But it is getting out on a forest trail that really makes me content. As to the bladder - I ride on Vancouver Island and there is no shortage of water! But it did get close to 50C last Summer.

[@truemarmalade]

Love seeing more people use chapter markers! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@chasetherooster]

Re: routing the hose, both Osprey and Camelbak make magnet systems for hose management. Clip one side to the hose, anchor the other side to your bars or stem with some double sided hook and loop, and you can just pop the hose on/off with ease. This also provides some peace of mind that it won’t jostle loose and go into your spokes.

[@robsp7626]

Or you can just just duct tape a magnet to the hose and not waste money

[@SirJack5885theFirst]

@@robsp7626 No wasted money if you already have an Osprey hose that came with a magnet

[@KayUrban]

Sounds great. Could you share some links to pics/vids to see how this works? I just got my first hydration bladder and am a bit new to all of this

[@2scoops624]

Nice review. I have a Oveja Negra frame bag, which has a hydration port on the top, and I've been stuffing in a 2L bag and a 1L bag inside. Then I use a badge reel to keep the house on the handle bars, it has worked pretty well.

[@INEEDPEAKPT]

Badge reel - Have used that in the past and it rocks...especially on technical terrain.

[@BentonvilleMTB]

Well I do carry a hydration bladder with me while backpacking. I prefer to drink out of a bottle wild put putting and not racing. Simply makes me feel more relaxed, sitting upright sometimes while l enjoying the view. That said I'm very excited about this and want one for when speed is more important than relaxing.

[@CharlieReverte]

I had the apidura 1.5L and I got the 3L in the mail a few days ago. I agree that the bladder material could be thicker but otherwise I'm happy with it and will keep using the 3L. It's nice to have my feed bag space back as previously they were dedicated to holding nalgenes. I got the magnetic bladder hose clip from rockgeist which attaches to my feed bag and it works well. I routed the water hose forward from the port in my frame bag up in between my aero bars.

[@mikemartin77]

I use this system. Spot on with your comments on the bite valve and hose - I replaced mine with an Osprey Hose and Osprey bite valve (I also use their little magnet clamp on the hose to hold the hose on my aero bars in a loop. This bladder works incredoibly well in the bottom section of a full revelate frame bag.

[@shawngoodrum8909]

Looks great going to get one for my new frame bag.

[@climbslc2281]

Water weight in the frame bag is great. But I found that sucking the fluid up for the bottom of my frame bag over the course of a 200 mile ride was really pretty hard. It actually inhibited my hydration status. I decided I'd prefer stopping and refilling bottles or a hydration pack tp trying to drink from a frame bag bladder.

[@woppertonius]

Have you tried big rubber bands around the bladder? I never would've thought of it until I saw Colin Strickland did it for Unbound Gravel. Genius gravity fighter

[@daveebert7747]

I do ride with a 2 litre bladder in my frame pack. The Revelate Ripo frame bag has a heavyduty Velcro divider which keeps items above off the bladder. It has a zipper access half way down so it works well. I really like the creativity that Apidura has exhibited in this design, the shape is excellent. Hopefully this starts a trend with other companies

[@samuraioodon]

Hi, what size ripio do you have? I have small and I can't seem to fit the hydrapak 2l at bottom, can only fit at top with Velcro closed.

[@daveebert7747]

I have the large Ripo and the 2L just fits in the bottom compartment

[@felixdieu]

I've got the hydration set-up dialed in. 3l bladder (hydrapack) + hose in the top half of my frame bag (or half frame bag). Hydrapack makes a handpump to help flow but I realised that I don't need it. Hose is clipped on the handlebar by a 3d printed clip made by Cranktank. I want to try his 3 or 4L water tank that fits in the frame. Check it out. Finally I use the sawyer clip that allows me to split the tube in two so that I can refill the bladder without having to open the bag at all. Perfect when filtering water with the sawyers mini. Happy to provide links and photos of the set-up if needed.

[@airbikebuilder]

Awesome! I've been looking for something like this!

[@FincAGalicia]

Thanks for the review. I used the 1.5L bladder on the TCR08 this year and it was perfect. I do agree with you on the hose head and bite. This could be improved. The quality of the bite section is not great and the head is already damaged after one ultrariding event. Recommend it, but hope Apidura are listening and will improve future versions.

[@markifi]

they could include a shaker siphon thing on the bottom of the hose, that would help lift water up in the hose, or at least not let it drop back down as fast

[@DudeDah]

You’re SO AWESOME!! I hoped your review might mention compatibility with camelback hoses and YOU DID!! LOL. I was hoping to Frankenstein Eminem but…by just replacing that TERRIBLE bite valve with a Camelback one. I LOVE the length of the one that comes with the Apidura because I am currently using it on my XL Fargo which…is a big bike. I have a Custom Rogue Panda frame bag and the 3L fits PERFECTLY in the lower compartment. I run the hose up along the DT and out of the hole in the bag then wrap it around my HT and since I have Velcro closures to attach the bag to the TT, I run the strap closest to the TT/ST intersection loose and then tuck the bite valve through there to hold it. Works GREAT and doesn’t require too much FAFFING about. I LOVE this bladder just hoping I can hack it with a Camelback bite valve.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Brilliant review. Brilliant video. So so good, thanks.

[@chiefsilverback]

I like the look of the crank tank, but this seem more practical because you can have a full frame bag and then choose whether to use part of it for water or not.

[@props651]

I just received the 3L one last week. I really like it. I ride smaller frames so the space saving is a huge wil for me.

[@coryedd3783]

I have some TwoFish flashlight mounts for my bike. I typically take one and strap it to my handlebars and then I take my hydration bladder's hose and put it where the flashlight would go. Then I just lean forward and take a drink as needed. It holds my hose to my handlebars secure and out of the way

[@MrPickl78]

I picked up the 1.5L version last fall. and Have had very good results with it in my Revelarte Designs Ripio. The extra space above the bladder and below the divder is perfect for my water filter and dirty water bag.

[@slowwerthensnot]

Been thinking about testing one of these, I really like my crank tank, and really like the original free range hose wrangler

[@simonlynch4204]

So a soft version of the cranktank. Seeing that the cranktank is 115$ for 4L and let's you use a smaller framebag (basically reallocating cost from the bag to the tank)... Dunno. could be an interesting comparison to test in the field!

[@MyopicAdventures]

I picked up their 1.5L (2 water bottle size) bag last year for a long trip and really like it. A hose clip would be great, I did find the hose flying out of it's "keeper" spot on a few rough descents then trying to stuff it back in place was fun. Once it came out and into the spokes, I lost the valve but luckily found it (miracle) in the dirt a ways back. Durability, I wouldn't mind it being a bit beefier. Overall, the exact same pluses and minuses as you.

[@SirJack5885theFirst]

I have been thinking about how to do this as a DIY for the past year. I guess Apidura was too. Looks like a fantastic product.

[@paddydunne774]

Great honest review. Much appreciated

[@angelag5708]

What a fun product. I tried a normal bladder inside my Alpkit frame bag and it just drove me crazy. Always moving and too big, rubbing my legs

[@RusticRussellAdventures]

Looks like a winner. Put the heavy weight low and centered and move frame bag items elsewhere. Hopefully we can get a long term durability review before spending double the $$ of other non specific units

[@frbrable]

I'm going to experiment some more with a regular bladder in my frame bag before buying this. So far it works good, except for having to suck out all that air to get the water. But, it's also nice not having to try and put a bottle back in a cage while you're riding. Regardless, I'm still going to use at least one bottle for electrolyte mix, which I don't like putting in bladders.

[@paulverweij6348]

WOW this is what I want, using an old camelbag bladder for the past years in my frame, but was it only able to fill it to 2liter to make it fit.... round shape, but this one fits perfect for my frame :D just orderd one to test out for next summertrip :D and for the hose I have 2 magnets dunno what brand but fits around a hose and I got those connected on my feedbag straps on the top of my steer and wrap it under my redshift kitchen sink

[@GeekonaBike]

I'd luv to hear more about the durability further down there road. I once DiYed something simular out of a 6 liter campers blader by folding & duct tapeing it into shape. It work great until springing a leaks at some of the folds in the stiff plastic. I currently use the hydorpack bladders & the thiner more flexible walls seem to hold up better. The last drops of H2o in a backpack bladder adapted to a frame bag aren't a deal breaker for me as I treat that small amount as a last chance reserve tank.

[@JE-lv9ny]

Thanks for the Great Video! Which framebag are you using?

[@davidalderson7761]

Now that is an excellent find. I use the same method but use a backpack bladder and it doesn’t fit very well at all.

[@Draculapin]

Great video. I feel like the bladder comes with more cons than pros. I like having bottles and I have another 3L CNOC bag that I can use in combination with a super tiny light weight foldable backpack to carry more water when needed (usually at the end of the day to reach camp)

[@JasLeGoff]

I would buy one. I've had good experiences with Apidura gear. Not sure I need one though.

[@props651]

Got myself a Crank Tank 3

[@ndnrnr13]

I believe this is an awesome idea and wondered why there's really only one company (that I know of) that makes a bladder for this particular application. With that said, I see myself using this during the winter on longer rides, are there any hacks to keep the bladder from freezing? I do use an insulated hose and that helps the hose, but I'm concerned about the bladder. I apologize if someone already asked this question.

[@jp93309]

I think it’s a great idea to move the heavy hydration pack lower on the bike for better handling. Little concerned about the reduced utility of the frame bag since there is extra space above the bladder that can only be used to store very light objects that won’t pierce the bladder membrane.

[@SirJack5885theFirst]

I don't think there is any reason for concern. If you are going to bring 3L of water, this is literally the best way to do it. Near forward/rear weight balance and low. Anything that you previously had in your frame bag is certainly lighter and could be put in dry bags elsewhere on your bike (where you were previously keeping your water).

[@four-x-trading5606]

Just put the soft items in the frame pack and put all other items on your handle bars or forks

[@marcellopacifici]

Hi Neil, thanks for the great and honest video, as usual. I'd like to ask you if the material of the bladder give the water a plastic taste. I've never tried myself a hydration pack, but a friend who's a runner told me that plastic taste is a common issue. About the product, it looks really nice and the triangular shape is brilliant. But having a 3/4 frame bag without dividers I would be afraid to pinch it with all the tools, pump, and heavy stuff that I store in the bag.

[@NemoGoc]

I just got this, and there is a distinct plastic-y taste to the water. I can't speak to this bag, but in general that goes away after you use it a few times.

[@julianmorris9951]

I was wondering what that little loop was for👍

[@matthewbrian316]

How about the hydration adventure released a year or 2 ago?

[@mikaelljungberg1019]

Hello.im a bikepacker wannabee and I Belize that I first would by a bladder for my bak so that I could ceep it close to my bodybuilding in cold temperaturen.

[@woppertonius]

Have you tried filtering directly into the bladder so as not to ever remove it? It would be amazing to throw up a gravity feed water filter and just park the bike under the tree and let the hose do the work so I can tend to other things. Pouring water back and forth between containers gets old quick

[@patriciah5491]

For the Apidura... is there a something that can be used for the hose. I had it on a ride & it fell and got caught in my wheel.

[@DavidTuttleTex]

I bought one and designed a #MYOBG around it. It's great, I am going to pick up a Camelbak hose because the one that comes with is really limiting on what you can get out.

[@潘森杉]

will it collapse when put something on the top of it especially with little water？

[@DavidTuttleTex]

@@潘森杉 it's sealed so as you drink it reduces in size. If that's what you are asking. My bag has a shelf that separate the bladder

[@DEISE01able]

How often does the wheel break spokes?

[@DarianWade]

Never heard of this. I'm really glad I was wrong about it being a catheter for you to piss without stopping 😂

[@m1les7]

Looks good 💪

[@steelcityadv3190]

I have tried nearly every hydration pack and I'm still not a fan. Quite nice to get the weight off by putting the pack in the frame bag

[@MarcinAdventures]

Will it work ok with Ortlieb Frame Pack 6L?

[@thecappy]

Think I’ll keep my camel back 3L.

[@cycledaily8986]

I am with you keeping my CB3L. Great idea, if perhaps sold as a bladder only. I am glad you tested with the CB sipper straw and showed its compatibility. Thank you.

[@printerror]

Great idea but definitely priced right out of my interest in it when I can get a 48oz Nalgene in my chuck bucket for less than ten bucks.

[@VeloObscura]

Have you seen the SWIG 63 adapter from Hardside Hydration? It adds a hose to a Nalgene similar to what a bladder has - makes the Nalgene EVEN MORE versatile!

[@printerror]

@@VeloObscura I have, but a $20 cap on a $10 bottle seems utterly ridiculous.

[@VeloObscura]

@@printerror if all you see it as is a cap, then; yes, it is a bit ridiculous. Guess it depends on what value you put on functionality and whether that's a function that is of value to you personally. I don't have a use for it, but $20 doesn't seem like a big deal in the overall scope of your average bikepacking setup...

[@bryanl.taylor6249]

Is there a bike-packing collective for 2023?

[@TrzCinA122]

I have a quetion. There is very poor availability of Apidura in my country. CamelBak hose seems to be too short for XL frame bag. Any sugestions?

[@vishsolo2879]

They ship globally tho

[@rafaeldegiacomoaraujo8778]

10:30 a clip or a magnet.

[@nickwf70]

Great product but my only concern would be if it leaks you could lose ALL your water, so multiple bladders is a better idea. Plus I have always found those things make water taste of plastic.

[@bradblakeney610]

Has anyone ever used one of those boxed wine bladders for bp? It would be great to repurpose those things. I’ve never tried but that might be an alternative. I know they seem pretty substantial and durable

[@brandonlopez4800]

My buddy tried that once on a backpacking trip and it failed on him

[@SolarizeYourLife]

How do you clean blatter???

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Dish soap and a gentle sponge, let it dry out, and/ore store in freezer.

[@OutinthewildAZ]

Why no one talks about backpacks for bikepacking? Is it not a good idea? I have a hydration backpack and works great

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

I think its fine, but the more on your back, the more pressure on your saddle, and for all day adventures, over multiple days, that typically is not too comfortable. The backpack was the OG way to bikepack, but with more tech, things have come a long way.

[@VeloObscura]

I'm not really sold on having to take everything else out of the top of my framebag to access the bladder - I feel like the Crank Tank combined with a half framebag is probably a better solution than this. Good design and nice work with the hose placement etc, but I just just feel like it would be really inconvenient to refill. Even if you have a framebag that allows you to access it without removing it, that seems kind of fiddly and isn't going to work in certain situations.

[@cjohnson3836]

Crank Tank is wasted space when empty though. Soft bladders have packability. This one needs to be a bit beefier though.

[@VeloObscura]

@@cjohnson3836 Yeah, pros and cons. I'd probably rather have wasted space than a bladder with a puncture.... but then I don't use either of these things.... 😅

[@Apidurabikepacking]

@Velo-Obscura Hey there! For bags with a lower access point the bladder's spout and wide roll top opening (full spec on our website) should make it pretty easy to refill, based on our testing. But we always appreciate feedback!

[@peppermintpig974]

It's been a year. What's new out there?

[@Bozzoocumps]

While I love the idea of this the durability really concerns me. I’ve done a ton of touring this fall/winter in the desert and have sprung a leak by the end of your in all of my bladders. I’ve tried a few brands and nothing seems to hold up to all the shaking and rough descents other than an overbuilt old school bladder. The newer lighter bladders break at the seems after a couple hundred miles of really chunky descents.

[@djsonfire0001]

Try adventure hydration crank tank. It is available in a 4L and a 3 l

[@Eric_Tennant]

Pass. Here in AZ as thin as it is a cactus would take it out.

[@coreygolphenee9633]

Genius even the Bosco bar crowd will be filling it with wine

[@jasonsosnick8669]

Fascinada

[@barefootpastor]

I ride with a platupus in a frame bag

[@benclark368]

Crank Tank.

[@kimkrimson]

Oh man this is awesome. Why did they make it so pricy though ;-|

[@pgreenx]

Sounds like a good idea but I’ll stick with frame bag and put a bladder in it. When the water is empty I still have prime frame bag space to hold other stuff.

[@ricardomalit]

I use a 1.5L bladder on my bike, I keep it in my bike basket lol

[@ДенисГриценко-з1я]

Очень интересно!

[@ferraricalif]

I purchased this bag and after a little use, I cannot recommend it. I was initially skeptical about the roll top design but dismissed it as I thought Apidura had done their R&D. Well, turns out the roll top design actually is a very poor design choice. Water chronically leaked out the back of the roll top, especially on rough terrain. Might be more suited for smooth roads with an Apidura specific bag (w/ specific lash points) but otherwise, look elsewhere. They were so close yet so far with this design...

[@thebr0wnhornet]

I’d prob rather it just have a tap to fill my bottles. Hoses get gross faster than bladders or bottles. And the water in the hose gets hot so that first sip is always extra nasty

[@SteveFullerBikes]

I usually blow the water out of the hose and back into the bladder after drinking. Side benefit is that this can help pressurize the bladder a bit and makes that first sip come out a bit easier the next time.

[@imajez1]

I just squeeze bite valve and all fluid drops back down out of hose.

[@donaldwalter1317]

It doesn’t look very functional to me to handle water from a bag located in the frame. That hose will easily fall into the wheels or crank. I’ll stick with a bag on my back which helps cool my back on hot days and the hose is out of the way. I have tie down bungee cords on water bottles situated on these new strap down bike packing “stuff” bar bags. Stops bottles bouncing out.

[@peteostro]

Like the poster above said, you can use a retractable clip that holds the hose. Never had it fall in wheels or crank.

[@cycloneranger5354]

51$ for 1.5l bladder.... uh no thanks. idk whats worse, the companies charging these prices or people actually paying.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

You might not like my review being published tomorrow...

[@SebastianDeBeer]

I am a durability first kind of guy. I will stick to metal water bottles thanks.