Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack review 

Apidura’s Backcountry Hydration Backpack is designed for mountain biking and epic rides in remote locations, when carrying water bottles on your bike isn’t enough. 

With a 12-litre main storage compartment and a 2l hydration bladder, the Backcountry Hydration Backpack is designed for the long haul. 

Although the bladder and hose routing are excellent, in addition to the amount of storage and adjustment, more organisation in the main compartment and a larger side pocket would further elevate the backpack. 

The Backcountry Hydration Backpack is priced at £153 / £199 / €179.

Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack details and specifications

The Backcountry Hydration Backpack is one of two hydration backpacks in Apidura’s range. 

The 3.5l-capacity Racing Hydration Vest is designed for gravel racing and ultra-distance events.

This backpack includes Apidura’s Fast-Flow Hydration Bladder with a 2l capacity. The bladder fits into its own separate slot behind the main 12l compartment. 

The hose is easy to attach or detach from the bladder, thanks to the quick-click hose connection – simply press the blue button and the hose will detach. 

Once you’ve filled the bladder, it secures via a roll-top closure. 

By default, the bladder hose is routed along the right shoulder strap, but you can change it to the left. There’s a bite valve for when you’re thirsty. 

A magnet clip is incorporated onto the hose to secure it to the lower chest strap to stop it from flapping around. 

The backpack itself is constructed from what Apidura calls a “lightweight, breathable 3D mesh” to balance an optimal fit with all-day comfort.

The main body of the backpack incorporates two mesh pockets, where you can store two bottles. 

There are also pockets on either shoulder strap. The right pocket is open, again for either carrying a bottle or storing rubbish. The left pocket is zipped and is designed to carry a smartphone and snacks.

The backpack is available in two sizes – S/M and L/XL. 

I opted for an L/XL, which is claimed to weigh 465g (5g more than the S/M).

Two adjustable chest straps keep the backpack secure.

Finally, there is a cavernous 12l single main compartment. Towards the top of the compartment is an elasticated, mesh section for storing smaller items. 

Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack performance

I tested the Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack for a little over a year on a range of mountain bike and gravel rides. 

Testing culminated in using the hydration backpack for the Seven Serpents – an 850km gravel ultra-endurance race from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Trieste, Italy via the Croatian islands of Krk and Cres, with an upsetting 16,000m elevation.

As for any hydration backpack this voluminous, I felt the weight and my back got quite sweaty, even when wearing a lightweight summer jersey. 

I found it more comfortable when mountain biking due to the more upright position you’re in, but I got used to wearing the backpack over the six days of the Seven Serpents. 

Riding the Racing Hydration Vest as a means of comparison revealed it to be much lighter and thus more comfortable for gravel riding. While that’s a given considering its more diminutive size, the Backcountry Hydration Backpack would be the way to go if you need the extra storage. 

The included hydration bladder is excellent – it’s simple to operate and I like the fact you can customise the hose routing to your preference. I only used the bladder to store water, rather than energy drinks to prolong its lifespan. Inevitably, there is a plasticky taste to the water, but that’s the case with any hydration bladder and it’s not overpowering. 

The bladder is easy to clean too. Apidura recommends filling the bladder with 30ml of lemon juice, 2tbsp of baking soda and some warm water, then leaving the solution in the bladder overnight before draining and rinsing thoroughly. 

The bite valve is decent and its operation is binary with an on-off switch. You need to remove your hand from the handlebar to pull up or push down on the switch, however. You also need to be quick when pushing it down after you’ve taken a drink to avoid a spillage. 

The magnetic clip that secures the hose to the chest strap lost its magnetism somewhat later in testing. 

This left the hose free to flap around – an annoying distraction. 

When I asked Apidura if it had encountered this issue before, the brand said it hadn't and suggested it might have happened when I travelled on an aeroplane to the Seven Serpents.

The brand was quick to provide a replacement clip and said this would be standard practice for a typical customer to "fulfil its broader philosophy, ensuring products are used to their full potential and don't end up sitting idle or going to landfill".

Given many people travel to races or events abroad via aeroplane, the brand said it would be investigating the issue to prevent it happening again.

The spacious storage is a real plus, with the three mesh cages for bottles. The main compartment easily swallowed a thermal layer, camera and most of my riding spares, which I stored in the smaller top pocket. 

On the Seven Serpents, I used the remaining space to store supermarket supplies. 

I used the right open mesh strap pocket to store an emergency bottle of Coke or to temporarily store rubbish. 

The roll-top closure of the main compartment is as straightforward as it gets. 

There are two improvements I’d suggest though. 

Firstly, the smaller internal pocket could be bigger and have a zip. It reached capacity with a single inner tube, multi-tool and tyre lever. 

These are all items I’d want to access quickly to fix a puncture and a larger, zipped pocket would be better.

I’m also torn on the single main compartment. I had to plan carefully what and where I stored items to avoid any unnecessary rummaging. 

While it’s a plus you’re not limited to what you can store where by having separate pockets, I can’t help but feel having some element of organisation would be better.  

I wish the zipped left pocket was bigger though – fitting in an iPhone 12 with a relatively thin case was a squeeze. You certainly wouldn’t fit a Plus model in there. 

Although the Backcountry Hydration Backpack is pricey, it’s in line with rivals such as the Restrap Race Hydration Vest at £139.99 / $189.99 / €167.99 / AU$272. 

Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack bottom line 

Overall, Apidura’s Backcountry Hydration Backpack is a solid option and for an extended mountain bike tour, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option with its capacious storage.

That said, there’s room for improvement. I’d like to see a larger zipped shoulder pocket that can accept a wider range of smartphones, revisions to the main compartment’s organisation and a stronger magnet to hold the hose in place. 

A second backpack option with less storage, perhaps around 7l, would also be welcome to make the pack more comfortable for gravel riding.