This is probably a very biased statement, but Oregon is hands down one of the prettiest states ever to live in. Whether running or hiking, I absolutely love being outdoors taking advantage of the beauty that this amazing state has to offer. With that being said, you can imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to go snowshoeing near Mt. Hood recently, especially given the amount of snowfall that area has seen this past month. This also seemed like the perfect occasion for me to try out the Aerolife Hydration Pack I had just received.
The 5 Liter Aerolife Pack is waterproof, lightweight, and measures out at approximately 15×11 inches. It features a breathable mesh back panel and mesh straps, which come in handy for more physical activities such as running or biking. The fully adjustable shoulder straps each contain two additional pockets (4 total) for smaller items such as snacks, cell phone, keys, ID, etc. The pack comes with a 1.5 liter bladder that fits in a compartment inside the bigger main compartment. A stretch cord can be found on the exterior of the pack, useful for items that may not fit inside. Two additional adjustable straps cross over the chest area to further ensure that the bag stays in place during physical activity.
So how did the pack fare during my snow shoe outing? To be honest, it was so lightweight that I forgot I even had it on my back, which is a huge plus in my book. I used the stretch cord to hold my gloves whenever I wasn’t wearing them; it was nice to have quick, easy access to them. Inside the main compartment I had just enough room for my first aid kid, an extra shirt, a pair of socks, a flashlight, a knife, and my lunch. My favorite part of the pack were the smaller pouches on the straps, which I used to hold my phone, some fruit leathers, and my car keys.
The Aerolife Hydration Pack was perfect for my snowshoe trip.
I was initially hesitant that the pack would not adjust to my small frame, but it absolutely did. It was a little tricky adjusting the straps, but I think it was mostly due to my unfamiliarity with the pack. I did admittedly end up switching out the bladder with a different one that I already had. This was simply because the mouth piece for the Aerolife bladder works by either physically opening or closing a valve that controls the flow of water. I personally prefer a mouth piece where I can simply bite down and suck the water through the tube like a straw so that I’m not having to stop mid-hike every time I’m thirsty.
Overall I would have to say that I love this small, versatile pack. The morning of the snowshoe trip started off blustery while up in the mountains, but the clothes I had in the pack remained dry. The pack adjusted to fit my small 5’1″ frame and stayed in place the entire time. Even with a full pack and a full bladder, the Aerolife was incredibly lightweight. I’m already looking forward to using it on future hikes and maybe even some trail runs and in the mean time have been using it to lug around my running gear. If you’re looking for your own Aerolife Hydration Pack, you can find it on Amazon for approximately $29 which includes a lifetime warranty.
