Hydration packs are great. We have reviewed a lot of great ones over the years. There are a ton of solid options out there — ones built for the long haul, ones for quick jaunts, and plenty that sit somewhere in between. Some are loaded with pockets and storage solutions, while others strip things down to the bare minimum. But while there are a lot of good packs on the market, one thing that has remained relatively unchanged across nearly all of them is the hydration bladder itself.
Most hydration systems — not necessarily as a fault — still follow the same “bag-in-a-bag” design that has existed for decades. It works, and clearly works well enough that most brands have stuck with it. But a small Colorado company, RSVR Hydration, decided to rethink the entire concept with its new RSVR Hydration System.
And honestly, this is the kind of Kickstarter campaign we love seeing.
Their campaign — already fully funded ahead of its June 5 close date — centers around a patent-pending, body-contoured bladder and modular harness system designed specifically for runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes. The focus is pretty straightforward: reduce bounce, improve comfort, cut unnecessary bulk, and make the hydration system feel more integrated with the body rather than something simply secured inside it.
The numbers themselves are impressive. The harness and 1.8L bladder reportedly come in at just 11.2 ounces, making it one of the lightest systems in the category. The three-piece reservoir design is intended to reduce sloshing and drag while contouring more naturally to the torso. Other features include waterproof zippers, anti-slosh baffles, under-arm hose routing, and a modular setup that allows athletes to swap capacities and harness styles without replacing the entire system.
There are multiple configurations available as well, including 1.8L and 2.8L options alongside Lite and All-Terrain versions depending on the type of running or riding you are doing.
Personally, the under-arm hose routing may be one of the most appealing features here. It sounds minor, but anyone who has spent enough miles with a hydration vest knows how annoying traditional over-the-shoulder tubes can become — especially when bouncing, snagging, or flapping enters the equation late into a run.
Of course, Kickstarter campaigns always come with some level of wait-and-see caution, especially when it comes to durability and real-world long-term testing. But from a pure innovation standpoint, RSVR feels like it is at least trying to rethink a category that has remained surprisingly stagnant for years.
The RSVR Hydration Kickstarter Campaign is already fully funded, with gear expected to ship in August. Early backer pricing runs through June 5, with entry pricing starting around $85.
