Product review: USWE Airborne 9 Hydration Pack

Originating in Sweden back in 2007, USWE (pronounced you-swee) specialises in hydration packs for action sports such as off-road motorcycling, mountain biking, snow skiing and running. I’ve been using the USWE Airborne 9 pack for more than two years of trailriding and mountain biking, and it’s by far the most comfortable hydration pack I’ve used.

One of the major features of USWE packs that separate them from many other brands is the four-point harness system that straps the pack to your back. USWE has won design awards for its system that eliminates the “Dancing Monkey” scenario – that annoying situation where a hydration pack jumps all over your back and occasionally whacks you in the back of the head or helmet.

The harness holds the pack firmly against your body so it doesn’t bounce around and the straps feature strategically placed elastic so as not to restrict your movement or your breathing. Of all the brands I’ve used over the years, the USWE pack has the least amount of movement and has become an essential bit of kit.

To really test the “No More Dancing Monkey” design I recently strapped on the Airborne 9 at the Phoenix Creek Motocross Park in south-east Queensland. Sure, I got some weird looks from the cool kids who’d much prefer to scull cans of Red Bull and Monster Energy drinks than wear a hydration pack on a motocross track, but the experiment proved just how secure the pack is. There are decent jumps at Phoenix Creek, some with harsh landings and plenty of square-edged bumps that would cause most packs to jump around like a jackhammer. While I flapped off the back of a YZ450F, the pack stayed snug and secure.

A pack that stays put on your back is a great feature, but what’s inside a hydration pack is just as important. The “9” refers to the pack’s storage capacity in litres, including the bladder. USWE has a pack that holds up to a whopping 26 litres of storage for adventure riding.

The Airborne 9 runs a baffled 2.5-litre Hydrapak bladder. Not baffled as in confused but baffled as in it has an internal divider so the water doesn’t slosh around too much. The divider can be separated so you can turn the bladder inside out for cleaning and so you can increase the water volume from 2.5 litres to three litres. So, it can be a 2.5-litre and a three-litre bladder. I guess it is a bit confused…

The wide opening of the bladder is handy for cleaning, not that I ever bother, but it also makes the bladder easy to fill and to put ice cubes in to keep the fluid cooler for longer. When I first started using the USWE pack I would disconnect the hose from the bladder to store the bladder in the fridge. The hose has since become hard to unclip from the bladder so now I simply keep the bladder and hose connected and pull the whole lot out of the pack to go in the fridge.

The bite valve on this hydration pack is a beauty! It’s the only one I’ve owned that doesn’t leak down my front and give me a wet, soggy crotch. I only realised the other day there’s a twist mechanism on the bite valve so you can turn the flow of water on and off. I’ve never needed to use this feature because the valve is so perfectly watertight.

The bladder has its own zip-up slot within the main storage compartment so you can pack plenty of other equipment like a spare tube, food or a spray jacket, plus there’s a dedicated tool compartment with mesh pockets and elastic slots to keep tools from bouncing around.

Furthermore, there’s an open storage section to stash gear that’s not susceptible to water damage and a separate water-resistant pocket for a mobile phone. In my opinion, this pocket should be 100 per cent waterproof and bigger to fit phones that seem to grow every year. With a phone cover on, my Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro doesn’t quite fit.

I don’t treat this product well, which is rude considering it could one day save my bacon. Getting stuck out in the bush without water could be life threatening. I don't abuse it, but I don't bother to clean the sweat out of the back foam and the only time I clean the outside is if it gets completely covered in mud.

After a muddy ride all I do is give it a quick hose and hang it out to dry. As for the bladder, I take it out of the pack after each ride and toss it in the fridge. While other hydration bladders have quickly grown mould with this treatment, the Hydrapak bladder in my Airborne is mould and stain-free.

If you do use my fridge method, don’t make the same mistake I did and store it in a fridge alonside a Christmas ham. Tasting smoky leg ham through a hydration hose when you’re sweating it out on a dirtbike is no fun.

My lack of care over two years and the current excellent condition of my Airborne 9 is a testament to the quality and durability of USWE hydration packs.

If you’re due for a new hydration pack and don’t known which brand to choose it’s worth checking out the USWE options. There’s a huge variety of sizes to suit your needs, the straps have a good range of adjustment to fit different sized riders, the packs don’t bounce around and mine has proven itself to be strong and durable.

The USWE Airborne 9 is available in Black, Race Blue and Crazy Yellow for a retail price of $199.95.

If you want to check out the rest of the USWE range and find out where your nearest stockist is head to www.lustyindustries.com.