If you suffer from a sweaty back when riding with a standard hydration pack, Vaude has the answer. By lifting the pack off your back using a curved metal frame, with nothing but open mesh contacting your jersey, it really does go a long way to helping wick away moisture.

>>> Click here for our full hydration pack grouptest

The shoulder straps are adjustable too, so fitting is a simple process of Velcro ripping. A couple of testers found that the straps chafed their necks, and the pack sat too high, but dropping the straps solved the problem.

Unfortunately the rest of the pack doesn’t capitalise on this good start. The Vaude Hyper 14+3 stores the reservoir in the main compartment, which always seems like an afterthought to us, and it’s a tight fit and clumsy to reinsert when filled with water.

There is little in the way of gear organisation, and the main opening isn’t wide enough to prevent regular rummaging. The zipped volume extender is pretty effective, however, and the compression straps are well-placed and effective.

It also sports a rain cover that’s zipped neatly into the base of the pack. The bright orange colour  aids visibility for commuting.

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