Dakine Hot Laps 5L Pack

After owning the similar Camelbak Repack LR4 hip pack for 2 years, I thought I'd try the Dakine Hot Laps 5L. To be frank, the main reason that made me get the Dakine is the bladder, but I discovered that it's a pretty good pack in its own, and has the best hip pack bladder in my opinion.

First, the compartments are very well thought out. You'll find the bladder in the back section, and the hose pokes through to run externally around the hips. It's held in place by a magnetic clip like on most other hip bags. This isn't too bad, but I'd prefer the hose to be routed inside the hip pads like on the Camelbak as it keeps the tube from snagging objects. The "main" compartment has a key holder and a few sleeves to store your phone, wallet, multi tool etc. I actually like this configuration, as most things you need are easy to access without fuss. The side hip pockets are nice to stash a key or a small energy bar, but not as substantial as those on the Repack LR4. Both bags carry around the same volume of things, but I feel like the Dakine is a bit less refined. It's got really durable fabrics and is well fabricated, so durability should be really good. It's backed by Dakine's lifetime warranty, so you are in good hands if something happens.

Comfort-wise, it's pretty good, and the rubbery mesh on the back helps the bag stay on your clothes. Unfortunately, the straps used to cinch the weight aren't as wide and as easy to use as on the Camelback, which makes the weight less easy to manage. After two rides, I thought that you could feel more the center strap "digging" into your body, and I didn't have this sensation ever with the Repack. I think that the Hot Laps 5L would be more comfortable with a bit less weight inside, like on shorter rides with less water.

Speaking of water, the Hot Laps' bladder is the main reason why I got the bag. It's super soft and flexible, doesn't taste like plastic, has no hard parts, and doesn't take much space in the bag. Conveniently, the size fits perfectly in my other hip pack too, so they are pretty much interchangeable if one likes a brand or the other.

All in all, in my opinion, the Dakine Hot Laps 5L isn't as good as the Camelbak Repack LR4, but it's still a good choice if you don't fill it up completely. They share a lot of things in common, and each one has something better or worse than the other, but the Dakine's strong points are the easy content access and the excellent bladder.