There are a number of reasons why a hydration pack is the ultimate way to stay hydrated, the biggest being staying hydrated is important, and you don’t want to spend too much time looking for where to get water. Hydration packs allow you to keep your spot in the crowd, and when walking around, it allows you to explore, rather than standing in lines to find water when you need it. There are also so many options for hydration packs with unique styles and form factors, meaning there is always something to match your vibe. 

• Water Capacity: Choosing a pack with enough water capacity is important. Over the years a 2-liter capacity has never failed to provide enough hydration for 2-3 people for hours and is enough for one person to last all night. There are packs with larger and smaller water capacities. Smaller capacities could have you needing to fill up more often, so we would not suggest anything under one liter for one person. Size does matter here, and bigger is not always better. The larger the capacity, the heavier it will be when full, which can make it extremely uncomfortable! That said, you don’t have to fill them all the way if it is too heavy. 
• Comfort: Hydration packs come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, you can even get them as arm slings, chest rigs, and fanny packs! When choosing one, find one that matches your style that you think would be comfortable to wear for extended periods. Try it on at home and make sure it feels comfortable. Also try it on with the clothes you plan to wear to make sure that it doesn’t rub your shoulder or back. If necessary, you can buy backpack padding for extra comfort. 
• Size: First and foremost, make sure the pack you’re looking at the festival's bag size policies. Next, think about what you’re planning on bringing and who you are going to attend with. Review our Ultimate Rave Packing Lists and decide what you think you will bring. Are you getting a hydration backpack and wearing a fanny pack? Are you bringing a hydration pack, and a friend is bringing an empty backpack to carry stuff? These are all things to consider when thinking about the size of your hydration pack. 
• Security: Depending on what you plan to store in your pack, security can be a big issue. Choosing a pack with zipper clips to deter pickpockets! If you get a pack without zipper clips, you can buy and add them yourself. This can help protect pockets that hold valuable items. Also figure out if your pack has any difficult to access pockets or hidden compartments that can store your valuables when you don’t need them.

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• Even if it is brand new, make sure to fill the hydration pack and allow it to sit full of water for several hours at home to make sure it has no holes or leaks.
• Try it on with your rave gear to make sure it fits comfortably and does not cause chafing or feel uncomfortable. 
• Before leaving, fill it with water then try and fit everything inside. Packs can lose space when the reservoir is full of water.
• Learn how the water mechanism works before you get there. All of them work in slightly different ways and you don’t want to break it and leak water everywhere. 
• Make sure it is clean! The reservoir can be a pain to clean, but they do get moldy when not cleaned. You can also buy cleaning kits for them online.