My Review of Nathan HPL 020 Race Hydration Vest – 70 oz.

Think of it as a hydration jetpack! Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories 020 Race Hydration Vest is engineered to enhance your maximum velocity.
Good pack, poor bladder & drink valve
Gift: No
Pros: Easy To Refill, Stable, Comfortable
Cons: Not reflective, Poor Construction, Leaks
Best Uses: Running
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
What Is Your Gear Style: Minimalist
I want to like this product. The pack portion is well designed and comfortable to run in. I don’t see any reflective piping on the pack which seems like a no brainer thing to add.
However, the bladder and drink system are of poor design and construction. The bladder leaks — mine leaks around the fill hole. In reading reviews elsewhere, this is apparently common. I would be hesitant to use this during cold weather events, since getting wet from your pack is not a good thing.
Another problem is the bite valve. It is difficult to open. I wore the pack during a recent 100-mile race and the valve became less and less operable. Eventually it simply fell off. It’s still not working properly and I expect to return it.
In summary, it’s a good pack design, but the drink system is simply unreliable.
Hi Todd,
Sorry to hear that you had such difficulty with your reservoir. Hydrapak offers a lifetime warranty on the reservoir systems that are built for Nathan pack system. Please feel free to contact us in order to process a warranty claim so we can get you moving with a non-defective reservoir.
Thank you,
David Kim
Sales and Service
Hydrapak
info@hydrapak.com
510-632-8318
Update: I mailed my bladder back to Hydrapak and received a replacement which does not leak.