Great Price "Nathan HPL #020 2.0 Liter Men's 2-Liter Hydration Race Vest (Flint Grey)" for $58.39 Today
I waffled between giving this 4 stars and 5 stars, but ended up with 5 because it really is the best hydration pack (for running) out there. I've now used it for several months, putting in 50+ miles/week, and also one 50 mile race.
However, it isn't perfect, so I'll outline the pros and cons as I see them. Some of this is probably personal opinion so use your own judgment:
Pros:
*lightest weight for the carried volume I could find
*easy to clean for those of us that put drink mixes in bladders
*Pretty good bite valve, although I do recognize that some don't like it
*Nice inventive chest clip that holds the drink tube, back panel securing system, adjustable height chest strap, and some other nice touches. These guys at Nathan did not just assemble a bunch of off the shelf crap to make a product; they creatively invented some stuff to solve real world problems, and for that they are way ahead of the pack (e.g. Camelbak)
*Reasonably good assortment of pockets and well placed too.
Cons:
*After about three months of use my bladder has started to leak many here have complained about it. I like to know my stuff is rock solid and I don't have full confidence in it. I'll replace with an MSR bladder, as those are bomb proof.
*Bladder sealing mechanism takes some time to get used to. With practice, you can open and close really quickly, but others can't, which can kill time at an aid station during a race. It's in your best interest to run into the station with the thing off your back and the slide opened, and close it yourself after they fill it.
*The mesh pocket on the left side (as you're wearing it) needs to be taller and with much tighter elastic along the top; if you're trail running stuff falls out. I'm going to add some velcro or something to allow me to use it as a secure pocket.
*There is better vent mesh out there for the back of this thing, although NO companies I've met use the good stuff (we use it for some of our projects). If they were to use the good stuff, you'd get better back ventilation, although it's not really bad per se. It could just be better. Again, no company uses the good stuff.
Summary: Best of the best. Not perfect, but it's the one to buy. Expect to replace the bladder, and don't depend on it for critical runs.
Nathan HPL #020 2.0 Liter Men's 2-Liter Hydration Race Vest (Flint Grey) Features
- 3-way Propulsion Harness
- 2 liter hydration bladder with filter-compatible screw-top closure and bite valve
- Twin front holsters for carbo-gel and/or GPS
- Two zippered rear compartments and zippered front pocket
- Weighs only 6 ounces empty
Rating : 
Price : $89.99
Offer Price : $58.39
Nathan HPL #020 2.0 Liter Men's 2-Liter Hydration Race Vest (Flint Grey) Overviews
3-way Propulsion Harness; 2 liter hydration bladder with filter-compatible screw-top closure and bite valve; Twin front holsters for carbo-gel and/or GPS; Two zippered rear compartments; Zippered front pocket; Lightweight, breathable Wall Mesh with soft perimeter binding - feels great against skin and won't damage technical apparel; Weight: 6 oz.
Customer Review
Marathon & Half-Marathon Gear - A. Gift For You - Silicon Valley, CA
Used this for both the Mt Diablo Half-Marathon (cross-country) and Big Sur Full Marathon. Perfect 2.0-liter size for a race with a few aid stations along the way. Didn't notice I was even wearing it while running. Front pockets perfect for GU shots. Was able to fit a Canon Power Shot 4.0 megapixel S400 digital camera in front left pocket during Big Sur Full Marathon; although it occaisionally would 'pop-out'. Forthunately, I tied the camera lanyard to a zipper lanyard, saving the camera during an ejection event. Rear pocket sufficient to hold a wallet and car keys. The closure mechanism for the 2.0-liter hydration bag is peculiar (fold over once, slide a plastic fixture into place) but it worked fine. Likewise the bit-valve shutoff mechanism was difficult to operate (not a turn on/off, rather pull-on/push-off).
Nathan 2.0 pack - Garry Harrington - Colorado Springs
The Nathan HPL #020 2.0-liter hydration pack seems to be perfect size and weight for use in a 100-mile trail race ... I could maybe use one more pocket or storage area on the back or perhaps on the inside of the pack, but seems to have room for everything I will need to carry during a race. The bladder itself has a sliding lock mechanism at the top which is unwieldy and potentially messy during filling in a race especially when hands are cold and tired; would prefer the conventional bladder system with the screw-off cap for refilling. All in all, though, a good piece of gear to possess.
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