Hydro Flask Slingback Bottle Pack Review

If you’re reading this, you might wonder how you made your way here. Hydro Flask makes a sling? What kind of an alternate reality have I gotten myself into? Well, you aren’t crazy. Hydro Flask is one of the most popular water bottle manufacturers out there, and yes, they’ve crafted a crossbody bag. One of the biggest gripes we see online with sling bags is that they often don’t have a dedicated space for a travel water bottle. Hydro Flask, a water bottle company, tries to remedy that issue with this offering. Let’s check it out!

External Components

The exterior of the Hydro Flask Slingback Bottle Pack is crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester. It’s great to see more sustainable materials here. The materials are durable and fair well in light rain.

At the time of writing, there are just two colorway options. That’s a bit of a bummer, especially considering how many colors Hydro Flask offers in their many water bottle lines. We have the Baltic colorway, which we dig. It’s muted but still colorful. The Hydro Flask logo blends nicely with the primary pack material.

The strap attaches with a different Duraflex buckle than we often see, and it takes a little getting used to, although we have no gripes since it’s easy to clasp and doesn’t open accidentally.

The side strap secures in place with a “Magic Slider.” It isn’t as strong, but it doesn’t need to be, as it holds in place and is easy to slide off when you’re ready to take off the sling.

All the zippers on this pack are from YKK and work as well as you’d want them to. Cords with plastic ends are woven into the zipper pulls. They’re easy to grasp, even in inclement weather.

Fit Notes

The harness system on the Slingback Bottle Pack feels more like something you’d expect from a daypack than a crossbody bag.

The back panel is amply padded and has mesh for aeration. The strap has a similar construction and is wide enough to feel stable, even when the pack is heavily loaded. The combination of the back panel and the shoulder strap makes for a comfortable carry.

An additional strap goes around your side to add security to the pack. It ensures that there isn’t too much sliding up or down in transit—and is especially helpful while doing more active things like riding a bicycle or walking fast to catch a bus. It also adds peace of mind because it’s hard to yank the sling off with it fastened.

There’s a small stretchy mesh pocket on the front of the strap to stow small gear like coins or headphones.

There are strap keepers on both the main strap and the side one, which is a nice inclusion to keep a bunch of extra material from floating around.

Inside The Sling

Ah, the moment you’ve been waiting for—the water bottle pocket! This pocket sits on the front of the pack and has a stretch mesh bottom and a polyester top. To use it, move the tongue out of the way and slide your bottle into the stretchy part. You can fit a large bottle here. Hydro Flask says any of their bottles, up to a 32 oz capacity, work, and you can also hold a 32 oz Nalgene here if that’s your thing.

If you aren’t a big water drinker (why are you here?), this space has value for other equipment. You can stow a packable jacket, a hat, or pair of gloves here. Any gear you want to have quick access to or don’t want to shove into the main compartment is a good bet.

Behind the water bottle, there’s a small front pocket. There are two liner pockets inside for organization and a plastic key clip on a red strap. The color makes it easy to find and extends outside the pack. The plastic clip doesn’t seem very durable, which is problematic long-term. The available space is most affected by the size of the water bottle you bring. A massive water bottle will leave you with less room here—whereas a smaller bottle will give you more.

On the side of the back panel, there’s a small hidden pocket. It has a soft liner—making it an excellent place to stow a phone. Depending on your phone and how thick your case is, you may be able to feel it through the back panel. It isn’t uncomfortable and can be seen as a friendly reminder that you have your phone.

The main compartment is relatively basic. There’s a padded tablet sleeve on the back side, which we dig. The material won’t completely cover your tablet because the top access point is diagonal, though it works well. Plus, the pack isn’t any less comfortable with a tablet than without one.

There isn’t any organization in the rest of the main compartment. However, with three secondary pockets and a place to stow a tablet or notebook, it’s easy to segment your gear without additional organization. If you are worried about keeping things organized, you can always throw your gear into pouches before putting it in the sling.

Overall, we’re happily surprised with this offering from Hydro Flask. It’s the first non-water bottle we’ve reviewed from their brand, and it’s a home run for those who like to have a sling and stay hydrated!