Pennsylvania-based brand Nathan Sports has being producing solidly reliable adventure-orientated safety and hydration gear for decades, with micro-adjustments making the kit better with each iteration. This pack is the perfect example of that process of evolution, tipping the scales at just 308g/10.9oz (without the bladder), a full 15% lighter than the original. When you’re hauling heavy water along a trail, regardless of whether you’re walking or running, the last thing you need is additional weight being added by the pack itself, so this svelte version of an already excellent hydro pack is a welcome arrival… so long as the functionality of the model hasn’t been downgraded. For the last couple of months I have been wearing the TrailMix 2.0 while hiking and running along a range of tracks to see how it compares to previous edition and the very best hydration packs around, including those produced by market leaders CamelBak and Osprey.
Design and materials
Specifications
Weight with bladder (empty): 397g/14oz
Colors: Charcoal & Reflective Silver / Periwinkle & Estate Blue
Liquid capacity: 1.5L/53 fl oz bladder plus pouches for 2 x 500ml (20oz) soft flasks
Storage capacity: 12L
Fit: Unisex
Sizes: One size
Compatibility: Hiking and trail running
Offering several ways to carry fluids in an easily accessible hands-free fashion while you’re on the move, the TrailMix 2.0 is hydration pack first and foremost, and backpack second, although it does also deliver an impressive amount of dry storage space. It has a lightweight build, with the body facing parts of the pack (the back panel and shoulder straps) made with mesh stretched over honeycomb shaped foam, to make it breathable, and the main compartments constructed from a weatherproof synthetic material, to keep the contents dry in all but the worst conditions.
There are two sternum straps on the unisex TrailMix 2.0, which can very quickly and easily be moved up and down to achieve the optimum fit – something that is especially important on a unisex hydration pack. On the front of the harness, around chest level, there are four generously sized pouches that can be used to securely carry various things, from your mobile phone or a satellite communication device to running gels and energy bars. The topmost and deepest of these pouches on either side have been deliberately sized to accommodate two small water bottles (specifically a pair of 500ml/20oz soft-sided easy-sip flasks).
Sadly, this model doesn’t include such flasks, but unlike some hydration packs and vests, the TrailMix 2.0 does come complete with a good quality water bladder, with a liquid capacity of 1500ml (just over 50 fl oz), and a wide slide-top opening. This reservoir is housed within a zipped compartment at the rear of the pack, where it’s hung from a Velcro hook, and the hose can be plumbed through portals on either shoulder. The drinking tube then passes through a loop and there’s a single storage clip on one of the sternum straps to keep it from flapping around and getting caught on things as you run. The hose is quite long if you leave it hanging down, so it’s best to loop it across your chest and tuck it neatly through a second loop. The bite valve on the drinking hose is simple but effective, and it hasn’t leaked at all while I’ve been hiking and running.
There is also a larger storage compartment, which shuts like a dry bag, with a roll top and buckles (brilliantly, this can be closed in two different ways, either end to end, or by clipping the ends into corresponding buckles on the side, which enables you to reduce the bulk of the pack depending on how much you’re carrying). On the front of the pack is an expansion pouch (which secures shut with a Velcro flap) and a set of bungee cords, both of which vastly increase the non-liquid carry capacity of the pack. There are also bungee loops on either side for attaching running poles or trekking poles, and the TrailMix features reflective flourishes to improve safety when you’re hiking or running on roads and lanes shared with traffic.
On the trails
I have been using this hydration pack to stay hydrated during longer hikes and also while training for an ultramarathon, and I plan to wear it during an upcoming local mid-distance race, a 20-mile mixed terrain running challenge where the gaps between water stations can be quite long, and supplies have been known to run dry. For all these activities, the Nathan TrailMix 2.0 is perfect, not least because of the versatility it offers.
If you’re happy to cart one medium-sized bladder of water on your back (which I am when hiking), everything you need to hit the trails is here. The included Nathan-branded reservoir is good quality and perfectly sized for most hiking escapades and trail-running adventures. The slide-sealed wide opening is super secure, and the design makes it quick and easy to refill the bladder at race water stations. You can hang the hose over either shoulder, and the clip and loops on the harness enable you to keep it tidy and within reach at all times. But for people who prefer to have their hydration in soft sipper flasks carried on the chest (my favored style when doing longer runs), there are deep harness pockets that cater for this (even if you do have source your flasks separately).
Fit and comfort
I was able to get a good firm fit when using the TrailMix 2.0, so the pack felt comfortable and didn’t flap around and get annoying, even as I gradually emptied the reservoir while running. However, this is a unisex pack, and not everyone might find this to be the case. The sternum straps are easy to adjust, but the slide bar they are mounted on isn’t very long, so there is a limit to how much space you can put between them, and this might be an issue for some people.
On the back of the pack, a highly breathable mesh is stretched across a honeycomb panel, to reduce sweatiness, and this extends right across the harness straps, and I found this to be highly breathable. The side straps are a lot thinner and more basic, but they are simple to adjust so you can get a properly dialed-in fit (although I found it very fiddly to coil up and stash the excess once I’d tightened the straps up).
Carry capacity
One of the things I love about this pack is that there are several separate decent-sized compartments, so you can really organize your kit well (and also remove and refill the water bladder without having to unpack any of the rest of the contents).
Playing around with the hydration options this pack offers enables you to carry more kit, if so desired, or to arrange your provisions according to your personal preferences. So, if you dispense with the water bladder and use flasks, you can use the zipped compartment at the back to take more gear – such as extra base layers and even a thin fleece jacket if you’re doing a long run in chilly conditions. There is still space for a few gels in the small front pouches, even if you do take bottles, but if you stick with the bladder, then there is capacity to carry much more (bars, phone, compass) in the harness, where it’s easily accessible.
The expansion pouch and bungee cords on the outward facing part of the pack really increase your carry capacity. The expansion pouch is perfect for storing things like a running jacket, gloves, or a hat, cap or sun visor, while the bungees are ideal for stashing wet weather gear, such as waterproof shell jackets and lightweight rain pants before and after use (for ease of access, and to avoid other garments becoming damp).
It is possible to carry lightweight running or trekking poles on the TrailMix 2.0, by using the bungee loops on the sides, but this is pretty cumbersome on such a small volume pack.
Compatibility
If you’re an ultrarunner and you’re weighing up whether to go for a hydration pack or a running vest, the Nathan TrailMix falls, I reckon, right in the middle of the two. It’s tailored to fit very snuggly to your body, like a vest, with minimal movement during vigorous exercise, and you can use it with a large water bladder and/or a couple of soft running bottles or flasks …and yet, it has a reasonable amount of dry storage space as well (12 liters on the inside, plus whatever you can stuff into the expansion pouch and bungee bit on the back, which is quite a bit). That might not be enough to compete with backpacks used for a fastpacking escapades, unless you’re a mega-minimalist enjoying perfect conditions, but it will easily accommodate all the essential gear required for a single-stage ultramarathon, including extra layers, waterproof shell jacket and trousers, plus a head torch, an emergency bivy sack, tarp or space blanket, some food and a first-aid kit. Unfortunately, though, there is no whistle built into the design of this pack (a shame, since these are often part of the mandatory kit list for long-distance adventure challenges).
Some alternatives
There is a smaller 7L version of the Nathan TrailMix, which is ideal for shorter events and outings. If you’re specifically looking for a body hugging running vest specifically geared towards ultra-distance adventures, check out the Arc’teryx Norvan 7 or the Montane Gecko 12+, both of which come with soft flasks (but no bladder).
