Fidlock Hip Belt & hydration Bladder: Finally a good hip bag with hydration bladder?

Everything on our test bikes now snaps into place. Water bottle, battery cover, helmet fastener - Fidlock's practical magnetic fasteners are becoming more and more popular. The tinkerers have also tried their hand at a hip bag. However, the Hipbelt Double with two side-mounted bottles didn't really convince us in the test.

159.99 Euro RRP: Expensive, but also good?

With the new system with hydration bladder, Fidlock is now taking a fresh approach. Hip Belt & Hermetic hip bag hydration Bladder is the official name of the device. The RRP is relatively high at 159.99 euros. But you also get a lot for it. The hip bag and hydration bladder have a high-quality finish. The design is clean and magnetic fasteners can of course be found in every nook and cranny. For example, the wide belt snaps into place magnetically. The main compartment has space for a mobile phone in a waterproof pocket with a magnetic fastener. The hydration bladder itself also closes magnetically as if by magic. The drinking tube is held magnetically on the hip belt.

Fidlock drinking hip bag at a glance

• Set price: 159.99 euros >> available here
• Weight: 680 grams (empty, with hydration bladder)
• Hydration bladder volume: 1.5 litres
• Plenty of storage space in two main and two side pockets
• Straps for additional luggage such as knee pads

Nothing for minimalists

First things first: due to the system, the Hip Belt with hydration bladder will not make minimalists happy. The hip bag is very large, even for a hip bag with a hydration bladder. The weight is particularly noticeable with a full bladder. The maximum of 1.5 litres in the hydration bladder is definitely too much. And even with one litre in the tank and the most important spare parts for on the go, a bit of wobbling on action-packed descents is inevitable. However, we never found this annoying on the trail. The central position of the hydration bladder close to the body, which shifts the centre of gravity of the bag towards the rider, certainly contributes to this. The main compartment then sits behind it.

The operation is pleasing. However, fishing your mobile phone out of the waterproof pouch in the main compartment with one hand without removing the hip bag is only for finger acrobats. Especially with gloves. The main compartment is also almost a little too big. As a result, you tend to either take too much with you. Or you have to accept that the load slides back and forth in the empty compartment. It would be better if the hip bag were a little more compact for an even better fit and less tendency to overload. Side pockets for keys and multi-tools or bars and plenty of loops in case you want to attach more are a welcome extra. The only thing is that the hydration bladder tastes a bit like rubber at first.

Strengths

• Generally good fit
• Practical magnetic fasteners
• Capacity replaces rucksack even on longer tours

Weaknesses

• Hydration Bladder tastes like rubber at first
• Almost too much storage space, resulting in a tendency to overload
• expensive

BIKE verdict on the Hip Belt with Hydration Bladder

A hip bag is always a compromise for me. Of course I would prefer to ride with the smallest and lightest bag on the trail. But if I can't fit a proper bottle on my bike again, I'll be happy to use the hip belt with hydration bladder from Fidlock in future. It's a bit big but still fits well, even with a lot in the tank, and has lots of practical features. Unfortunately, the purchase price is quite high. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE test editor