For years I carried a water bottle on every hike. One bottle in the side pocket of my daypack, a second one in the car for the drive home. It worked fine until the day I ran out of water a mile from the trailhead on a hot August afternoon. That was the day I started looking seriously at a hydration backpack, and the N NEVO RHINO 18L pack with its 3L bladder is the one I have reached for ever since.
I am Tessa Marlow, a retired middle-school science teacher who hikes the North Cascades and the Chuckanut trails near my home in Bellingham, Washington. My younger sister Jen joins me on weekends; I hike alone on weekdays. My left knee has been cranky since a college volleyball injury, so how a pack transfers weight matters to me as much as how much water it holds. Here are the ten reasons the N NEVO RHINO hydration backpack made the cut.
Why the N NEVO RHINO hydration backpack is the one I grab first
An 18L pack with a 3L bladder that fits my frame, carries my layers, and costs less than I expected to pay for something this well made. If you are tired of stopping to fish a bottle out of your pack, this is the one to try.
Amazon Check Today's Price on Amazon →The 3L bladder means I stop rationing water
Three liters is a lot of water. On a typical five-mile Chuckanut ridge hike I drink about a liter and a half, which means I start with a full bladder and finish with plenty to spare. On a hot July hike up Oyster Dome, I finished the climb with more than a liter still in the bladder, enough for the whole descent and the drive home. With a bottle I would have been rationing by the summit. The bite valve delivers a steady stream without me having to suck hard, and the hose disconnects from the pack so I can refill without pulling the whole bladder out.
The hose clips where I can actually reach it
Some packs put the hose clip on the right shoulder strap and call it done. The N NEVO RHINO has a magnetic sternum clip that holds the hose in place without flopping, and the bite valve sits right at chest level. I do not have to take the pack off, twist around, or ask Jen to hand me my water. I just tilt my head and drink.
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The hip belt actually transfers weight to my hips
This is the reason I chose this pack over two others I tested. My old knee injury means I want the load on my hips, not my shoulders. The N NEVO RHINO's padded hip belt wraps around my waist and takes a noticeable amount of weight off my shoulders. I weighed the pack before a recent hike: just under eleven pounds with water, my shell, and lunch. On my shoulders, that load starts to ache by mile three. On my hips, I barely notice it until I take the pack off at the trailhead. On a six-mile hike with a full bladder, a rain shell, and lunch, my knee and my shoulders both felt fine at the end.
18 liters is the right size for a day hike
Big enough for a bladder, a shell, a hat, sunscreen, a first-aid kit, and a sandwich, but not so big that I am tempted to pack things I do not need. On a typical Saturday with Jen, the main compartment swallows my bladder, a puffy vest, a rain shell, and lunch for two, and the front pocket still has room for my phone, keys, and a small map. Everything has a place, and nothing rattles on the descent. For a day hike, 18 liters hits the sweet spot.
The back panel keeps my shirt from getting soaked
I sweat. I am fifty-four, I hike uphill, and I sweat. The N NEVO RHINO's breathable back panel has air channels that let some air move between the pack and my back. It is not magic, but it is noticeably cooler than the pack I used before, and on a warm day that makes the difference between a comfortable hike and a soggy one.
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The sternum strap stays put and does not rub
A sternum strap that slides up and down is one of my pet peeves. This one has a magnetic buckle that clicks together easily, even with gloves on, and it stays where I set it. The strap sits across my chest without digging in, which matters on a long descent when every little rub starts to feel like a big one.
The rain cover lives in its own pocket
The N NEVO RHINO comes with a rain cover stashed in a small pocket at the bottom of the pack. When the clouds roll in over the North Cascades, I can pull it out and have it on in under a minute. The first time was on the trail to Fragrance Lake in October, when the sky opened up halfway up the switchbacks. I had the cover on before the rain reached my shoulders. I have used it three times now, and my gear stayed dry each time.
The bladder is easy to clean and dry
A hydration bladder that is hard to clean is a bladder that grows things. This one opens wide at the top, so I can reach in with a sponge, and the hose comes off completely. I hang it upside down on the dish rack after every trip and it is dry by morning. That simple habit has kept the water tasting like water, not like plastic.
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The side pockets hold a bottle and my phone
Even with a bladder, I like to carry one small bottle for electrolyte drink on long hikes. The N NEVO RHINO has two stretchy side pockets that hold a bottle securely, and the front pocket has room for my phone. It is a small thing, but it means I do not have to choose between the bladder and a bottle.
It has held up through a full season of use
I have used this pack on more than thirty hikes since last spring, from short Chuckanut loops to a full day in the North Cascades. The zippers still run smooth, the seams look intact, and the bite valve still works. Last month I caught the hose on a branch coming down from Lake Ann and braced for a tear. The hose came free without a mark. I cannot tell you how it will look in five years, but a year of regular use has not worn it down.
What I'd Skip
If you are planning a multi-day backpacking trip, this is not the pack for you. Eighteen liters is a day-pack size, and the 3L bladder, while generous for a day, is not enough for an overnight in the backcountry. I would also skip it if you carry a dedicated camera body and two lenses; the front pocket is roomy, but it is not padded, and I would not trust a camera to it on a rocky trail. And if you are someone who prefers a waist pack or a bottle belt, no backpack is going to change your mind. This one is for day hikers who want water on their back and their hands free.
On a six-mile hike with a full bladder, a rain shell, and lunch, my knee and my shoulders both felt fine at the end. That is the whole reason I reach for this pack.
Ready to hike with your hands free?
The N NEVO RHINO hydration backpack has been on my back for a full season of day hikes, and it is the pack I would buy again tomorrow. If you are tired of stopping to dig a bottle out of your pack, this is a good place to start.
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