Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack Review

I’ve been riding and running with the same hydration pack for the past six years. I found one I liked and like a good marriage partner, I didn’t look around to see what else was out there. When Ogio contacted me to review one their packs it was with a little trepidation that I accepted. I didn’t want to be unfaithful to the stalwart hydration pack I was using.

Enough with the marriage analogy. While Ogio’s hydration packs focus on moto they have definitely application to the mountain bike world. I chose to test and review the Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack.

Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack Features

• Hydrapak reservoir bladder (70 oz) and drink system
• Sleek air flow profile pack with separate hydration pocket
• Posh top drop-in audio pocket with headphone port
• Multi-use large main compartment and posh valuable pocket
• Dual side mesh accessory pockets and expandable front mesh pocket
• Adjustable padded shoulder strap with sternum strap
• Deluxe back padding with air flow channels for ultimate cool comfort
• Price: $89.99

Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack Review

While the Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack is made for moto it works just as well for MTB. A lot of the features work well for both. I’m not a moto guy so my review is MTB focused.

The most striking feature to me is the Hydrapak resevoir. It’s one of the best bladders I’ve used. It is accessed through a zipper on the back panel. This is awesome so you can get to the bladder without messing with any of the contents in the main compartment. Also it’s great so if there’s a leak your other gear won’t get soaked. The bladder uses a roll-top for closure. The opening is as wide as the width of the bladder which makes filling and cleaning (especially cleaning) easy. When it’s full, just fold the top twice, slide it into the retaining clip and you’re good to go. The bladder is suspended by a small loop and click which keeps the bladder from sinking to the bottom of the pack and bunching at your lower back. Overall, one of the best hydration systems I’ve used.

The big downfall to the Hydrapak system is the bite valve. I found it small, awkward to use with one hand, but more disappointingly, it leaked. Whenever I unlocked it it would contantly drip on my leg. I spent one ride with a wet leg. Then I swapped the valve out for one I know won’t drip. It’s not a deal breaker for me, just replace the valve.

There are numerous pockets to help keep you organized. The large main compartment is big. I’ve been able to fit a jacket, arm warmers, knee warmers, and a long-sleeve jersey and I had barely filled it halfway. The main compartment does feature a mesh pocket inside to help with organization. It also features a fleece-lined “audio pocket” but for me that had zero use for riding MTB. It would be a good pocket for your sunglasses. There is also a fleece-lined zippered pocket on the outside of the pack.

The other outer pocket is a stretchy zippered mesh pocket. So much you can do with a pocket like this. I like the versatility. The two mesh water-bottle pockets went unused by me, but once again the versatility was nice.

One glaring omission from the pack is the simple key fob (gotta love the word “fob”). It’s small, it’s simple, but I like the security it gives me with my car keys. Without it I ride paranoid that I’m going to drop my keys if I open the pocket. Once again, not a deal breaker, but it would be nice to have.

The straps are easily adjustable and simple. They kept the pack in place, even with a full bladder (the pack’s, not mine). Ogio did put a small outer loop strap at the base of the pack with is perfect for holding a rear blinkie if you’re riding home from the trailhead after dark.

The Good

• Hydrapack bladder is solid, easy to clean, and easy to fill
• Bladder suspension system is good
• Lots of versatility with the pockets
• Lot of capacity with out the packing being huge

The Bad

• Bite valve leaked
• No key fob

Bottom Line:

The Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack is an solid choice for MTB. It has become my go-to hydration pack for MTB (sorry other pack, I’ll use you for trail runs).

Buy Now: Pick Up the Ogio Baja 1650 Hydration Pack