Fly Racing XC70 and XC100 Hydro Packs

What it is

• Fly's trail oriented hydration packs.
• 70 FL OZ and 100 FL OZ sizes.

The Fly XC70 and XC100 Hydro Packs are largest trail hydration packs Fly offers. The XC70 contains a 70 fl. oz reservoir while the XC100 holds a whopping 100 ounces. Both the XC70 and 100 feature a padded mesh chest strap with a buckle to help prevent them from falling off your shoulders. Additionally, the lengths of the straps can be adjusted in two different areas, on the bottom and the back of the shoulder straps. The XC70 has a large pocket holding the bladder as well as a separate sleeve to hold bigger items and 2 smaller front pockets while the XC100 has 2 large pockets and 2 small pockets. The bladders are closed off with a slide top to allow for easy removal and a “Plug and Play” quick disconnect to provide easy cleaning of the lines.

How it works

• Different sizes for different length rides.
• Bite valve delivers an ample amount of water.
• Several areas for strap adjustments.
• Comfortable for long rides.

I feel XC70 is the perfect size for a midsize hydration pack. With a 70 fluid ounce bladder, it holds enough water for a couple hours of riding in normal conditions and provides some space for additional items. We used the secondary pouches and the “carry all” mesh net for things like extra gloves, a hat, snack bars and so small trail tools. If extra water was necessary, I was able to comfortably fit 3 plastic water bottles inside the main pocket which almost refilled the entire bladder. The XC100 is larger than the XC70 due to its larger bladder and pockets too. While holding 100 FL OZ, it also includes the “carry all” net like the XC70. This allows you to pack extra items for those long rides. You can easily stuff a packable jacket and even a tool roll inside of it. When wearing the XC100 full of water, it didn’t feel too large on my back, nor too heavy but you can weight it down quick if you are not careful about what you pack.

The slide top for the water bladder is a very simple design that makes opening and closing it effortless most of the time. Every once in awhile, I misaligned the grooves and would have to remove it and place them in the correct position. It doesn’t let any water leak out the top and is out of danger of coming undone while riding. The disconnecting water tube is also a nice feature since it allows for an easier process of cleaning out the tube when it gets dirty. The Blaster bite valve held up pretty good with no tears or holes in it. It delivers a good amount of water when bitten and it never leaked, which is a common problem some hydration packs. It also has a lockout on it if you don’t want any liquid to pass through the bite valve. The valve valve twists to close it off and prevent anything from flowing through. When riding fast, the tube delivering the water to the bite valve would fly behind my back leaving me searching for it as I rode along. With my usual hydration pack, I slip the tube under the chest strap which keeps it from flying back; however, the tube on the Fly packs are too short to do so.

The chest straps have three different options for adjustments. two of them include Velcro straps on the bottom. It has a large area of Velcro which gives it a lot of room for movement and adjusting. In addition, it has two loops options to raise the hydration pack up more if desired. Inside the main pocket on the back of the pack, it has a small buckle with several different loops running up and down the pack. This also adjusts how high it sits on your back depending on your size and preference.

Being a smaller rider, with the standard strap placement I couldn’t tighten the chest strap as much as I would have liked. This made the pack feel a little more loose than I prefer. However, once I adjusted the straps, it fit perfectly. From the inside of the pack, I moved the buckles two loops down and put the Velcro through both loops in order for it to sit completely on my back and not rest on the seat while riding. This tightened everything up while still allowing for easy movement of the upper body. The added comfort provided by the pads is a nice touch and employs comfort when the added weight is on your back.

Both the XC70 and XC100 held up very well in various conditions. From riding in the desert to in the thick brush and trees, it took a lot of abuse. No tears or holes appear in the fabric despite being snagged by some branches and bushes. Also, the zippers had no problems with getting stuck or breaking and the material covering the zipper when closed keeps the zippers from coming undone. The seams all appeared strong with extra stitching where needed.

What might be the best feature about these hydration packs is their versatility. Not only can they be used for motorcycle riding, but also for activities such as hiking, mountain biking, running and many more. Although it might not be the best for racing conditions, Fly also has other lines of hydration packs that are smaller and more compact which would be better for racing.

Overall, the XC70 and XC100 do a great job of keeping you hydrated while not becoming a burden. The simple design makes it easy to set up and use without taking up too much time. Then it is just grab, fill and go. They are priced about average in the market for the features they have and in reality are a good choice especially for the adjustability.

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