Looking for a hydration pack that can support you with a full featured 2-Liter reservoir and drinking system, along with a total of 6L of smartly designed storage? You next long trail ride may take you places, in unexpected weather conditions that mean you need to be prepared beyond the basics. Food, water, tools, rain shell, warmers, spare parts all might be in order. The Shimano Unzen 6 can be the comfortably fitting, load carrying companion you've been looking for. With smart design, effective pocketing, and a hydration system from HydraPak the Unzen 6 more than gets the job done. It gets it done right, so that you barely notice this capable pack as you shred the backcountry trails hours away from a trailhead.

For most riders the key to hydration pack satisfaction starts with fit and comfort while riding. The actual pack must support it's intended load, be stable while riding aggressively, and feel comfortable over a lightweight shirt or jersey. If any or all of those are subpar, your 3rd cousin gets a pack for free. Shimano shapes the Unzen 6 to follow the lines of your back and shoulders, supporting the pack body with a soft packsheet that has highly breathable mesh and segmented anatomic high density padding. This allows the pack to ride on you, but allows airflow for temperature and moisture regulation. The same concept is applied to the harness. At first the Rider X-Harness system seems liek a bit too much, but it is light, and the center of the X design actually gives the load much more stability from lower torso fit. It still features a waist strap, so you get even more control. The system never feels heavy or restrictive, and it is highly adjustable for body type and preference.

The Unzen 6 features wide opening, dedicated side load zip pocket for the hydration system, so you have the main large open zip compartment for stowing your gear. There is plenty of mesh organization so you can isolate smaller items for quick locating and easy access. At the top of the pack there is sealed zip pocket with a soft surface inside for stowing your smartphone, glasses, etc. At the bottom of the exterior you also get a small zip pocket with an organizer- perfect for tube, tools, keys, and other small items you may want to grab quickly. That pocket has a loop on the outside for a clip-on light, and a bungie cord set-up for stowing a soft item you don't want to put inside the pack, like dirty knee or arm warmers. There are clips at the top of the pack that are set-up for carrying a helmet by it's straps, or any other thing you can think of, like a fake raccoon tail or an IMBA banner. The final pack feature is the stow away rain shell, which is perfect when you really need extra rain or mud protection. The exterior of the Unzen is water resistant, but will get overwhelmed over time. The fluorescent cover also has a clip-on light loop- which is just smart, yet almost no other pack company does it.

Of course this is a hydration pack, so Shimano turned to the experts at HydraPak for the reservoir and tube system. The 2 Liter set-up has a perfect length tube, with self-sealing bite valve, which also features a twist on/off bar to prevent leaks when not in use. The slide-seal top entry of the reservoir provides a huge opening for cleaning and filling. It can even be turned inside out. The easy connect system allows you remove the hose from the unit without issue, and the reservoir itself is made of ultra-durable, abrasion resistant TPU & RF welded seams for superior durability and elasticity. The whole drinking assembly is BPA/PVC free and rated for food quality, as well as capable of freezing or filling with liquids up to 140°F. HydraPak also supplies the hose routing and clip system that makes drinking on the go simple and convenient.

There is incredible competition in the hydration pack market. So many great options, but every rider has their preferences. Shimano has executed an excellent design, which we feel will be well received by a majority of those who give it a shot. The harness system and overall pack design are sure to appeal to those who feel other packs just aren't table enough for their build or riding style. Others will love the features, and anyone who has replaced their stock hydration system with a HydraPak model won't need to worry about that. We were surprised when we heard Shimano has offering hydration packs, but the Unzen 6 is more than a pleasant surprise, it is true competition for the best in the category.