One gap that I was trying to fill in my ridiculously large and growing pack collection was a decent hydration pack for biking and dynamic day hikes (my version of trail running). My requirements were pretty straight-forward. The pack in question had to be light weight, low profile, comfortable to wear for long periods, take a full-sized 3 liter hydration bladder, and still have extra room to store some essential gear. The back panel had to have good ventilation management and the entire pack had to be weather resistant.
Back in my youth, I hiked in some very demanding environments including the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The top options back then were packs from Camelbak and Ultimate Direction and I carried both. Fast forward to now and then there are many more great options available. One that I’ve been field testing recently is the Mission Workshop Hauser 14L.
When I “curate” gear to share with readers here, performance is the top criteria by which everything is judged. However, you can’t overlook the “cool” factor and certain designers just know how to make great looking kit. For me, Mission Workshop falls into that category. The Hauser is a very modern looking pack.
The Mission Workshop Hauser 14L
Part of that look can be attributed to the diamond pattern of the Hauser’s Dimension-Polyant (DP) 210d nylon VX ripstop material . But, in this case, beauty is more than skin deep because it’s the same X-PAC sailcloth material used in the Rickshaw messenger we reviewed earlier this year. DP fabrics have three layers – a facing fabric, a waterproof laminate, and an interior scrim to protect the laminate. It’s 200 psi waterproof so water just beads off it.
In addition to the X-Pac, Mission Workshop also used YKK urethane coated watertight zippers. I doubt the pack would let in any water without being completely submerged if they had gone the extra mile and added zipper caves. But sadly, they did not. Still, outside of a dry bag, this is one of the most water-resistant bags you’re ever going to find.
The Hauser has four exterior zippered compartments. The front panel pocket has a wide opening for easy access and measures approximately 13″ H X 8.0″ W.
It seems tailor-made for the Tool Roll that comes included with the pack.
The Tool Roll has four zippered pockets. I store bike tools in it when I ride and I’ve decided to use it as a FAK the rest of the time.
For normal EDC stuff, I carry the prototype of THE-E Pocket Organizer in the same compartment or in the main if I’m also using the Toll Roll. I’ve found it’s a great little drop-in pouch for small item storage and I’ve started to use it across multiple bags that I own. A review is coming soon.
Above the front panel pocket is another smaller compartment that measures about 6.0″ H x 8.0″ W. It works well for sunglasses or anything you don’t mind taking the pack off to access. Note: The interior lining, which is used throughout the pack, is a 70d nylon ripstop with waterproof TPU laminate. I like the lighter contrasting color, which makes finding items in the pack easier on overcast days like this one.
The 9.0″ H x 3.0″ W side panel compartment can be reached without taking the pack off.
So for this trip I used it to store energy bars, but it would be a good spot for anything you need to reach quickly while on the move.
The last exterior pocket is a small zippered pouch that holds two lash straps.
The front panel also has lash straps, which are designed to secure a bike helmet. Both sets of straps give the Hauser extra carrying capacity for larger items.
The main compartment is a roll top closure but it can be switched to a flap down setup, which protects both of the front panel zippered compartments from the elements.
The hydration area, which is behind the back panel, opens completely flat for ease of access. Mission included a Hydrapack 3L “Shape-Shifter” Reservoir with the Hauser for our testing. This was my first experience with Hydrapak and, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t all that impressed. The valve operated flawlessly and the slider opening was great; identical to the slider that Source Tactical uses on their bladders. The problem arose when I tried to set up the shape-shifter baffle. I consider myself to be patient guy but I found it frustrating as hell to engage and finally gave up on it. Without the baffle, the bladder would not flatten out; which for me was a huge deal breaker.
The main compartment is decently sized for a 14L pack but because the Hauser lacks a framesheet, the sausage-shaped Hydrapak stole capacity from it. A Camelbak Mil Spec Antidote bladder yielded better results, but the bottom line is the hydration and main compartments of this pack will steal capacity from each other when any bulky items are placed in them.
The back panel of the Hauser is very unique. The hexagonal perforated foam back panel provides excellent ventilation.
The hip wings have multiple anchor points to adjust the position of the shoulder straps and removable waist belt. The waist belt is beefier than the 1″ stabilizer straps that most companies include with a pack this size.
A sternum strap and hydration tube keeper is included. I don’t understand why the sternum strap isn’t removable. I thought about cutting it off and replacing it with a strap from another pack I have, but in the end decided not to.
Overall, I found the Hauser to be very stable. The perforated back panel and wings conform to the body and therefore the pack didn’t shift around on me during a ride or hike. It’s also extremely lightweight – weighing in at 1 lbs, 6 ounces empty.
And as long as I didn’t stuff it full, the entire package was extremely low profile. Paired with the Vertx Integrity Waterproof Shell jacket, my entire upper half stayed bone dry in the light rain that fell on the day that these pictures were taken.
So far, I’ve been very impressed with the Mission Workshop Hauser. It’s a pack that will mostly appeal to cyclists (because it’s marketed that way), but I’ve used it for short excursions on and off-trail. The pack most similar to the Hauser now in my collection is the GoRuck Bullet. The more structured and stouter Bullet can carry a heavier load but it doesn’t shed the elements like this pack. Chicago has the most unpredictable weather patterns of any city in the U.S. and I spend a fair amount of time outdoors dealing with them. If you deal with rain or snow on a regular basis then you understand the appeal and why those features are worth every penny.
The Mission Workshop Hauser 14L retails for $205 and is available here. A 10L version is also available.
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