First look at the FluidLogic GPR50 hydration backpack, “the world’s first intelligent hydration pack” for off-road riding with a game changing hands-free system to serve fluid while you ride.

A new backpack for off-road riding with a push button hydration system, customisable intake depending on activity, easy access refill, vibration system to tell you when to drink…the FluidLogic GPR50 made us sit up and take a closer look we got to admit.

FluidLogic’s info pack will readily talk about increasing safety, boosting performance and aiding recovery thanks to their Active Hydration technology. In truth, these are things most of us know by now, right? Keep hydrated and you ride better, further and feel better during and after.

What’s new here, at least as far as we know, is the motor-fed system which basically lets you push a button which squirts water or hydration drink into your mouth via a feed tube attached to your helmet.

Take it a step further, use the Fluid Logic App and the pack will tell you when you need to drink by haptic vibration reminders (like your phone vibrates while on silent). You feed fluid using a button on the shoulder strap or on the bars with no need to suck or bite a tube.

In a nutshell, the pack is designed for active use so fits well without inhibiting movement, has mesh and padding on the back side for comfort and to let heat escape, has wide and adjustable straps with a cross-brace strap on the chest, plus has stowage pockets inside and out for keys/phone, a few tools etc.

The bladder holds 1.5 litres or three pints and at the time of writing is $479/£376/€445.95. Need to know more? Carry on reading…

How does it work?

FluidLogic say their Active Hydration algorithm factors in your biometrics, level of exertion, and environmental data. Input the data to the FluidLogic App to build a personalised hydration plan which then delivers precise amounts of water to maintain optimal hydration levels while you ride.  

The algorithm generates a “microdose protocol” they say, providing water at specific intervals to ensure users stay properly hydrated. Haptic reminders notify users when to drink, and water is delivered via an in-helmet headset at the push of a button.

FYI we mounted the button in the rubber holder on the handguard as shown but it can also go on a longer clutch lever or there is a seperate handlebar mount.

FluidLogic’s patented Maglock water delivery system uses magnetic technology for easy connection and disconnection, making the system simple to use and safe from snags (it detaches easily enough and without fluid loss if you catch a tree or forget to unclip it when you take your helmet off). This tech is stored in an all-weather backpack with an EVA spine, made for the tough environments.

“The GPR50 is the first step in reimagining the hydration and performance industries. Using the same foundational technology we have in place in professional motorsports, FluidLogic is able to deliver this critical performance gear to a broader audience, allowing users to completely optimize their performance through intelligent hydration,” said Sara Blackmer, CEO of FluidLogic.

GPR50 Product Features:

• Personalised Hydration: hands free water intake based on activity, intensity, and environment for a personal hydration programme.
• Haptic Reminders: Integrated vibration sensors in the shoulder strap notify when to drink.
• In-Helmet Water Delivery: Customisable to fit almost any helmet for hassle-free hydration delivered directly to your mouth at the push of a button.
• Hydration Remote: Wireless Hydration Remote for your handlebars to deliver water instantly without losing focus on the trail.
• Reservoir Refill Button: Proprietary hydraulic pump system with button-activated reservoir refill system makes refilling your water supply with no need to remove the bladder.
• Long Lasting Battery and Bluetooth: The pack’s rechargeable Li-Ion battery powers the electric pump for hands-free water delivery and connects via Bluetooth to your mobile device.

We’ve got one on test

Enduro21 was more than happy to take up FluidLogic on their offer to send one of these for testing in real world enduro conditions.

First things first and it looks and feels like a quality product when it arrives in a box complete with all parts installed, a few spares, the handlebar mounts and no additional extras needed...and it was even charged ready to go.

There’s a bit of additional weight to it compared to a same sized hydration equipped backpack thanks to the motor inside and that was the first thing we noticed – with water onboard the whole pack weighs around two kilogrammes or 4.4 pounds.

Fitting the “boom” helmet feeder tube was easy – it’s a metal tube and easily bent into shape to contour behind cheek pad and around to your mouth.

The feeder tubes connect on the side of your helmet using a magnetic connector which has so far proved pretty so much easier than other backpack to helemet systems we have used. The magnet clips on and off firmly but not with any great force which was great the two or three times (already) we forgot to undo it when removing the helmet.

Disconnect the tube from the side of your helmet and it naturally falls down and clips on the backpack shoulder strap as well.

We’ve tried the remote button on the bars and we really liked the way feed directly to the mouth with no need to suck on a mouth piece.  

Refilling it using the motor in reverse is a neat trick – you remove the magnetic connector from the helmet, dunk the bladder tube into the fresh fluid, press the other button on the shoulder strap and it sucks up the water.

We wouldn’t say it was any quicker than swapping out a bladder, or making a switch of the whole pack which is a tactic used by some riders in hard enduro races, but it is easy.

First impressions are good and although we haven’t tested it much yet we obviously will and report back.

The GPR50 retails for an introductory price of $479/£376/€445.95

More information: www.FluidLogic.com (see website for stockists also)