Looking for the best rave hydration pack, camelbaks, and festival backpacks in 2023?
Well, look no further because I’m here to help! As an avid music festival attendee, techno rave addict, and outdoor adventure travel enthusiast — it’s safe to say I’m always looking for a great hydration backpack for every need!
I’m also a huge believer in the importance of partying smart, and staying hydrated is obviously one of the most crucial ways to do that! Especially if you’re attending a three-day camping festival, it becomes really easy to forget to keep drinking water!
Combine that with sweating in the extreme heat, walking back and forth from campgrounds to festival stages, and dancing to your favorite musicians — drinking water is absolutely vital to survival!
That’s why I always recommend people to just bring lunchbox packs to keep those healthy fluids coming! There are so many different styles and brands to choose from, so making a choice isn’t easy.
Luckily, I’ve scoured the internet for the best hydration backpacks for festivals to help you make a choice!
Pin Me – The Best Festival Hydration Backpacks
All of these music festival hydration packs come extremely well-reviewed, have a wide variety of designs, and will definitely keep you partying safely on the dance floors come the time!
I’ve bought several of these myself and have used them at festivals like Tomorrowland in Belgium, Envision Festival in Costa Rica, and Lost Paradise Festival in Australia!
I’ve also included several video reviews for comparing people’s festival hydration packs, so be sure to check out a few of them for inspiration!
1) Lunchbox Hydration Pack
If you’re looking for the absolute best festival hydration pack in the industry, then look no further than the incredible Lunchbox Hydration Pack! What makes it special?
For starters, it’s an anti-theft hydration pack, so you party it up without worrying about your valuables. It’s a pack with true attention to detail, seen in the extremely high-quality material, unique and fully customizable skins, and the fast refill hydration system.
When you purchase a Lunchbox Hydropack or one of their other amazing products — you’re making your festival experience better and joining the ever-growing Lunchbox festival community. And if you really want to stand out at the rave, you can easily add light show wires to the mix, thanks to the interior battery pocket and exterior elastic loops.
I personally love mine (I’ve been bringing it to tons of festivals recently), and I truly believe it’s the best hydration pack for festivals!
Price: $129+ USD
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2023 Update: Exciting news! Lunchbox recently announced a new product, their Clear Hydration Pack. It’s PERFECT for festival attendees that are going to events that have a clear backpack policy.
The Lunchbox Hydration Pack
2) SoJourner Festival Hydration Backpack
My second-best hydro pack for festivals has got to be the incredible SoJourner Bag! They’ve created an astounding and unique line of stylish hydration packs that will certainly impress!
It comes complete with a stunning design built for comfort, several compartments for storage, a 2L bladder, and a completely re-designed LEAK PROOF model. SoJourner Bags really have thought of everything and will keep you dancing safely and hydrated the entire festival.
They’re definitely one of the coolest rave backpacks on the market at a very affordable price — ideal for festival attendees on a tighter budget. While they offer a wide variety of awesome styles, including a ribbed pack panel — my personal favorites are the Holographic Silver Hydration Pack and the Galaxy Hydration Pack.
Other than backpacks, SoJourner Bags also have an outstanding product line, including the classic fanny pack, rave fans, goggles/glasses, cosmetic glitter, holographic cowboy hats, and pasties!
Price: $40+ USD
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3) Rave CamelBak M.U.L.E. Festival Hydration Pack
Perfect size, ideal weight, and nice minimalist styles — out of all the festival camelbak options, this is easily one of the best all-around hydration backpacks on the market!
It has a fantastic ergonomic handle for easy refilling and a magnetic tube trap that helps keep it secure and accessible. Plus, there are air-director back panels providing airflow to keep your back cool.
It’s extremely comfortable and has a decent amount of extra space. To make things even better, it comes with a “Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee,” which covers all reservoirs, backpacks, water bottles, and accessories from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship!
This camelbak is also partially made from recycled materials, so you can rave with good conscience. And it’s dual purpose, so if you’re a big mountain bike fan or hiking enthusiast, this may just be the bag for you.
If you’re looking for the best Camelbak for festivals, this is the one!
Price: $120+ USD
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The Best Camelbak Backpack for Festivals!
4) Unigear Hydration Pack
There are a bunch of different budget-friendly hydration backpacks for festivals, but I would say this is the cheapest on the market! It’s an official Amazon’s Choice, has thousands of great reviews and is extremely affordable!
There are five different colors to choose from too, so I’m sure you’ll find something you like. It fits anyone perfectly with adjustable shoulder, chest, and waist straps that ensure the pack does not bounce when you move.
It’s lightweight, splash resistant, and durable! This Unigear product has a replaceable 2L Bladder and an airflow system that keeps the water cooler. It also has a small front pocket which is ideal for music festivals, as you can keep a Power Bank / Portable Charger, car keys, and more in there.
There are tons of incredible features packed into this portable rave backpack. It comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, but I don’t see anyone needing to return this bad boy. While it may not be the most fashionable hydration pack, it has everything you need at a great price.
Price: $34+ USD
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The Best Budget-Friendly Rave Hydration Pack
5) CamelBak Motherlode Festival Hydration Pack
Suppose you’re a fellow hydration backpack festival goer who can’t seem to find a bag with enough space. In that case, I’d recommend investing in one of these amazing CamelBak Motherlode Hydration Packs.
This is one of the main backpacks I use to go to Burning Man every year, and it really is remarkable! Personally, I find it the best camelbak for raves, and the price you pay is worth every penny!
The Camelbak brand never disappoints, offering quality craftsmanship, and a 3L Bladder capacity, allowing you to keep dancing during the entire rave without needing to refill (unless you’re sharing with your whole crew).
While it’s a bit more expensive, it will hold a ton of extra items like a sweatshirt, camera, GoPro, sunscreen, fan, gifts, chapstick, phone charger, cables, etc. I like to be prepared and go above and beyond when packing items for festivals, so if you’re like me and want something with more space — this is a no-brainer!
Price: $290+ USD
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6) Vibrelli Festival Hydration Backpack
This is another solid choice for ravers and festival regulars on a tight budget! The Vibrelli Hydration Pack is perfectly designed with comfortable adjustable straps, easy access to the water hose outlet, and a small amount of storage space for small items.
If you like to keep things lightweight and minimal, this would be an excellent option for you! If you need to carry any bigger items like a GoPro or camera, larger portable charger, gum, etc., then I’d recommend picking up one of the bigger festival backpacks on the list!
While it’s definitely another on the list that’s not one of the most stylish rave backpacks or accessories, it’s cheap, so you don’t have to worry about it getting destroyed during hard partying.
Price: $25+ USD
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A high-quality Festival Hydration Pack that won’t break the bank!
7) Vibe Festival Gear — Hydration Backpack
I’m simply obsessed with the design of these bright and beautiful backpacks from Vibe Festival Gear! They offer 10 amazing hydration backpacks with funky and festival-ready options that range from simplistic to uber-stylish.
They’re eco-friendly, constructed from recycled polyester, and large enough to hold your essentials in the main compartment. It also comes with a 2L bladder to keep you hydrated throughout the event.
It’s another festival brand that has designed their backpacks with comfort in mind, as they’re perfectly adjustable for all sizes of people. I’ve purchased the Unicorn Vibe Hydration and really love it. I’ve gotten tons of compliments on it and can’t wait to show it off even more at the upcoming festival season.
They’re fun, affordable, and simply a top-notch option for a festival bag that’s just the right size for the dance floor!
Price: $31+ USD
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8) Elevated Lyfe Customized Hydration Pack
While I typically like to do most of my online shopping on Amazon, I just discovered this epic brand Elevated Lyfe on Etsy that I really love! All the reviews are absolutely superb, the designs are magical, and they’re really affordable!
The shop owner just announced an all-new design with more comfort, better fit, and more storage! It’s lightweight but durable and is designed for long-term use. It’s complete with an easy-to-use deluxe mouthpiece, an on/off valve, and a cap to keep the mouthpiece clean, which I think is really important.
The bladder is easy to remove and fill — with access through the main compartment. The shoulder straps are comfortable with full-padding and adjustable lengths. You can also enjoy the two mesh side pockets for easy access to small festival essentials (gum, chapstick, Vicks, etc.).
There’s also a secret pocket inside all bags to safely hold keys, wallets, and phones. It’s a handmade product, too, so you know you’re only getting the best of the best.
Price: $56+ USD
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9) CamelBak Transformer Hydration Pack Rave
If you’re looking to purchase a Camelbak that’s perfect for everyday use, hiking, school, backpacking, you name it — then this hydration pack is the one! It’s for the festival attendee who needs a lot more space because it is pretty massive, and it’s not lightweight at all!
This is one of the top-end options from the Camelbak brand, and of course, it comes with the fantastic “Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee!” So if you ever have any problems with it, you can get it replaced.
I’m most likely going to be buying this Camelbak Transformer for my next festival, as I could combine it with my festival photography backpack (since I’ve been shooting some festivals lately).
While it’s one of the most expensive and largest rave camelbaks on the list, you definitely won’t have to purchase another festival backpack anytime soon!
Price: $149.99+ USD
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10) Water Buffalo Rave Water Backpack
It may have a simple design, but you can always bring out the inner rave of the Water Buffalo Hydration Backpack with some neon tube lights. The elasticized straps and velcro pocket for safely storing the portable battery pack make this all possible.
This is another one of Amazon’s top choices with fantastic reviews and a guarantee to keep you hydrated with the push/pull bite valve! To make it even better, the hydration bladder is easy to access, and if you want to upgrade to the larger Water Buffalo hydration bladder, they are easily interchangeable.
Price: $35+ USD
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BONUS | Hydration Bag Bladder + Any Backpack
Last but certainly not least, another option is to purchase the hydration bag bladder on its own and just throw it into any backpack you’ve got lying around! I actually did that for Burning Man last year (as I was carrying around a really large backpack with camera gear), and it worked like a charm!
It’s a super cost-effective way to have a fresh and clean hydration backpack for each festival, and they’re easy to clean. As a photographer for music festivals, I’ve done this many times.
I need to carry around quite a lot of gear and will put a basic bladder in the back pocket to have enough water to keep me hydrated for the entire festival. Just keep in mind there won’t be a special hole in your bag to pass the tube through, so you may need to leave the zipper slightly open.
Price: $14.99+ USD
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Am I Missing Any of the Best Festival Hydration Packs?
I love to keep this article up to date with the best hydration packs for raves, so if you really love a certain brand or style, feel free to let me know! There are a ton of new amazing rave camelbaks and festival backpacks on the market, but I hope this article has helped you find the perfect one for your upcoming shenanigans!
Also, be sure to read my guide on festival fanny packs for a different type of bag!
Looking for the Best Music Festivals to Attend?
Check out a few of my other favorite festival articles to help you feel more prepared. Here are some great options for you to discover new events around the world and watch tons of epic sets!
- 35 California Festivals That’ll Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- 42 Festival Accessories, Gear & Must Haves to Bring to a Rave
- 30 Music Festivals in Australia to Experience Before You Die
- Top 30 Music Festivals in Canada To Experience Before You Die
- 50 Music Festivals in 50 Countries to Experience Before You Die
- Top 23 San Diego Music Festivals | The Ultimate SD Festival List
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in Texas To Experience Before You Die
- The Top 20 Music Festivals in Arizona To Experience Before You Die
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in Florida To Experience Before You Die
- 15 Festivals Like Burning Man for Your Bucket List
- 10 Best Los Angeles Music Festivals for Your Bucket List
- Top 11 Music Festivals in Turkey for Your Bucket List
Thanks for Reading About The Best Festival Backpacks!
Share this article with your festival crew!
Dave these rock dude! Spending a morning and afternoon at a rocking spot on the South Island of New Zealand today. These would come in handy. If away from a water source or flat out on the move all day long, these backpacks are gems. Must have items for world travelers to keep hydrated, energized and healthy.
Ryan
Thanks so much Ryan! I’m so jealous you’re down in New Zealand right now!! One of my favorite countries to go hiking and exploring. And yes, these are a must for when you’re going to have an active day of dancing (or hiking), lol. Hope all is well brotha!
I loved the sixth one! such a colorful bag, best for vacations and festivals!
No lunchbox ? I’ve tested many hydration packs as well, and if the Rave Runner is your #1, I’d be confused on how the lunchbox doesn’t make this list. Hmm….
Hey Scott. Thanks for the comment, and I’m glad to share I just updated my list of festival hydration packs for 2021 and have put LunchBox at my #1 spot! :-)
Honestly the lunchbox is a POS and the owner is complete socio path. I promise you that he paid to be #1 on this list.
Very useful post I really appreciate thanks for sharing such a nice post.
Some good options here for festival backpacks. I have add some to my own list
I love this list. I have a list of my own bags
SoJourner hydration pack is a must-have too! You should check it out :)
Where the hell is the Raverunner??? Its like the most used hydration pack at festivals….
Thanks to your There lot of information I got about how to choose a Hydration backpack from your Awesome blog.