Carbonado Y 07 Hydration Pac Review: Tested

The Good Bits

Design

One of the reasons the BikeWale team and I like the Carbonado Y 07 Hydration Pack is its design and premium look. The finishing for the backpack is standard throughout. From the colour of the outer layer to the quality of the zippers, the feedback from the clips and even the straps, Carbonado has done a good job of getting the details right, which in turn translates to a good form. Its black colour provides a stealthy finish and hints at the Y 07 being anything but a hydration pack. I've had multiple strangers with curious faces ask me what sort of bag I was wearing.

Even the branding on the entire product is quite subtle and neat. A small rubber patch at the bottom and one on the straps are all that Carbonado has done on the Y 07.

Adjustability

Since the Y 07 comes with a four-way adjustable harness, it's effortless to get the fitting right. If the backpack feels tight at the bottom, which can be the case if the water pouch is full or when you've stuffed both pockets, pull the straps near your lower chest and loosen the harness. Similarly, if your shoulders need more breathing space, then the upper harness can be adjusted according to your convenience. This feature comes in handy when the weight gradually reduces as you sip the water from the pouch. Moreover, buyers of various sizes can use it without worrying whether the pack would fit on their back or not.

Storage

There's ample storage space across the three compartments of the Y 07. Firstly, the hard shell can accommodate your phone, wallet, charger, toolkit, chocolate bars, a couple of pairs of socks, and then some more. The pocket is deep, wide, and broad, so it gives you a lot of room to store your knick-knacks. It even comes with a small net that creates more space to use if needed. Meanwhile, the second chain opens up the water pouch space, and the third (at the back) is suitable for storing documents, microfibre cloth, or something of similar thickness.

Overall, the chains operate smoothly, and all the compartments can be utilised efficiently.

Ease of Use

The Carbonado Y 07 is quite easy to use for multiple reasons. The four-way harness can be locked and unlocked with just a press of the clips. Even with gloves on, the central lock is quite tactile once you understand where to press it.

Then there's the water tube, which is easy to slide and pull, courtesy of its routing. You can pull it out and push it back into the two reflectors stitched to the main strap. The same also holds the tube in place and prevents it from dangling around.

I have used the hydration pack on numerous occasions, including photo shoots, bike rides, and fuel runs. Most of these activities have been in the scorching summer heat, and the Y 07 has been a lifesaver — well, almost. The convenience of slipping the water tube inside your helmet and sipping on the go is unparalleled. However, as the hours pass, the water in the tube becomes slightly warm, while the water in the reservoir remains relatively cool. Now, as mentioned in our introductory report, the reservoir opening is wide enough to add ice cubes to keep the water temperature low for longer.

Could Be Better

Tidiness

While the overall structure and purpose of the Y 07 are commendable, the harness straps make it look slightly messy. Based on my fitting, the flaps protrude a fair amount and flap around when you ride at moderate speeds. Carbonado could provide a small pocket or additional elastic patches to hold the straps in place.

Next up is refilling the water. Since the water bladder (Quench) opening is located at the front instead of the top like many other brands, refilling the Quench requires a little extra effort. You need to hold the pack from the bottom together with the opening while pouring the water in. A slightly easier way to refill it is by removing the water reservoir completely from the backpack. Moreover, the placement of the opening limits the usage of the bladder’s entire capacity.

Another feature of the Quench that I found a little strange is that you need to manually push its backside when the bladder is empty or partially full. When done otherwise, the water leaks out since the opening does not stay completely open.

Quality of Plastics

Although the Y 07's finishing has a premium feel for the most part, there are certain areas where Carbonado could improve, especially the plastic quality. Specifically, the washer beneath the Quench's cap and the mouthpiece cover for the water tube. The latter broke during regular usage and now requires extra attention to avoid falling off. Additionally, the rubber piece accumulates dust, even with the cap cover on. To address this, the plastic cap could have been attached with a rubber string for better flexibility. Meanwhile, the cap itself could be longer for better protection from dirt.

What's Next?

In the next and final report, we’ll share our experience of using this in peak summer as well as early monsoon. The latter will also be a testament to the Y 07’s use case throughout the year. Not to mention, the next report will include the final verdict of whether you should purchase the Carbonado Y 07 Hydration Pack or not.

Product Details

Make: Carbonado

Model: Y 07 Hydration Pac

Price: Rs 2,190

Model: Quench Hydration Bladder

Price: Rs 799

Buy it from: https://thecarbonado.com/

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi