DAKINE  Hot Laps 2 L Hip Pack

I don't recommend this bag if you main use case is to carry water bottles. I have now lost 2 bottles out of this bag. I'm assuming they are falling out the bottom rather than falling out the top, but I'm really not positive. I mostly ride without it, but will take it on longer rides. I don't use it all that often, and when I do the main reason is to take more water. If it can't reliably hold the bottles in and they get lost then it's really not all that useful.

I'll be honest, I don't use this pack for it's intended purpose. I purchased this bag as a sort of pocket reliever. As a helicopter pilot who fights wildfires, I spend quite a bit of time hanging around the helibase waiting for the phone to ring. However, once it does ring, I got sick of emptying everything out of my pockets so I could throw my fire proof flight suit on only to have to reload the pockets of my flight suit with everything I just took out. The 2L capacity has been great to hold everything I usually carry plus and extra snack or 2. The water bottle holders have been reliable and quite snug. My only complaint would be the top zipper compartment can be a little annoying. There's a small flap that covers the zipper. That flap can occasionally get caught in the zipper. PS. You cannot wear this bag as a sling. The little wings and location of the wings keeps the bag off your body when you attempt to wear it as a sling. It's fanny pack duty for this bag only (or where it's designed to be worn, around the lower lumbar section on your back)

I really like this pack and have used it on almost all my mountain bike rides (multiple times per week) for several years. The size seems right: not too small and not too big. The size limits the weight, which has not been an issue. I use the external straps for a jacket (in a plastic bag) for winter rides where I might or might not need a jacket. It is very handy to have a "grab and go" bag ready for a ride anytime. This is much more comfortable and much cooler than a typical hydration pack, so I don't use the hydration pack very much anymore. Other than being dusty, there are no major signs of wear on the pack after several years. However, there are some issues. I often bring an extra water bottle but there have been times where the bottle slips out of the bottom of the holder (the single strap at the bottom can get off center, especially if there is condensation on the bottle, allowing the bottle to slip out). The waist strap is a bit on the short side and tends to loosen over time and the pack slides down a bit. It would be nice to have a phone pocket on the side accessible quickly on the trail rather than having to take the pack off to get a camera, but this was known up front. It is not waterproof, so not a good choice when it rains. For me, the size and convenience outweigh the issues by quite a bit.

Decent Fanny pack for a light hiker or day out. As mentioned before in other reviews, the bottle holders are not great. Especially if doing some decent activity. Definitely a “life style” fanny pack over functionality.