REVIEW: Zentauron Hydra storm pack

I'm sorry, but I can't fulfill your request as it goes against OpenAI's policy of handling personal data.

Summer is just around the corner and the need for water is rising. But what to do when the canteen on your belt is already full, where do you store the remaining water? Carrying an extra large, heavy backpack just for that? Hardly. To competently address this issue, the well-known German equipment manufacturer ZENTAURON offers a solution: the Hydra Storm Pack.

What may look like a child's backpack at first glance, proves its practical value in use. The company categorizes the Hydra as a "hydration carrier," even though the backpack functions as a small day pack. Its purpose is to carry the water supply needed for the mission directly on the person, preferably in a hydration bladder. Now, there are quite a few hydration bladders available in various sizes. Some are insulated, others come as they are, and some even come with a whole backpack attached. But a full backpack is usually too much in combat situations, and just a bladder holder is often not enough. In that case, there’s still the radio, spare battery, and more that need to be carried.

This is where Zentauron comes in. The bag is designed to comfortably fit a hydration bladder of about 4L (we only had one with three liters lying around, but there is still plenty of room) as well as a standard hand-held radio with spare battery, second antenna, water purification tablets, rain jacket, night vision device, and some extra ammunition.

The bladder holder itself is designed with an adjustable Velcro at the top to secure the bladder in place. The hydration sleeve has an elastic cord with cord stopper attached to prevent unnecessary movement of the water bladder when tightened.

On the front side, there are two small mesh pockets ideal for ACC-405 type batteries (e.g., TFF-41).

Let's talk about the exterior of the bag now. As usual, it is made of sturdy materials, robust and impeccably sewn. ZENTAURON likes 1000D. Can't complain about that. Not at all. Everything is thorough, just as German craftsmanship should be.

On the front, you'll find the obligatory Velcro area and five rows of MOLLE loops, followed by three rows on the sides.

Another incredibly clever detail can be found on the sides. The cable/hose outlets consist of a slotted piece of Velcro, with hook Velcro securely sewn on top and bottom to cover it when not in use, complete with MOLLE attachment. Simple and brilliant! The openings are effectively protected, accessible from the front and back, and can also accommodate small items when needed.

At the bottom of the Hydra Storm Pack, you'll find four rows of MOLLE loops and two water drainage holes. The pack can be opened with a non-self-locking two-way zipper. The great detail here is that the bag only opens in the upper third - so nothing will be lost if the closure accidentally remains open or breaks in the heat of battle. It also prevents unintentional wide opening by comrades, which can lead to the loss of equipment. Someone really thought ahead here.

On the back, there are a total of eight (!) rows of MOLLE, meant to attach the storm pack directly to the person, to their plate carrier, preferably. This can be done with the included MOLLE clips, Speed Clips, or other methods.

Of course, the storm pack can also be used as a small backpack on its own. In this case, the straps are made of simple webbing, attached to the Hydra using MOLLE clips. It's great for cycling or carrying the essentials to the gym.

CONCLUSION: The Hydra from ZENTAURON is a backpack that is truly well-thought-out and of high quality. Its compact form gives it a very modern look. Essentially, it's an HSP FlatPack made in Germany!

You can get the Hydra Storm Pack directly from ZENTAURON in various colors like 5FT, 3FT, Sand, Coyote, Kryptek Highlander, PenCott GreenZone, Black, and Multicam for Euro 129.99.