Salewa Pedroc Hipbelt Review
Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Salewa has long been known for it’s “half weight, double resistance” goal. They strive to create the most durable gear that is lightweight and easy on the user. Well known for their hiking and climbing gear, Salewa nails it with the Pedroc Hipbelt. The hipbelt was designed for shorter treks, but no detail was overlooked. The result is a lightweight hydration hipbelt that is easy to wear and exceptionally functional.
Pedroc Hipbelt: Initial Impression
My first impression of the Pedroc Hipbelt was “Wow!” I opened the package and couldn’t believe how lightweight the belt was. The material is a quality 70-denier ripstop that is tough without being heavy. I ordered the hipbelt in Black Onyx. The website also has a white option available. I was immediately impressed by the water resistent zippers and attention to detail in the cargo pocket. There is a smaller zippered key pocket with a clip inside of the larger back pocket. There was plenty of room for my phone, my satellite tracker and some small snacks in the back. The side pockets have a large loop pull on the zipper which makes the zippers easy to manipulate while on the move. There are elastic loops for the trekking poles to be secured to the small of your back when not needed.
The side pockets fit one .5 liter soft flask each (1 liter total). The flasks fit horizontally into the side pockets. They are conveniently located on the sides of your body and the weight is evenly distributed so the belt is balanced on your waist. The inside of the belt has 3D ventilation that lifts the belt away from your body. The belt’s weight is evenly distributed and designed to feel weightless.
Pedroc Hipbelt: Put to the test.
Over the past several weeks, I have put the Pedroc Hipbelt to the test. I used the hipbelt while hiking, running, and paddleboarding. I found the fit to be extremely comfortable. The vented back panel was very soft on my lower back and distributed the weight nicely. While hiking, I was able to wear the belt comfortably on by waist with little movement. It stayed neatly in place and I did not have to cinch the waist strap to keep it from traveling around my waist.
As I used the Pedroc Hipbelt while running, I found that I had to pull the waist strap a little tighter and higher around my waist to keep it from bouncing. Once I made this adjustment, I was off and running. During activity, I found it easy to unzip the hydration pockets with just one finger through the zipper pull. The flasks lay neatly in the side pockets and are easy to remove and restow. I did find that once the bottle was near empty, the bite valve was easily pinched by the hipbelt and there was some leakage into the pocket. This only happened while running so the cinched waist belt may have been to blame. A little adjustment of the bottle and this problem was alleviated. I did not have an issue with the bottles leaking with lighter hiking and paddleboarding.
Pedroc Hipbelt Technical Specs
- 2 Flasks 0.5L included
- Key holder
- Padded Eva Back
- Water-repellent zippers
- Internal pocket system
- Made of DURALITE Nylon 70D Double Ripstop
Pedroc Hipbelt Final Thoughts
Salewa created the Pedrock Hipbelt with the intended use of fast hiking and shorter trips. This is the perfect hydration belt for the job. It’s weightless feel rides smooth and secure on the waist. The soft flasks lay horizontally and eliminates the bounce that you may find with other hipbelts using rigid bottles. I felt like the pockets kept my belongings secure and protected. While my testing covered hiking, running, and paddleboarding, I think this belt could be used for biking, touring or vacationing. Just about anywhere you would like to carry a hands-free liter of water and secure your belongings, you could use the Pedroc Hipbelt. Salewa nailed it for the “fast and light” hiker at an MSRP of $99.95. For more information on the Salewa Pedroc Hipbelt or to order, visit www.salewa.com.
