Axiom Nero 2.0 Hydration Bag
written by: J.A. Caldwell
About Axiom
Axiom is based out British Columbia, Canada. With an ideal testing ground and four-season riding environment Axiom is able to create quality products that have been put through daily trials to ensure that they function well and are highly durable. By being passionate about cycling as well as having great terrain to punish their products Axiom is able to deliver the functionality and features that riders want. While the products Axiom creates range from bags and tools to racks and components, quality is always the focus.
The Product
Nero 2.0 Hydration Bag
Bag Features
- Vulcanized rubber mesh shoulder straps - increase airflow to shoulders
- Two mesh channels along the back - let air flow down the rider’s back to keep them cooler
- Expansion gusset on main compartment - increases storage capacity by allowing the storage compartment to become larger
bag laying flat
bag with expanded gusset
- 3M reflective safety strip - increases night visibility
- Pull out mesh flap - creates the ability to carry multiple articles on pack
- Multiple pockets – pack has numerous pockets for gear and personal items
- Axiom Lifetime warranty - Axiom warrants this product against manufacturing defects for the lifetime of the original purchaser
- Adjustable sternum strap – when used this greatly diminishes the load felt on your back and shoulders
Aqua Pac Features
- 2 liter reservoir - enough capacity for long trips
- Slotted hang holes – the reservoir has two hang holes at the top of the reservoir in order to secure it inside the bag
- Convenient handle molded onto the main fill opening – this makes holding the reservoir while filling easier as well as opening and closing the lid
- Hanging extension tab – a tab is added to the bottom of the reservoir in order to make it easier to drain after use
- Drainage release plug – a plug is added to the top of the reservoir for easy drainage
- Patented silicone soft mouthpiece – allows for robust liquid flow
- Water lock valve incorporated into mouthpiece – rider has the ability to stop flow of water when not in use to prevent unwanted water flow
- Measuring gauge – a gauge is molded into the reservoir indicating the amount of liquid inside
- Easy disassembly – the reservoir can be fully disassembled to easily clean or replace the hose, mouthpiece, and reservoir
- Large reservoir opening – opening is big enough to fit ice cubes very easily
Dimensions
- Length: 18”
- Width: 8”
- Depth: non-expanded - 3” expanded – 4”
Build Quality
The build quality of the Nero 2.0 hydration bag is top notch. The materials used are all very high quality while still keeping the weight down. The rubberized mesh on the straps is a nice touch that adds a little bit of grip to keep the pack from moving about as well as sheds off branches and other debris without snagging. The padding that runs from the top of the shoulders down the back is raised from the rest of the pack in order to increase airflow. By not having your back totally flush with the pack it is able to breathe much better.
The zippers on the pack are very nice. Since a majority of them are exposed to the outside Axiom has chosen zippers with binding that covers the teeth of the zipper in order to shed dirt and water. While most of the pack uses single stitch construction, areas with higher stress levels are usually double sewn to secure edging and other materials.
The aqua system is not a name brand such as Nalgene or Camelbak but does carry several patents. The reservoir material has adequate thickness and quality construction. We had no problem with tube length during our testing. Depending on your preference the tube can be placed on either side of the bag and secured with rubber O-rings that are attached to the straps.
How well does it work?
The pack is highly functional. With 4 zippered pockets the Nero 2.0 is ready to store a lot of gear. The main pocket runs the full length and width of the bag. It is initially large enough for most items you would want to take on a trip but Axiom added an expansion gusset for even more storage. This offers ample room to store bigger items such as goggles, pumps, and other large equipment. When the reservoir is filled full with 2 liters this gusset is vital in order to fit items with bigger depths like goggles.
main compartment with Smith Warp Star goggle
The middle pocket is secured with 2 zippers and Velcro across the top. When fully opened you have easy access to another zippered pocket, large mesh pocket, and security clip. The final storage pocket is located at the bottom of the pack and more suited for quick access to smaller items.
middle pocket expanded
Axiom didn’t just stop at pockets to hold your gear. They also incorporated a mesh flap that is stored at the bottom of the pack. The mesh flap was designed to be clipped onto the loops on the outside of the pack to hold even more gear. It easily stored our large sweatshirt but it would have a hard time storing or supporting a large helmet.
The aqua pac system in the Nero is nicely designed. It can hold 2 liters worth of liquid and they have included a lot of features that riders need. It is easy to take apart and clean if needed. The idea of adding a drainage plug and hanger is a nice thought but the plug can be hard to secure.
When fully loaded the pack doesn’t feel too bulky or heavy. It feels balanced and causes no strain on the shoulders. This is in part due to the sternum strap and padded back. The back is fully padded and includes two large strips running from the shoulder area to the bottom which have addition padding. This added padding generates a little bit of air space between your back and the pack, which makes a large difference in the amount of cooling that your back receives.
Issues and Concerns
The Nero 2.0 has a lot of great features and benefits but there are a few drawbacks as well. Filling the reservoir while it is in the bag can be messy as the opening for the reservoir is tucked down inside the bag further that I’d have liked. If the opening to the pocket that holds the reservoir had been designed to open wider this wouldn’t have been much of an issue.
The reservoir opening while large enough to fit most ice cubes, could have been bigger. If you’re used to the large opening of a Camelbak this opening will seem kind of small. The opening on the Nero 2.0 reservoir is about 2″ wide where a standard Camelbak opening is around 3 1/4″. You have to be more careful when filling with liquid as well as placing ice in the reservoir than with other products.
Since the hose is made to be disconnected from the reservoir this fitting should be checked for leaks before you head out on a trip. It’s no fun to start a long trip with a wet sticky bag because you forgot to check before you filled it with Gatorade. Along these same lines, the drainage plug should also be checked periodically. It is hard to secure the first couple of times and could open during your ride due to a tug on its tab.
The bite valve is kind of old school styled in fact that it isn’t set up for 90 degree use. By placing the valve at an angle the rider can more easily get the piece to their mouth. With this valve you have to bend it all the way around to use it and could cause kinks in the line, decreasing flow. The bite valve itself doesn’t have the largest opening when squeezed. The lack of a large opening and slightly tougher silicone make drinking more tedious than we’re used to with less overall flow.
Pricing
- MSRP: $80
Conclusion
The Nero 2.0 hydration bag was built with the rider in mind. It has a large amount of initial storage and with the expansion gusset and mesh flap it has even more utility. The construction is top notch using quality materials and intelligent design. By designing the straps with mesh and incorporating padded back channels Axiom has created a pack that allows for plenty of ventilation. Axiom didn’t stop innovating with just the pack. They also included a lot of user friendly features into the aqua pac system such as easy drainage, disassembly, and filling. The Nero 2.0 offers a lot of bang for your buck without many issues.
The issues that the pack does have should be minor to most users and shouldn’t detract much from the overall package. We’d have liked to have seen a better designed bite valve and larger fill opening. Both of these revisions would have improved the overall ease of use of the aqau pac. The pack itself needs a larger opening to the reservoir pocket to improve the ability to fill the reservoir without taking it out of the pack.
In the end, like most products, the Nero 2.0 has its pro’s and its con’s. For most users we see the benefits of the pack outweighing its shortcomings. At $80 you’ll have to decide for yourself if the Nero 2.0 is the pack for you.
For more information on any other bags Axiom offers or if you’d like to find a dealer you can check out their website.
