What happens if my hydration bladder leaks inside the pack?

A bladder leak can soak everything in your pack—layers, food, electronics. To mitigate this risk: (1) use dry bags or waterproof stuff sacks for electronics and spare layers, (2) ensure the reservoir cap and hose connections are tight before each use, (3) position the reservoir in its dedicated sleeve away from sharp objects, and (4) consider packs with a separate hydration compartment that isolates the bladder from main storage. Some packs include a drain hole in the reservoir sleeve to let water escape if a leak occurs.