The Hydropack that changed my life
- May 28
- 6 min read
I'm well aware that the title of this article sounds like an astronomical reach, but genuinely I mean it. After hitting enough raves/festivals where the hydro pack that I was wearing would leak down my back, not hold enough of my stuff, or overall, just be uncomfortable and ugly- it was time to find something that WOKRED.
I did hours of research (aka spent a ridiculous amount of time on social media) looking for a bag that was not only efficient but cute. God forbid a girl wants fashionable and functional, because it seemed like too much to ask. Until I stumbled upon a TikTok posted from an account called "Hauter" with a little under 3k followers. After watching their videos and searching #hauter, I came to the conclusion that this might be the bag I have been searching for.
After reviewing their options (at the time only being black, white, or pink), I decided on their V1 Marshmallow (white) bag! It was an investment for sure, but not unaffordable. In comparison to lunchbox or other brands that were $100+, Hauter ran me about $89. Shipping was super quick & once I got the bag...I fell in love.
The first festival my bag ever saw was Sacred Acre in Alaska. My bag was my saving grace; she held everything AND MORE!! Easy to use (filling up water), never leaked, kept my stuff safe, was comfy AND cute. I loved it so much that I even took all my pictures wearing it! Hauter had no idea who I was, but because I was so in love with the bag, I promoted it anyway. No commission, no radar, just simply wanting to share my discovery with friends who I knew were feeling the same as myself.
Posting from Alaska must have caught the eye of Hauter, or perhaps it was how hard I was advocating for this brand, but they ended up reaching out to me to become an ambassador for them! I was ecstatic, this was the first brand that reached out to work with me, as I was just now starting to take content creation seriously. They were so kind and approachable, as well as encouraging! I was blown away and excited that I was able to work with a brand I knew I already loved so much.
A little time later, I started partnering with Collective Festival MGMT, who then offered to send me to North Coast Music Festival. I gratefully took the opportunity, regardless of not knowing anyone in Chicago (at the time), then started to wonder who I would group up with. Luckily for me, a girl named Joy reached out. I noticed that Hauter was following Joy, so I assumed she must also be an ambassador. To my surprise, she was part of their actual team! She was also offered a spot on the CFM team to attend NCMF, also not knowing anyone, had recognized my username in the group chat and reached out privately! From there, we plotted on getting a place together and forming our own group to attend. Despite never meeting in person before, we felt confident in our mutual association to Hauter enough to just send it.
Leading up to North Coast, we chatted constantly! So much, that once we actually got to the event, it felt like I had known her for YEARS. Not only her, but another Hauter ambassador, Noelle! The three of us almost immediately clicked the second I came through the air bnb door, it felt like friends who haven't seen each other for a while but were unbelievably excited to be back together.
Throughout the entire trip I felt like these girls really understood me. We were able to comfortably communicate our needs to one another, our humor flowed so well, our energy was equally matched on every front, and I didn't ever feel like I was too much or taking up too much space with them. It was as if the friends I was wished so deeply for were right in front of me. We were all undoubtably supportive of one another, there was no uncomfortable feeling, animosity, or competition, just genuine connection. I caught myself mourning the end of the trip while it was still happening because I knew I was going to miss being with them! I didn't know if this would be an incredible trip and then just a memory after that or if we would continue to be friends.
Luckily for me, the girls felt the same way. After leaving Chicago, we stayed close in contact! They went from girls I knew of who worked for/were ambassadors for the same brand as me to girls who knew the little obnoxious details about my day, my secrets, and I couldn't imagine not knowing them. I knew I had found my people. We planned multiple future events together following NCMF and have already completed quite a few. Traveling out to them, together somewhere, or out to me, we made it work.
I think about how lucky I am, to have met people who I feel so connected to, like sisters. Connection is something that people crave so deeply, and to have that with my friends without feeling any doubt is an unexplainable feeling. This connection, I honestly owe to a silly little hydro pack. If it weren't for Hauter, I likely would have never crossed paths with these girls, or any of my friends that I have connected with because of this brand.
It seems silly to commend a small brand for the friendships that have healed my heart and bring me constant comfort, but it's true! Hauter provided a community; which consisted of people who were looking for the same thing I was- something reliable, supportive, & fit perfectly into my world. Obviously looking for all those things in a hydro pack, but I also found that in my friends.
The multiple events Hauter would host before festivals pushed familiarity and community, the social media involvement kept everyone connected, and the overall vibe of the small business itself kept everything alive! The founders themselves being absolute sweethearts who are not only super involved with the scene, but also incredibly hands on with everything that happens within the business. Joy being part of their team, and me being her friend, I have had the opportunity to work closely with them! I rep the brand so hard because I am so involved and see the love that is poured into it, everything has a purpose, and I truly believe in their project.
So yes, saying a hydro pack changed my life is super silly. Obviously, it wasn't the bag itself that did it (although it definitely saved me from dehydration and covered all my bases for a good ass hydro pack), it was the girls who were wearing the bag. I knew I was missing something in my life, and now I know it was them. My friendship with the girls, and the girls I continue to meet, mean the world to me and more. I truly could not imagine my life without 38 unopened TikTok's from Joy, 3-day late responses from Noelle, or just the overall chaos between the bunch of us that I somehow understand every single time.
If you are new to raving or festivals and you feel as though you don't quite have that passion towards your people just yet, I truly hope you find it because it is something that I wouldn't trade for anything. It doesn't even have to be rave family related, just your friendships in general, I hope you are surrounded by people you love and who love you. Just remember that you are never too much for the right people and never not enough for the ones who genuinely love you.
To Hauter, thank you for my friends and for being a reliable hydro these past years (because lord knows I have reaaaaaallyy put y'alls bag to the test). To my friends, I love you and you are beautiful souls with so much to give. To my future friends, I cannot wait to meet you. To anyone and everyone else, thank you for taking the time to read my passion peace and I hope to see you out on the dance floor.
With love,
Jinkies
Comments