General Cycling Discussion - Please suggest a Camelbak

I was looking to add another water bottle rack and a bag somewhere to my bike and decided to just look for a Camelbak to solve both things. So far my rides are about 30 miles and I drink about 1 24oz bottle of water during the ride. I imagine a 50oz camelbak would be fine, but a 70oz couldnt hurt too much. I also want the camelbak to store my minipump, tool kit, a small snack and an extra tube. A little extra room would be nice as well. My bike is left out on campus a lot and I am sick of mounting and unmounting stuff on it every time I leave it out. My cycle computer just got stolen when I forgot to take it off the bike... Anyway, any suggestions would be appreciated. Any opinions on the other brands like Monsoon or Platypus?

Thanks,
Brian

I use a Camalbak Rogue seldomly. You might want to try the Camelbak Lobo, it has more cargo space than the Rogue.

Here's a better solution. Take 2 water bottles, put them in you cages. Take a backpack and put your stuff in it. When the ride is done, put your bottles in the backpack. Cheaper than getting a Camalbak.

I ended up buying an EMS flume when I found out you could get one of those for the price of just the bladder for a camelback.

Here's a picture of a flume:

http://www.ems.com/media/images/products/210/21015/2101523/210152312/210152312_indiaink_color.jpg

...and a link to EMS (http://www.ems.com/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442243759&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302846504&bmUID=1058942521753), it's on sale for $25. Great pack, not a ton of cargo room, but enough for a couple tools and a sandwich.

-Middi-zon

EDIT - I fixed the link if you tried it before

I use the Camelbak "Mule" It's a nice all-around size. It will hold up to 100 oz (so I actually adjust the amount of water to the amount I think i'll need on the particular day) and has lots of compartments to stash stuff. I actually don't like using a camelbak because it doesn't allow air to my back...but for the epic rides when you have to carry extra water, gear, tools, and food, they are tough to beat.

:cool:

I have a Camelbak MULE which I use only for MTB rides. I also have a Lobo which I use for shorter MTB rides (under 2 hours) or for long road rides (over 50 miles) if I expect to be far from places I could stop and refill my water bottles or if I need to carry more stuff (change of clothes, heavy raingear) than I can shove in my jersey.

I have a Mule which is just right for short rides. My only gripe is the bottom of the sack. Camelbak did not design the compartments very well. What I'm getting at is that if you carry a complement of tools, food, water, phone, etc the compartments are difficult to close and just feel too bulky and too busy. I also use mine as my carry around sack when I go to work etc. I think the Hawg would be better. It seems better designed and has more space.

The Mule is a great ride sack if you ride lean, but I'd not recommend it for long days out. A bigger sack is more useful and practicle for long rides.

I just purchased a rip - off type water bag and backpack at my local wall-mart. It holds two liters ( how ever many ounces that is ) and has a place for tools and snacks and extra shirt. I have commuted with it twice now and it seems to be great! the best part is it was under $25.00 bucks! It's by Outdoor Products.

If you've any school work to carry as well,. can't beat the Rim Runner. Comes with a 3litre water store and has lots of room - price is right too.

http://www.backcountrystore.com/images/products/normal/CAM0046.jpg

I didn't realize EMS had one they make greast stuff

Joe

Camelbak MULE. Not to big, not to small, just right.

Originally posted by bg4533
I imagine a 50oz camelbak would be fine, but a 70oz couldnt hurt too much.

Brian, you can always buy a hydration system with a large bladder - 70 or 100oz, and just not fill it all the way up on shorter rides. My advice is this - if you are going to get ONE Camelbak, err on the larger side.

Good luck! :)

Originally posted by bac
Brian, you can always buy a hydration system with a large bladder - 70 or 100oz, and just not fill it all the way up on shorter rides. My advice is this - if you are going to get ONE Camelbak, err on the larger side.

Good luck! :)

True! Work expands to fill the space available!

Anyone ever use Monsoon Tsunami? It has a 100oz bladder, 500ci of cargo space and is only $36 at performance bike. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/large_photo.cfm?SKU=16423&Store=Bike

I was going to buy stuff there anyway and they still have a 20% off coupon. Think it is worth trying?

Thanks,
Brian

I love the one I have. I bought this at EMS for $50.00 off the clearance rack.

Camelbak Snodawg

I recommend the Lobo, as it carries some stuff, is not too large, and is not too heavy when loaded.

I just ordered the Monsoon Tsunami. It fit my budget pretty well and it has more storage than just about any other pack under $100 or so. I will tell you all how it turns out.

Thanks,
Brian

Originally posted by k2bikerider
I recommend the Lobo, as it carries some stuff, is not too large, and is not too heavy when loaded.

k2b, that brings it full circle, eh? It's not heavy when loaded 'cos it does not have much space to carry much.

I'm amazed just how much I carry on rides with me - maybe I need to do a full inventory one ride and see what I need, what I'd like, what I'll never user. The biggest problem I have when I go riding is where in my Camelbak do I put my workstand! You can never be to cautious or over-prepared.:D

I use the CamelBack Rogue myself only because it was the smallest and still held 70oz of fluid. It has a pocket design for a mini pump and other pouches large enough to hold a spare tube and some power bars and a compact mini tool. BUT on rides less than 50 miles I just use water bottles.

Camelback Rocket all the way ... 72oz of water, can use for MTB and Road, aerodynamic design, and big enough to hold patch kit, tires, gu, and other tools. Not to huge and not to small ... gotta love it. I don't use water bottles at all, I don't race either ... most of my rides as 10-50 miles and this suites me fine.

I've been wondering why these companies don't make a water pack that attaches to your frame? Say, under the top tube and attaching to the seat tube? I think I would rather not have water on my back during a ride....but, maybe that's because I've never ridden with one! ;)

That is an interesting idea, but it seems like it would be hard to implement. Bikes have different size tubing, different dimensions for each tube and many other things different. For the pack to attach to just one or 2 mounts it would have to be rigid and it would not fit all bikes. No matter what, I think bikes would need some modding to make it work. Still, if someone did develop one that worked well I would buy it.

Hmmmmmmm, I just gave my idea away. :(

I have a Camelback Lobo, got it on sale at Performance. It holds 70 oz of water, has room for spare tube, tools, fig bars/energy bars, and a place to carry a mini pump. Works great for me, but you might want a Mule cuz it holds more stuff.

I've been thinking about getting a fluid system also, but keep remembering when I was riding to college wearing a backpack. It was ok when the weather was cool, but was not fun to wear the pack when it was warm--you couldn't cool off as well.

I think a frame rack for water would be nice, and I too would buy one if I could get one.

Does anyone know of a rear rack mounted water delivery system?




Originally posted by BikerDawg
I've been wondering why these companies don't make a water pack that attaches to your frame? Say, under the top tube and attaching to the seat tube? I think I would rather not have water on my back during a ride....but, maybe that's because I've never ridden with one! ;)

I have a CB Blowfish. It holds 100oz and has a large expandable compartment and two smaller compartments. Plenty of room for everything I need for an all day epic ride plus a rain jacket just in case.

How does the water taste in these Packs? One thing I hate is drinking from the plastic bottles because of the plastic taste. I am looking for something that does not taste like plastic or anything else except water.

If these packs have no taste to them at all then I might be getting one. I also looking into aluminum bottles maybe.


Thanks.

Originally posted by Inf
How does the water taste in these Packs? One thing I hate is drinking from the plastic bottles because of the plastic taste. I am looking for something that does not taste like plastic or anything else except water.

If these packs have no taste to them at all then I might be getting one. I also looking into aluminum bottles maybe.


Thanks.

I have never had any plastic taste from my bottles. Are you using new ones you bought or just some old free things or something? I think metal might have more of a taste.

I bought a new Garry Fisher bottle from LBS. I used it for 3 months and still taste like plastic.

Originally posted by Inf
How does the water taste in these Packs? One thing I hate is drinking from the plastic bottles because of the plastic taste. I am looking for something that does not taste like plastic or anything else except water.

If these packs have no taste to them at all then I might be getting one. I also looking into aluminum bottles maybe.


Thanks.

There is a "plastic" taste that you get from the bladders, but I don't find it that offensive.

Coated aluminum water bottles are used for fruit juice and such because the plastic coating inside the bottle doesn't react with the acid in the juice.

The biggest hassle with aluminum water bottles is that you can't squeeze them as you do the plastic ones.

On the bike, I prefer plastic bottles because I like to put the load on the bike rather than on me. Off the bike I use a CamelBak Rimrunner, though for short outings, I remove the bladder and hitch a water bottle to the waist strap. A fully loaded CamelBak weighs over 8 lbs.

Dan

I bought the rocket last year and it does the job well. I just really never liked water bottles. The rocket holds a lot of water and can carry all the gear you need unless you are going on a picnic. I have no other experience. I would not want anything bigger for day to day use for hydration. I also do not like a waterpack on my back, but there is no choice but to hydrate here in South TX mid 90s temps.