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How do you feel about Camelbaks/Water backpacks?

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How do you feel about Camelbaks/Water backpacks?

Old 03-22-12, 01:21 PM
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How do you feel about Camelbaks/Water backpacks?

You know, those little backpacks you wear with the hose sticking out. I really love mine, but I know a lot of people don't particularly care for the things. Not having to mess with keep an actual bottle secure just seems so much better.
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Old 03-22-12, 01:25 PM
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I'll go make some popcorn so I can enjoy the show properly. This is the cycling version of the argument on the photography forums of whether or not to use a protective filter on a lens.

I like the convenience of a Camelbak. I drink more frequently from not having to fumble with the bottle.
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Old 03-22-12, 01:50 PM
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Never had a problem handling bottles or keeping them secure.
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Old 03-22-12, 06:42 PM
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I use my Camelbak MULE for longer rides, but just use a couple of water bottles for commuting and shorter rides.
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Old 03-22-12, 10:45 PM
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In the winter, I might use my old MULE, with an extra insulating sleeve. It freezes slower than bottles.

In the summer, when doing an all day ride, then I like to put a bladder in a front bag. There are some long stretches without water here, and I go thru the water fast. But the back being covered is really irritating, thus the carrying it on the front. I tend to drink more often this way. Plus I can keep sports drinks in the bottles and drink them a little slower.



This is a bike with a two liter bag on the front, you can just see the tube. I ride older bikes with slightly slacker angles, don't know what that would do with the handling on a newer more aggressive bike.

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Old 03-22-12, 11:18 PM
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The insulating capabilities of my Camelbaks has been a plus in the summer. Ditto for their sheer water capacities. On long hot summer rides, I may take my Camelbak and three or more large waterbottles.


^ after the Midnight Century, 100% self-supported. No water stops, no food stops, no NOTHING out there in the farmland in the middle of the night. If you want it, you bring it yourself.

On long rides, my back and my seat feel the extra weight, though. Using up most of the water in the Camelbak before moving on to the bottles helps with that.

In the winter, hose freeze-up can be a problem when temps are significantly below freezing. My extended winter rides are on a bike with panniers, so I usually have one bottle in a cage and keep the rest in a pannier to slow down their cooling... ice-cold liquids in freezing temperatures are not ideal.
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Old 03-22-12, 11:53 PM
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If your bottles aren't secure you are either using the wrong bottles or using the wrong cages. Bottles are easy; the camelback makes your back sweaty. Unless you need extra water, go with bottles.

There are plenty of threads about camelbacks and fredliness.

Now I'm ready for that popcorn.

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Old 03-22-12, 11:58 PM
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I like popcorn, but it always makes me thirsty...
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Old 03-23-12, 12:06 AM
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If you bottles aren't secure you are either using the wrong bottles or using the wrong cages.
...or maybe you're blitzing rock gardens at race pace on a mountain bike. I've lost stuff from jersey pockets that way, let alone bottle cages.

Bottles are easy; the camelback makes your back sweaty.
Dunno about anyone else, but simply riding makes my back sweaty Given a choice between 120F water from a bottle in the summer sun, or 75F water from a Camelbak, there's some perks to the Camelbak approach...
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Old 03-23-12, 01:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Crepes
You know, those little backpacks you wear with the hose sticking out. I really love mine, but I know a lot of people don't particularly care for the things. Not having to mess with keep an actual bottle secure just seems so much better.
I have the 3l Milspec version of the Camelbak, and I love it. I also carry at least two waterbottles as well. As I like to stay hydrated. Actually the Camelbak is the only thing (other than my jersey) that I want on my back when I'm out riding.
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Old 03-23-12, 04:22 AM
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Originally Posted by mechBgon
...or maybe you're blitzing rock gardens at race pace on a mountain bike. I've lost stuff from jersey pockets that way, let alone bottle cages.



Dunno about anyone else, but simply riding makes my back sweaty Given a choice between 120F water from a bottle in the summer sun, or 75F water from a Camelbak, there's some perks to the Camelbak approach...
+1 even though I don't have a Camelback. Yet. After last summer, I definitely have one on the "To get" list this year.
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Old 03-23-12, 05:41 AM
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I find those things to be uncomfortable in any sport. Used one in airsoft because of the sheer amount you sweat in summer dressed in cammo carrying about 15kg to extra stuff in a forest. I like to carry a bottle or 2 of water attached to the bike and have nothing but my cycling shorts and jersey in summer.
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Old 03-23-12, 06:59 AM
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During rides above 90 degrees the Camelbak is the volume I need to stay hydrated. I also fill it half full with ice, and other than some sloshing sound, it stays colder than bottles.
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Old 03-23-12, 07:22 AM
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I hope the OP didn't expect to get consistent answers!
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Old 03-23-12, 08:29 AM
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I have used them since they first appeared and I have two sizes that I still use for cycling, horseback riding, hiking, bouldering, whatever. I use them to carry my water, but also Powerbars, Gelpaks, my ID and cell phone, tools, a spare tube, whatever. I can also get a quick drink easily on a technical downhill or in tight wooded areas or when singletracking, where reaching for a frame mounted water bottle would be impossible without slowing down or stopping, and I would personally rather keep the weight off the bike for handling purposes alone. I get a kick out of seeing someone riding a $4000 sub-17lb bike with two large water bottles full of water and a seatbag full of tools.

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Old 03-23-12, 08:53 AM
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I have a backpack with hydration bladder (3L) that I sometimes use for commuting. I go back and forth between that (easy of just hopping on and going, huge capacity) with a smaller bag in my folding basket and waterbottles (not on my back so less sweat until it gets super hot when it doesn't matter, fits in my locker unlike the rigid internally framed backpack, just like storing bottles in the fridge better than bladder, easier to clean). Right now bottles and small bag are winning, but that might change when summer comes.
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Old 03-23-12, 09:47 AM
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I have a Camelback, and except for short rides I always use it - either filled with plain water for cooler days, or with ice cubes and water for hot days. One thing I recommend, however, is to replace the plain rubber hose with one they sell that is in an insulated sleeve. On hot days, that first sip of water out of the standard hose was warm, but with the insulated hose it is much cooler.
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Old 03-23-12, 12:05 PM
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I don't think I've used my hydration pack for more than a year. Maybe two.

Ice cubes in insulated (Polar) water bottles work fine for me up to two hours, easier to clean, and cooler on my back. Longer than that, and I'll find a convenience store, buy something, and use their soda fountain to refill. (Rarely I get unlucky and have to buy actual water!)

I save the pack anyways for those occasions when I get to ride somewhere remote, where it's more than two hours between civilized outposts. Since I'm not into mountain biking, that doesn't happen often.
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Old 03-23-12, 01:05 PM
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The new Camelbak tubing, the Antidote, is pretty cool.

I didn't use them on my road bike, but on my bent a bladder fits in the insulated sleeve of my Brainbag. I use the filter and it's great. I'd get laughed at if I were a poseur, but on a bent I get laughed at anyway.

They'd be perfect on an upright if you could mount them on the frame somehow. They do tend to make your back feel icky.
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Old 03-23-12, 01:27 PM
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I have a Dakine 3L that is awesome. Perfect for MTB or any longer ride. I can carry an extra tube, mini pump, mini tool, extra layers in winter, cell phone, keys, and muesli bars with room to spare for more food on longer rides. I never even notice I have it on.
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Old 03-23-12, 08:56 PM
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I use a bladder in a light trekking day pack for day rides, so long as my bike is not encumbered with panniers, etc.

In general, I drink a lot of water and stay well hydrated.

I don't find the extra weight on my back to be detrimental. Besides, for the early part of the ride, the water keeps my back cool.

I also don't require my water to remain cold all day; as long as I'm hydrated, I'm fine.

Using a small pack also allows me to carry incidentals securely, like keys, money, phone, etc.
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Old 03-23-12, 09:54 PM
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Never popped for the actual Camelback, the $80+ was just too much to drop, when I could get something equivalent for less than half.

Using a Coleman (from Wally) right now, just as a backpack for the winter (about ready to pop the bladder back in); the ONLY thing wrong with them is the bite valve, but a $7 Camelback Big Bite Valve fixes that. 3rd year on the Coleman, 5th on the BBV.

My daughter uses the one I had before getting the Coleman (a Wally 'Outdoor' model, still in near-perfect shape from '04-05 time frame), and my nephew has the one before that one ('02 no-name), still VERY useable. The three of them TOGETHER cost about the same as a good CB.
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Old 03-23-12, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DX-MAN
Never popped for the actual Camelback, the $80+ was just too much to drop, when I could get something equivalent for less than half.
I only paid about $50 for my Lobo on a good clearance. It wasn't the current model but I don't care. I used my previous Lobo about 11 years and my daughter is using it now. Actually, I think the older one was better. Of course, I've seen other makes for as little as $25.
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Old 03-23-12, 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Dudelsack
The new Camelbak tubing, the Antidote, is pretty cool.

I didn't use them on my road bike, but on my bent a bladder fits in the insulated sleeve of my Brainbag. I use the filter and it's great. I'd get laughed at if I were a poseur, but on a bent I get laughed at anyway.

They'd be perfect on an upright if you could mount them on the frame somehow. They do tend to make your back feel icky.
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Old 03-24-12, 01:09 AM
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I may reconsider this summer if it's 100+ and I'm riding for three hours or more but right now I think I'd hate it. I suppose if you're careless about hydration, as I am, a camelbak is rather low on your list of priorities.
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