SweetLou

I agree about the Mule. I was looking for one that held 100oz. but didn't have all the pockets and compartments. I wanted some pockets, but I thought the Mule had too much for me. I forget what model I have, but I finally found it. It does have a bit more carrying capacity than I wanted, but not too bad. If I ride with it, I don't need my seat bag, since everything including my pump can fit in it.

CyKKlist

I rode for two seasons on my Giant hybrid, wearing a 3-liter Camelbak that become like a seat belt for me -- couldn't ride without strapping it to my back. Rode a 4-day charity ride from Raleigh to DC setting personal bests on that hybrid, and I give some credit to the Camelbak. Very efficient, held a ton of stuff before I had a bike with a rear rack.

However, now that I have a touring bike and the bags that go with it, I rely on water bottles.

This really is a "your mileage will vary" topic -- you're either comfortable wearing a backpack all day, or you aren't. The Camelbak is such a functional item that I would recommend you buy one and try it for a few weeks. I'm pretty sure you'll get at least local use out of it.

Tip: resist the temptation to put Gatorade or juice in your Camelbak bladder. Use it exclusively for ice and water. You'll spend more time than you'd think carefully cleaning, scrubbing all the parts. I learned this one the hard way.

mev

You don't mention where you are traveling in Australia, but on my trip around the perimeter of Australia, I carried as much as 16 liters and more often 9 liters of water. A camelback was helpful to carry some of that water (I had a 3L version and a second 3L bladder so could carry up to 6L on my back - most typically I only carried 3L).

SweetLou

I agree. I do like my camelbak. Comes in very handy, especially when I am out in an area where I might not even see a store to buy some more water.

That must have been a fun cleaning! I hate trying to clean the bottles after I put some Cytomax in them. But that is what I do. Besides the Camelbak, I also bring two large bottles with me. I put the powder in the bottles and use the water from the Camelbak.

lighthorse

This is an interesting thread. I have a camelback and have used it extensively. But in the last three years I have not used it at all. I even carried it cross country last year and never took it out of the panniers. My three water bottles were more than enough for my needs, I normally only use two of them. If I were to go out to the desert again, I would probably use the camelbak so that I could carry more water.

Aloyzius

I have two. I use it exclusively on the mountain bike, but, yeah, it might be nice to use one on the road when it's hot, with the ice back there keeping things nice and cool. Hadn't thought about it before, but will definitely give it a try.

Aloyzius

Oh yeah, they're also the only way to go when you're hiking.

PapaLegba

i use camelbaks on the trails.

grabbing a straw hanging from your shoulder strap is a lot easier than grabbing for a bottle clinging to your downtube that will go flying the first time you jump a boulder or felled tree.

on the road i go sissy and use polar bottles with lots of ice.