Not too long ago, it seemed everyone was using a camelbak. Today, they are rarely seen in my area. Interesting how some things come and go.

What's missing: Those Nalgene bottles with the clear plastic dome that closed over the mouthpiece. Lucky me, I own five of them. For whatever reason,
they seem to have vanished. That plastic dome shielded the mouthpiece from the aforementioned road spray, and other nasties.

Son #1 gave me a bright yellow Camelbak Mule for Fathers' Day last year, just in time for our family reunion in Zion and Bryce. I use it extensively for hiking and all sorts of bicycling, unless I need a bigger backpack for shopping or other errands.

I always hated covering my bright orange t-shirt or screaming yellow Pearl Izumi windbreaker w/ a dull-colored backpack, but my Camelbak solves this problem. (The full ensemble now includes full finger bright yellow gloves.)

I use a camelback outlaw for both mountain and road. What I like about it is that it is one of the smaller camelbacks and it has a small pouch on the top that I put my phone in-I use the map my ride app and I have never lost a signal.

I still have the almost first version, which was a black neoprene tube with skinny straps. It held a 70oz bladder, no fancy 90 deg. turned bite valve. It worked very, very well when I was road riding in the summers in the deserts of New Mexico. It was pretty much the only way to carry enough liquid and keep it cool, which it did even in the hot sun.

I'll still use it on road rides if I don't expect to be stopping for liquids, otherwise can get by with 32 and 24 oz bottles and plan to stop.

I never found it too hot or burdensome and did find myself drinking more often then with a bottle. A bit easier to keep clean as well.

Then of course, it tells all the roadies in their Euro Pro racing gear that I'm a mt. biker !.

We sometimes use camelbacks on our tandem. Stoker considers it much easier and so do I.

I use a Camelback 3L bladder in a FastBack RB pack hung off the Rans seat on my Linear 3.0 recumbent. It works very well and keeps the weight of the water at the level of the bottom of the seat. I clip the mouthpiece to the zipper on my shirt/jacket where it's easy take a quick sip. The clip came from an old ID tag from work.

The mouth of the bladder is wide enough to fill with ice cubes, so it's possible to catch a cold/cool sip for the first couple of hours on longer rides.

My rides are usually shorter, so it's rare that the bladder is ever filled to capacity.

Another note about the FastBack RB...I've found that the zipper opening to the Rans intraseat pocket works well and hides the fact that there is a pocket built into the seat. Additionally, I place my pump and lock in the bladder compartment and gravity keeps the weight low as both settle to the bottom. There's also a zippered tool compartment easily accessible near the top of the pack.

It's a great piece of equipment!

I use mine on the fat and skinny tires. Safer way to hydrate in all situations. Plus I carry tools tubes and a good first aid box on all rides. Don't leave home without it!

Truth there! But I do swish a few drops of bleach through it now and then.

Forget the brand...CamelBak is as good as any. That said, this 'suck-as-you-go technology' is among the best advances in the whole Outdoor Realm. Use it.

Hope youre not pouring in the sink.



Uh. . . I remove the plastic bags first.

I dont even use plastic bottles anymore, I hate the plastic taste. At Walmart, yes Walmart I found stainless steel bottles with a depression that fits bottle cages perfectly. No more plastic smell and taste for me. I cant imagine using a camel back for the same reason.

+1. When in the rain I usually ride with fenders. However, that have been a few times when, for various reasons, I wanted to ride one of my bikes in the rain without fenders. On those occasions, I use the backpack/bladder system. I don't find the weight a problem; and given it's raining, being too hot is not a problem. I do dislike the extra work in keeping the bladder clean. With my water bottles, the simply go in the dishwasher after each ride.

Living in AZ, I use a camelbak regularly, mainly for the reasons Pamestique mentioned. I drink more, and , by adding ice (or freezing quite a bit in the bladder), I have cool water to drink during the warmer or hotter months.

I no longer use "cage specific bottles" either because of the taste. (phenyl phthalate. YUM!) I use the clear plastic "disposable" bottled water bottles. My favorite is Glacaeu Smart Water. Those fit the bottle cages the best. I refill them from the filtered water cooler at work, the tap at home, or public park water fountains along my rides. No added chemical taste.

Luv My Camelbak Volt, But then again I ride way back n the woods, no corner store for miles.
http://www.mountainflyermagazine.com...tion-pack.html

I load it up, tire repair stuff, bananas, apples, nuts, 100oz of water n Ice... Gets hot In Florida, never noticed the weight at all..

I drink more frequently with that hose so conveniently hanging nearby. It also gives me a secure place to put my wallet & keys. I put my phone in the upper compartment where I can hear it, but have to stop the bike if I want to answer it. I use a 100oz model with a modest amount of carrying capacity. If I have to carry a lot, then I take a bike with a rack on it.

When it gets hot here in Texas, I use a Rocket Camelbak on my road bike. http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009H8...apstrikeco-20/

Unfortunately it's no longer made. I like it because its light and is fairly aerodynamic. You will drink more, which is good, but may run out of water before you realize it. I carry an insulated water bottle as a reserve and for external cooling.

For those who may not know, myself included until a few weeks ago, the Camelbak was invented in 1988 at the Hottern 'n' Hell Hundred here in Texas.

http://www.camelbak.com/en/Sports-Re...Our-Story.aspx