I rarely wash mine. Mainly because all I put in it is water so after everyride I just empty it and insert a bent wire coat hanger (make sure it has a plastic over over it so it doesn't rust inside) which spreads the bladder open then I leave it to air dry.

I use a Deuter M3 pack with a Camelbak Hotshot bladder because the pack is big , insulated, wicks what sweat doesnt escape from the AWESOME venting system, comfortable, holds all my gear( from shock pump to cone wrenches and all the other stuff that neede like tubes, wrenches, etc) AND extra winter clothes when it warms up and I need to unlayer, well balanced and has been tough throughout its 3+ year history.
I use the 3 liter bladder because it too is insulated, has an insulated drink tube and shutoff w/filter adaptor built in and I have a Deuter bite valve attached to the camelbak ergoelbow.
I ride from 0f to 100f, from 1-5 hours at a time and have never needed to refill becuase in the REAL mts. I carry a water bottle w/filter from Sayechelle(SP?).
the things I dont like have been tweaked into the things I like best; the bite valve was great but leaked, the bladder I didnt like at all so I changed bladders, added an ergoangle so I could shorten the what seemed like a 9' hose to the length it is now and still get lots of water easily.
the stuff the bladder is made of is so slick goop cant stick to it so I just empty it every so often and no mold in it yet

I run hot water through each pack (even sucking it through the bite valves) then turn outside and hang dry until I need them next time.

Storing the bladder in the beer fridge does cut down on the length of time between cleanings. It also gets you a nice cold bladder to start with so it doesn't take ice cubes just to counteract the bladder sitting around.

I have a cheap camelback blue wave that was a gift. I usually ride short distances (under 20 miles) on paths and improved trails and it works fine. For longer distances I would definitely want something bigger if there were no refill spots along the way. It is only around 50 or 60 ounce but I also supplement it with my 2 bottles.

Hydration Pack: Camelbak Mule

Bladder capacity (e.g. 2 liters): 100oz

Gear Holding Capacity (e.g. 900 cubic inch): ~600?

Pack Brand: Camelbak

Bladder Brand: Camelbak

Your Riding Duration (average): 1.5 hours

Type of weather you ride in (with seasonal Veriation): anything from cool nights to hot and muggy days

How much water do you use on an average ride: ~70oz

How comfortable is the suspension system: Enough so that I never notice it

how well the back pannel manages sweat: Very very well. One of my favorite things about the Camelbaks

Additional Features of the pack you like: Multiple pockets for organization. Ability to cinch the thing up when it's not full of gear. The pack is also durable as hell. Still works like new, despite a few years of use.

Features of the bladder/hydration system you like: The pack insulates well. I still have cool water at the end of a ride, compared to water bottles, which get pee warm after about 15 minutes in moderate heat. The wide mouth makes cleaning easy.

Features you dislike: Filling the bladder is a hassle when I have to remove it from the pack, unthread the tube, fill it, manhandle it back into the tight confines of its spot in the pack, and rethread the tube. Also, if I don't tighten the cover really well, water leaks everywhere (though it looks like newer models improved upon both of these things---another reason Camelbak remains at the top of the field).

What would be the main reason (other than additional fund) you would upgrade this pack or buy a different hydration pack: I just ordered a Camelbak HAWG because I'm doing a 5-day tour through the North Dakota Badlands and will be carrying a lot of personal gear, including camera equipment. I'd also like to get a smaller pack like the Classic, because the MULE is too bulky for races.

Things you do not like about the pack: As I mentioned above, refilling the bladder and putting it back in the pack.

Things you dont like about the bladder/bite valve: Again, as I mentioned, it's a bit leaky if I don't tighten the cover enough.


In any case, Camelbak knows their stuff. Yeah, you can get cheaper hydration packs that'll keep you drinkin', but it's the little stuff that makes the Camelbaks worth the extra few dollars.

Hahahaha :lol:

Hydration Pack: Deuter Attack

Bladder capacity (e.g. 2 liters): Depends on the bladder I put in. 2.5 or 3 liters

Gear Holding Capacity (e.g. 900 cubic inch): 5 liters

Pack Brand: Deuter

Bladder Brand: MSR Hydromedary or Camelbak

Your Riding Duration (average): 4-5 hours

Type of weather you ride in (with seasonal Veriation): Hot and stupidly humid (basically tropical)

How much water do you use on an average ride: 3-6 liters

How comfortable is the suspension system: Very

how well the back pannel manages sweat: Very well (has lots of deep air channels)

Additional Features of the pack you like: Armour plating built into pack. Ability to carry full set of arm/leg pads + helmet on the pack.

Features of the bladder/hydration system you like: MSR: completely modular and easy to disassemble into component parts to allow for complete drying. Very rugged material. Very positive valve actuation. High flow valve. Generally very high quality design and execution.

Features you dislike: Camelbak: uh... it's a bit mediocre in every way in comparison. The only redeeming feature is that it's easy to buy replacement valves when they invariably pop off and get lost in the bush.

What would be the main reason (other than additional fund) you would upgrade this pack or buy a different hydration pack:

Things you do not like about the pack: Doesn't hold much for its size (a result of the built-in armour)

Things you dont like about the bladder/bite valve: MSR: nothing. Camelbak: It gets lost easily.

product developer?
 

sound like your designing

i use the Dueter Futura 28 w/ a 2 liter Platypus bladder and the venting system is fantastic

Ditto Sherpa on the Hydrapak Big Sur.

Hydration Pack: GoLite Rush

Bladder capacity (e.g. 2 liters): It actually doesn't come with a bladder...I use the bladder I got with my NorthFace Catshark, which I bought for super long runs in the mountains. I'd use the Catshark if I could actually fit gear in it...but I'd think I'd have the choice of a pump or tube. On the bright side, you can pick up and put in any bladder you want, as long as it's under 3 liters.

Gear Holding Capacity (e.g. 900 cubic inch): 750 inch^3. Plus a bungee cord and two waistbelt pockets for easy access.

Pack Brand: GoLite

Bladder Brand: Nalgene

Your Riding Duration (average): Couple hours?

Type of weather you ride in (with seasonal Veriation): It's Colorado...it's dry.

How much water do you use on an average ride: I'm a camel. I never finish the water. Ever.

How comfortable is the suspension system: Doesn't bounce or anything. The straps keep it in place pretty well.

how well the back pannel manages sweat: Never had a problem.

Additional Features of the pack you like: Those gear pockets on the waistbelt. I can put food in there and not have to take the pack off to get at it.

Features of the bladder/hydration system you like: Didn't come with the pack, so not relevant.

Features you dislike: Wish it had a magnet on the cheststrap the way my NorthFace does.

What would be the main reason (other than additional fund) you would upgrade this pack or buy a different hydration pack: I hate the color? No seriously...that's the only reason I can think of. It's a great pack.

Things you do not like about the pack: The magnet thing I mentioned above I guess? And if I didn't already have a bladder, I might have been annoyed that I had to go out and buy one.

Things you dont like about the bladder/bite valve: Not relevant.

I occasionally rune a Camelbak M.U.L.E., but I hate filling it with ten pounds of water. I'm a teenager but it still hurts my back to ride with it, so I usually only ride with tools and carry a bottle of ice in the cage.

10 pounds of water is 160oz. I didn't think the mule could carry that much.

EAT A BUTT.



I exaggerated. I'm a weenie.

I have one like this and Love it way more than my basic military issued camelback.
The bladder is so easy to clean and dry thanks to its "No-lid" feature and you can pull it inside out with ease.
the bladder material is tough as nails also. They claim you can drive a truck over while its full of water and sealed on all ends and it wont bust (it was a tag on my hydra pack)


The hose is a quick connect/disconect fitting and easy to clean and such.

I love this thing.
It's awesome.
I ride a 4.75 mile trail, usually 2-3 laps.

I usually drink all 70 ounces (im a water hog though)

I ride in the hot GA sun to.


I pack it full of ice, and go!

I use
http://www.ospreypacks.com/images_pr.../96_375_xl.jpg
with a Camelbak Unbottle 100oz inside.
Works pretty well and is really light, but between backpack and unbottle it's $130.
Of course it's much more utilitarian than just a hydration pack.

Reasons I dislike my Camelbak Mule:

- No easy way to access the things in the pockets without stopping and removing the bag from your back. I really wish it had wing storage compartments such as in the pack shown above.

- No quick disconnect bladder hose combined with the angled bite valve makes it slower to remove from the backpack...

- The external pockets really weren't designed to retain anything, lost a pair of gloves finding that out the hard way.

- The bladder is quite large for the section it goes in. This adds to the tedious task of removing the bladder after every ride.

- Not much compartmental organization. Wish I had a better spot to in the bag to put my phone, mp3 player, and sunglasses...

- The lid on the bladder is a pain to unscrew. What idiot designed it, seriously? :crash:

- The pack is excessively heavy for how little it holds.



On the plus side, The bite valve itself works fine. The pack has proven to be quite durable, and it didn't cost too much when I got it.


IMO, the pack's design is outdated and there are better solutious out there.

Good point about the wing pockets. I use those a lot for maps and energy bars, so I don't have to take off the backpack. It also has pockets in the straps for cell phone and camera.

Hydration Pack: High Sierra Gulp

Bladder capacity (e.g. 2 liters): 1.5 Litres

Gear Holding Capacity (e.g. 900 cubic inch): 116ci

Pack Brand: High Sierra

Bladder Brand: High Sierra

Your Riding Duration (average): Anywhere from 1-6 hours

Type of weather you ride in (with seasonal Veriation): Summer warm and humid, Winter mild and dry

How much water do you use on an average ride: Around 1L per hour, with my bidon (750mL) that racks up about 2-2.5hrs before refilling

How comfortable is the suspension system: Makes a little noise with the water rattling around, but otherwise nothing objectionable

how well the back pannel manages sweat: No issues at all!

Additional Features of the pack you like: Cost me A$12, absolute and utter bargain (Camelbaks start from around A$80)

Features of the bladder/hydration system you like: Cheap, easy to clean, easy to fill, large opening

Features you dislike: Not large enough for long rides without refilling opportunities

What would be the main reason (other than additional fund) you would upgrade this pack or buy a different hydration pack: Capacity

Things you do not like about the pack: Erm... capacity?

Things you dont like about the bladder/bite valve: Curiously, the bite valve came with no hole! A pocketknife soon saw to that, a little slit about 5mm long was enough

No doubt that Camelbak has some ergonomics to improve on their packs.

A little oil on the threads will return it to smooth operation.

I have the Classic and it works perfect for road biking but I wish it had more storage space for mountain biking.

My average ride is 3 hours long and I ride year round in New Hampshire (10F to 90F).

In light to this thread, I just now bought a CamelBak H.A.W.G. Hydration Pack for 25 bucks on ebay! I bought a lot of 3 for $75.00, and two of my riding buddies are goin in on them.