hehe, i got my pack for 15 and the camel i got for free, so yes a deal, and i use for it for backpacking. so it has done me well so far....well almost so far

Oh the joys of being a teacher. I get summers off to tour. My students give me end-of-the-year presents. Often gift certificates to outdoor stores or bike shops. I've used them to buy a Camelbak, a stove, gloves, and a windbreaker. So I guess I got my Camelbak for free. Knowing what I now know, I would have gladly paid for it.

[QUOTE=slaani;11163072] congratulations Camelbak® marketing division, you have convinced us we will literally die without your product.

No I do not work for Camelbak's marketing or any other division. That is why I specifically said "Or other similar hydration pack".

As far as the argument of having something on your back in extreme heat; most of the better hydration pack makers now design them with back pads with multiple air channels for ventilation, OR they use a suspension system with a taught mesh panel that completely suspends the bag a couple of inches from your back allowing full ventilation. Most of the hydration packs designed for cycling use also have fairly narrow profiles and do not cover a persons whole back, usually only about the middle third of it.

Hot back or no, I think the biggest benefit of a hydration pack is that if you fill it with ice you will still have a large supply of very cold water to drink three hours later. Try getting that with any other "water bottle" while out in 100+ degree weather. Even the insulated bottles like Polar or similar are only good for about an hour or so in keeping the water cold. Plus my Camelbak holds 3 liters. Thats roughly 100 0z. As another poster mentioned, I would have to carry 4 polar waterbottles someplace on my bike to equal that amount with less convenient access and more chance for dirt/crud to collect on the mouths of the bottles.

Anyway, knowing I have a large supply of cold water at immediate access is more important to me than any of the minor inconveniences or slightly sweaty backs that a hydration pack may or may not cause. My back does not usually get too hot anyway due to the large amount of ice I have in the bladder, so it kind of works double duty in keeping the water ice cold and keeping the back pad cool.

There wasn't an option for "long day trips with no water sources". That's the only time I use mine, or if I need to the store quickly for a few things. I can't carry 6+ liters in bottles on my bike, and it holds everything else I need for such trips, like wrenches, spokes, things like that. No sense getting stranded. Mine actually died recently, it was a know off from some big box store. I'm probably going to get the Cameblak Alpine Explorer, and not just because it sounds cool It's 3 liters vs the 2 liter one I had. Bonus.

I use a Platy 100oz bladder
https://www.cascadedesigns.com/platyp...zip-sl/product

with a WingNut Enduro pack
https://www.wingnutgear.com/product_d...product_id=151
https://www.wingnutgear.com/press.cfm?id=16

this is an awesome set up

really.
I rode 1,000 miles in 7 days on the 2010 Tour Divide MTB race

awesome bag

I would not want one on my back all day long, but it may be a handy way to stow extra water in areas where you may need extra and the pack design may be an easier form of carrying in the water I would use it more like an add-on to my pannier than a back pack though and just refill my bottles from it. Possible a good way to smuggle my bottle of Crown Royal around for my evening and morning coffee as well som folks look at you funny when you pull out a flask but it is common for a nip in you coffee up here especially in winter.

+1 I use mine for most rides, and especially when I do centuries, or tow my trailer over 50 miles.

camel bladder + wingnut hyper 3.0.

use it for mtb, and probably start for road rides and it will definitely join me for touring / overnights.

+1

Speedo

+1

I don't care what's in it, I can't stand having a bag strapped to my back when riding. Strapping your gear to the bike, and not your body, is one of the main advantages to riding over hiking.

I have the M.U.L.E. I got 10 years ago when stationed at Ft Irwin CA. (Mojave Desert). Biking at 125F puts a hurtin on ya if your not ready for it. That and my heat tolerance is way low from 9 years in AK, I still can't handle anything over 70F without sweating. So carring 2 LG bottles and the 3L CamelBak is my only option

I also store small daily goodies in the pack, I don't have much in bike bags yet and this keep all my importand items on me when I get off the bike.

The Military issue M.U.LE. is the one that I use too. I compared it to the civilian version and chose it because it has tougher courdura fabric, a heavier duty bladder w/ the hose insulating cover, and M.O.L.L.E. expansion/lashing loops on the back. Plus it's been proven in Irag, Afgahanistan, and just about every other hot parched armpit around the world.

where I live in Las Vegas is the same climate as Ft Irwin ( I was in a Ntl. Guard Tank Battalion that did most of our training there so I am WELL acquainted with Ft Irwin) very hot and very dry.
If the OPFORs don't get you there, the Mojave Greens will....lol

I've worn a M.U.L.E. for almost 5 years on most of my rides. I love to fill it with ice cubes and then with water. No matter what the external temperature, I always have cold water. My habit is to "blow" into the tube for about 2 seconds and then drink. It pushes the air temperature water back into the bladder and then delivers ice cold water! Once, I had ridden about 50 miles on my MTB tourer and had lost almost 3000' in elevation. I bit the cloaca and sucked and nothing came out. I knew there was no way I had drank 100 ounces of water. So I stopped and pulled the pack off and unzipped it and saw that I had developed a negative pressure situation due to the loss of elevation. The bladder was still half full after 6 hours of riding and full of ice but the bladder had been sucked together like one of those food preservation bags and nothing would come out. I unscrewed the big cap, it filled with air and I was back to drinking happily!
I also have an original Camelbak with the 50 ounce bladder and low profile pack that I use for shorter rides. I have yet to run out of water while using it.

Ive been using them for a lot of years, and for hot weather, with unreliable water sources, I use a 3 liter plus two water bottles. I don't take it out in cold weather though, or where I know there are frequent water sources. For me, the value lies in the large capacity, and the versatility of using it as a pillow, camp water bag, improvised shower, etc. (all tricks I learned in Iraq and Afghanistan where the military has pretty much stopped even using canteens, just issue generic camelbaks.) I don't really like the weight on my back on a bike, and when I can fit it I usually lash it to the rack and just use it for water storage.

I love my camel back. When I camp I sleep with it. It is great to have a little hose a few inches from the mouth to drink from whenever I get the urge. Hmmm. Maybe I should sleep with it at home also.

Nope... water bottles work fine for me.