Which Camelbak?

[Fanum]

An alternative is one that goes in your tankbag (if you use one).

Advantages are that it's easy to re-fill, not buried in your jacket adding weight or over it with shoulder straps making your jacket stick to your back more than it already does.

Over fill it......get the rucksack all nice and wet and it acts as a portable aircon unit......the wind turns it into a big chiller unit on your back...very effective

 

[MikeP]

Over fill it......get the rucksack all nice and wet and it acts as a portable aircon unit......the wind turns it into a big chiller unit on your back...very effective

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know there's no convincing those like you who realise they've bought the wrong bit of kit and are now desparately trying to find reasons to keep your 'humps'.

Much easier to just open the jacket vents and let the airflow unstick it from your back or even just soak your base-layer.

 

[dirtydog]

Never tried a copy but I can say that the originals are worth the money!

I have a 'Blowfish' which I used for mountain biking, enduro and touring. Had it about 7 years and it's still going strong. Plenty of storage space, a 2 litre bladder and very compact in size. I also have a 'Rocket' which is smaller for storage but has a larger bladder, ok for days out or just as a hydration system.

In my experience, the other systems I've seen are inferior, although 'The Northface' do make some nice packs too!

 

[Schtum]

I bought a couple of new Camelbak reservoirs on a recent trip to the US. It's worth noting that the new ones are much nicer to use because the drink tubes now have an inner coating which prevents the tubes from imparting a taste to the water. Older versions did a good job of feeding you plastic flavoured water.

 

[Firebird]

Just got the 06 M.U.L.E. Quality seems good. Water quality is great (3L). Obviously considerably more expensive than some of the others listed, but has good comfort, plenty of adjustment and looks good.

 

[BLUE(UK)]

An alternative is one that goes in your tankbag (if you use one).

Advantages are that it's easy to re-fill, not buried in your jacket adding weight or over it with shoulder straps making your jacket stick to your back more than it already does.

Above is made by Source. The orange coloured bit slides off and leaves a full width opening for filling, cleaning or adding ice.

I do that only i dont use a tankbag,i use a bum bag which means i dont have the weight on my shoulders all day and its very comfy.
You can also get the tube thats fits onto mineral water bottles and allows the air to get in when you drink from them which would be ideal when travelling in foreign countries to save having to refill ya bladder.

 

[Dickieboy]

I'm looking for something for hydration whilst riding on tours and during Summer months.

I reckon Camelbak packs are the ones to go for but which one, any ideas?

The Mule looks good IMO

After seeing how handy they were on the hog/r rideouts I plumped for the 'Thermoback' £30 off ebay including nextday delivery, it has neoprene insulation including the mouth tube to keep drinks cold/hot.


The other handy tip I've been given is to clean them with a product called 'Chempro' got it off a homebrewing mate who uses the stuff to sterilise his wine bottles etc.

 

[BLUE(UK)]

Speaking of the thermal neoprene tube covers.......3 or 4quid from Decathlon. (they aint with the camelback gear,but near the 'platypus' stuff).