Side by Side Comparison of: CamelBak

We went hiking with these and it was a great way to carry water through some difficult terrain! So many people we would see on trails would be carrying around 1 tiny bottle of water for a several mile hike! I knew we were way more prepared! I have always loved the Camelbak products for making hydration more convenient!

First time purchasing and using a Camelbak product and I am very satisfied. Perfect size for a short walk, run or rollerblade, tastes clean with no plastic scent, easy to wash and dry. One small pocket is great for keys and a little cash or card. So happy to have bought this! Looking forward to using it through the winter as well.

I picked this up to help with my distance running training. It has been a great assets to keep my hydrated on my long runs. It carries a good amount of liquid and is fairly comfortable on my back. The drinking line and nozzle is pretty non-obtrusive, and can be tucked away into on of the bands on the shoulder straps to keep it out of the way. I highly recommend this model!

Fantastic hydration pack. 1.5 L and it keeps cool for over 4 hours, which I tested on my long runs. I just wish it had a larger pocket. In the current pocket, I could barely squeeze in my car key and a gu gel. Highly recommend for long distance runners/hikers.

I work for a security firm and I'm outside for long periods of time -- especially in the summer heat. The Camelbak HydroBak is an awesome solution to a problem I've been stuck with for the last three summers. I am never far from a sip of cold water! The pack is super light weight and very well-made. I expect that from this brand. There are cheaper products like this - but they don't compare. You absolutely get what you pay for! The Camelbak is easy to wear, too. In fact, the buckles are very easy to adjust and, after I got used to it, I didn't even realize I had the HydroBal on -- until I was thirsty! Then it was really great to have. I recommend it to anyone working outside a lot or hikers or joggers who need to keep hydrated and don't want to keep stopping.

This is an excellent product. The reason why I bought this item is because nice and small and compact and the price was very reasonable. There's an outside pocket down by the bottom which is big enough to fit a wallet and a set of car keys. In addition to that, you can also put stuff on the inside part and it can act as a smaller backpack as well. The inside is insulated so if you have any cold beverages within the hydro pack, it'll keep it cold for a good amount of time. I bought this for a Tough Mudder and served as a huge aid. The hydro pack can hold about 4 Poland Spring Bottles all together. When the pack is filled with water, it is still very light to carry and there's comfortable padding on the back of the pack that rests up against your back and the straps are very comfortable as well. I would definitely suggest this item to anyone who is into hiking, obstacle course races and any other outdoor related activity because it's a very useful product to own.

I brought this to use for my backpacking trips when I'm out during the day. It's good to keep you hydrated during your day activities. It's good for storing small wallets, phone chargers, snack bars, earphones, etc. It's only good if you want to carry stuff for a singleperson and not two or more.

My husband loves this and used it the second day for a bike ride. Drying it is not the easiest but we put a tong type cooking tool inside the bladder to keep it open. We squeeze the mouth piece to let all the water out of the hose, even though it doesn't all go out... My husband loved using it. He found it so much easier to get a drink than using a water bottle but since it was so easy, he had to use the bathroom a little earlier than expected. Next time he plans on drinking a little less. The pockets are great and seem like they would hold a bike tube and tools along with a phone.

Great pack. Perfect pockets for storage of phone, wallet, and keys and any other essentials. We use them for bike riding and rollerblading, The packs are light and have adjustable straps that make them nice and tight around you. Cleaning is no harder than a standard camelback. The bladder and tubes come out and go back easily. The bladder also has some nice drying legs built into it. My only problem with them is that they don't provide any insulation for the drinks but that is to be expected.

I've only used it once so far, but it's super convenient compared to carrying bottles or a normal backpack.Weight & storage:I workout a lot so maybe my point of view on weight is different. I find when the pack is completely filled is not heavy at all. I stuffed 2 protein bars, wad of napkins, phone, keys, chapstick, bottle of sunblock, and attached my sweater to it once it got warmer.Cons:Only thing that is slightly annoying is that the tube is not held down by anything so it is sticking out. Maybe get like a rubber band or something to secure it down once you finish drinking.Water storage:I should have bought a 3L. I go through 2L too fast.

Recently used this for my vacation trip. We did alot of walking and sightseeing. I purchased it for bike trips but it performed really well for my purpose on our trip drank 2 gallons of water through it in the matter of 3 days.(Hot Alabama sun) It was easy to fill, did not leak and was comfortable to carry.The pouches had enough room for my keys, sunblock and cell phone. I know it is probably not recommended to do, but I filled the bladder, stuck it in the freezer for about two hours before we headed out the door and had nice cool water while out in the sun at the beach. There is a plastic taste to the water and I'm thinking that may get better with use and proper cleaning and drying of the inner bladder. If it doesn't go away it's not so bad that I can't stand it. I will also use this for trail rides with my horses. The bag will stay more balanced than water bottles in a saddle bag. I would buy it again and may have to as my grandson is now trying to talk me into giving him this one!

The wife and I like to bike, walk, or hike in the southwest. We can go through 20-30 ounces of water each in 30-60 minutes in no time in the summer time heat. Wanted something to hold more water and keep our hands free. We purchased two and it adjusts and fits our frames of 6'3" 250lbs and the wife's 4'11" 125lbs with very good comfort. We fill ours with ice/water and it stays cool for hours in the car when not in use or on our backs during exercise. No sloshing feeling because of the bladder design. No drips from the bite nozzle. Lower pocket is large enough several items like car keys, wallet, cellphone, powerbars, etc... Easy access to drinking tube. Simple to fill and lock with large opening with no drips. We haven't had any real issues of being to hot on our back because of lack of breathing. Brother-in-law purchased a cheaper no-brand model for 1/2 the price and he had problems with leaks, plastic tasting water, poor ergonomics on his back, and leaky bite nozzle.

I liked this bag a lot when I first purchased it. I rinsed it a bit before using it to try to get rid of the plastic taste that these usually have. It was a faint taste, but still there. The size is perfect for a regular workout. It holds as much water as I need it to.When I was first using this, I had an iPhone 5S that fit perfectly into the small zipper pocket on the outside, which allowed me to run comfortably without holding the phone in my hand or having it jump up and down in my pocket. However, When I upgraded to an iPhone 6 Plus, it did not fit anymore which is unfortunate. I still use this bag and I like it!

I've gotten a lot of use out of this product in just 6 months, bringing it to music festivals and nature hikes. It's become a must have whenever I want to go adventuring outdoors.My only complaint is how awkward it can be to open and close the water cap. Often times I felt like I twisted it on securely, only to spill half the contents on the ground a moment later. I have to carefully check that the cap is completely flush by running my finger around the rim of the cap to make sure that I have a good lock.

The product is in line with all other Camelbak products. I bought this product for my long runs. I have wide shoulders and a larger chest that makes this pack uncomfortable when wearing shirts without sleeves. Other than that this product is exactly as expected. The small pocket will fit my iPhone 6 but probably would be tight for an IPhone 6 Plus.

The CamelBak is a great accessory for anyone who lives an active lifestyle. It fits comfortably around my shoulders and can be tightened so it doesn’t move around when running or exercising. Someone with broader shoulders may find this pack too tight but for me (5’-7” medium build female) it fit well. The bladder was easy to fill with water once I figured out how to open it (instructions would have been a great help here). The pocket is a nice feature but once the bladder is full it’s difficult to fit much in it, especially if you have a larger smartphone. Overall I was very pleased with the CamelBak. Note: I received this product free for review.

Needed two hydration packs for an upcoming Spartan Super and Beast, so I purchased just this one to test. The water fill port is really large and easy to fill which will be great out on the course. However, the pack and straps are way too small for my frame. I am 6', 220lbs with a 48" chest. I can get the pack on, but due to my chest and shoulders, it is cut in right at the arm pits. (this pack does not come with a chest strap.)It does fit my teenage son well and he says he does not feel a bounce or slosh when he has it tightened down. This will be a keeper for him and I will look for something larger.

I received this Camelbak quite quickly, and it was exactly what I imagined it to be. It keeps the temperature of the water nice and cool. It doesn't hold much in the backpack when it is full of water. If you plan to be out all day, you will have to refill your Camelbak -- but it's good for a couple of hours out. It makes it quite convenient. It's a lot easier to use than carrying around multiple bottles of water. I recommend it for a hike, or to take while you're camping. I would find it easy to use if I were kayaking -- or something like that. The water doesn't taste funny, like it sometimes does in a jug that's been sitting. But the first sip will be warm from sitting in the tube for a while. Lots of fun to use when out!

I got this for hiking in Utah. It a simple but functional design. I like the ability to remove the bladder for rinsing and filling. The wide cap makes that easy, but it always takes me a couple of tries to get the cap seated properly.

The pack works well, except for the fact that I am tall and can't figure out the correct placement of the pack on my back. I tried lowering the sternum straps, but they are still near my neck when I clip them together. I also wish there was another clip for the hose, as it kind of dangles around when hiking. Overall though, great product to have for long trips, especially since I drink a lot of liquid during any kind of physical activity,

I got this for my son who used it when he went to Lalapalooza this summer. He said it worked out GREAT. Heaven knows how much he would have had to spend on bottled water otherwise.My husband will be using this when we go hiking on vacation. I think it was a good investment.

So far so good. Overall great product.I use it to stay hydrated while working tossing boxes around.Only issues that I have seen so far is the bite valve I have had to replace 3 times cause it's not durable enough for me. It gets yanked all the time and I have to move it back in place, and the price. I'll probably end up getting a cover for the mouthpiece.There are great knock offs for alot cheaper but I wanted a "CamelBak" because of the quality bladders.I recommend it though it helps to keep hydrated if you got the money to spend for a CamekBak.On another not. Besides the clip that keeps the hose on my shoulder (which has bruised my shoulder btw) there is nothing that keeps the mouthpiece close to my body which would be helpful to keep it from getting caught in things... velcro just above the mouthpiece maybe?I have used the warranty claim to replace the bite valve when it busted once, they sent me the bite bite valve, flow valve, and hose that I requested no questions asked.Although when I asked for a new hose, they sent me a hose for the updated quick connect vs an original hose. I still have yet figured out a way to get the quick connect off with out cutting the hose.

I use these for going to music festivals/raves;Works great and fits a good amount of water! It should last you half the night if you're with a group and taking exceptional amount of sips here and there. So probably every almost 3 hours-ish, you'd need to refill.Has 2 small pockets, one under the "flap" that covers the water pouch, and one on the outside. You can fit chap sticks and wallets and most rave essentials, but this backpack is quite minimalistic I'd say.. as in you can't fit huge things like a water bottle or Nalgene, or even to fit jacket or clothing. It does actually have a "pocket" area between the outer pocket and the bag, but it's not 100% secure (as in there's no zip to cover in case it falls out), but if it's a small thing like the go-pro 3 way grip then it's fine if you tighten it.4/5 Gets the job done if you have small things on you and great for going to music festivals or even biking/hiking, but if you're trying to pack clothing, a jacket, or maybe an umbrella or books, then it would not fit inside the bag.

Its pretty nice its not like the old camelbaks that were more fabric which I like this ones more like waterproof plasticy fabric but it works great and I use it daily. I may get a bigger bladder tho it kinda runs out quick so this isn't really good for hardcore mountain biking deep in the woods you'd wanna get a 2 liter camelbak for that but this one is great for around the town or 1.5 hour hard cardio sesssions

Its very hard to get the water pack in and out of back pack. One time I had the hose come off result water every where. Other than that its good.

Great quality, but lack of a chest strap lets it dig into my shoulder/armpit area. I have given this to my daughter, due to her narrower shoulders, and have ordered a 3 litre one with a chest strap for me.

love it when im running, but when im biking it's hard to get the water to flow out the mouth piece. Perhaps the position of riding a bike hinders how well it flows, im not really sure why but it just doesnt work as well on a bike.

I was pretty disappointed when this showed up and was SO LITTLE. My 5 year old tried it on and its a good fit for her. My husband, at 5' 11" and 185 pounds barely fits it and he will not use it as its uncomfortable. Luckily, my daughter will get some good use out of it so we are keeping it. The quality and look of it is what I expected from Camelbak, we love their products and own several. Im just confused about how small this thing is.=)

Had an earlier version maybe 10 or more years ago that worked much better than the current one. I had a lot of faith in the product because the predecessor worked so well and for so long ( granted the price back then was more than double now.) I find it more difficult to use and much more prone to leaking than the predecessor. Probably should have returned it but its hanging in the garage where I haven't given it much more though until now.

I'm an older ex-runner who is now an avid walker in Florida. I go out in the morning for about 4 miles. In South Florida, the summer heat can be upwards of 85-90º with 70-85% humidity, so it's very important to stay hydrated. I really hate carrying a water bottle or having it hang from my waistband. I'd heard about Camelbak line of water carriers and thought I'd give one a try.The hydration system works as advertised and keeps the temperature of the water nice and cold. Unfortunately the fit of the Hydropak seems to be less than ideal, at least for me. I believe that the model I purchased, the Hydropak, has been discontinued and maybe this problem is solved in newer models. Unfortunately the Camelbak I now own isn't all that comfortable to wear, making it less than ideal to use during my long walks.I chose the Camelbak Hydropak based on price and water capacity. The Hydropak holds 1.5 litres of liquid, more than enough for my 1 hour walk. It's easy to fill with ice water from the refrigerator and it keeps it nice and cold. The Hydropak is easy to drink from using the built-in straw. When I'm finished with my walk, I simply empty any remaining water and let it air dry for the next day. If the bladder needs cleaning, it's easily removed and reinstalled.The gripe I have with the Hydropak is with the fit and location of the shoulder straps and adjustment clips. The straps have plastic adjusters to customize the fit, just like regular backpacks. These adjustment clips, unlike regular backpacks, are mounted just below the armpit. With the Camelbak on and adjusted, the buckles lie right on the side of my rib cage and rub against my arms during the normal motion of walking. It's really annoying and uncomfortable.This might be less annoying if I were wearing a traditional t-shirt, but in the summer, because of the heat and humidity, I wear a sleeveless performance shirt and the adjustment clips rub directly against the inside of my arms.It would definitely help if there was a sternum strap. That would allow the adjustment clips to be pulled slightly forward and away from where my arm brushes against my rib cage. As it is now, I am constantly aware of the buckles as my arms swing back and forth during the normal motion of walking.Another minor quibble is that the Camelbak ships with no instructions. I had no idea what the open or closed position was of the yellow shutoff valve on the mouthpiece. In fact, I had no idea it was a shutoff valve. It also took some experimenting to see how the bladder came out of the carrier so that it could be cleaned and/or dried. An additional tag on the bag with this information would have been a big help, but I guess the manufacturer feels that it is so obvious and simple that no instructions are needed. I'm pretty technically savvy and can usually figure out how things work, so spending some time with the Hydropak and a search or two on Google got me filled in on the basics. It would have been so-o simple for Camelbak to include this information, especially about the shutoff valve and bladder, that I'm a bit mystified as to why Camelbak doesn't do it.My 2¢ of advice is if you decide to purchase the Hydropak, try it on first, without filling it with liquid, to confirm the comfort of the fit and the location of the adjustment straps and buckles. If you have the same problem I have, you'll be able to return it to Amazon.

I really like the pack but the 2L Antidote reservoir that comes with the pack is not the one with the quick release tube which was the main reason I purchased the pack.

This hydration bag is for the minimalist. Does not have much room for biking tools, if you plan on using it for a ride. When full, the bag is very difficult to get into the compartment. It is best to slide the empty bag into the compartment and then fill it.

Not knowing how much water is in the pack is a problem for me

Chest strap broke on first ride. Had to sew it back myself. Now it works.

I've run this through its paces for a summer, both on foot and on a bike. The straps do a great job at distributing the weight, while not getting in the way or rubbing. The chest buckle means you never have to worry about it sliding off when you're bouncing around the woods. The pockets also hold a surprising amount of stuff, and expand into the reservoir area as you drink it down.My big gripe, and the reason I gave it only 3 stars, is that the reservoir included with the package is missing key features: the quick release valve so that the hose can be cleaned, and the cover for the bite valve. These can be added as accessories, but cost together half the cost of a whole new reservoir. The quick release valve is a particularly glaring omission, since it comes pre-installed on replacement reservoirs, and is necessary to use Camelbak's own cleaning brushes.

This is my first Camelbak product, so I have nothing but expectations to compare it with other than basic canteens. That said, it does hold water. It is relatively easy to assemble. I do have a complaint about how tight the hole in the shoulder strap is that the mouthpiece has to be forced through; seems to me there should be a better way. Biggest complaint is, despite reviews claiming this is large enough for a large man to wear, I am left wondering how large a man they are talking about. I am 6'2" and 265 lb, with a 50" chest. The strap in front that is supposed to hold the shoulder straps together so the unit doesn't bounce off your back when you run or bike is useless for me...it doesn't elongate enough to fit across my front without riding up into my throat and choking me. If the shoulder straps were long enough for me, I would give it another star. It lost a star because of the hole in the shoulder strap being difficult to force the mouth piece through. Three stars...I can fill it up and put the bladder in the fridge overnight so in the morning I have cold water for my workout.

Water came out of reservoir with closed lid. Rubbers/sealers are not good enough

The product is great, and if the description were correct I would have given this a 5 star review. However, the description is wrong. This Camelbak is described as having an Antidote reservoir (where the tube can be easily snapped into and out of the reservoir). It DOES NOT HAVE AN ANTIDOTE reservoir, but instead comes with an Omega reservoir (where the tube is not easily disconnected/replaced). This may not matter to you unless you want to replace the tube, such as in my case with an insulated tube for keeping the water flowing while skiing. But I had to buy an antidote converter kit to be able to use my insulated tube. Also, the seller reached out asking me if I was satisfied. I said not and told them the product description was incorrect. Instead of changing it or doing anything to make me whole, they said "return it to Amazon if you think it's defective". So basically didn't even try to understand my complaint.

Received just before a long training run. I wanted to try using a light camelback for a run so I ordered this product that had good reviews. I liked the fit and size. On the first day I was heading out for a run with this bag I filled it up with water, closed the seal and set the bag aside. As I finished getting ready to leave for my run I noticed the pack was soaking wet. Surely this was my fault I thought, so I checked the camelbak water seal and it was fully sealed, but leaking. I drained the water and tried adjusting the "gasket" a few times but each time the pack continued to leak. I assume this was a fluke, but for a company that has such a specific focus I expect better quality control. My platypus pack has been flawless in even sub zero hiking temps. Will not purchase camelbak products again. Two stars because I do like the design.

Don't have front belt. Not useful for running.

The bag is great, it worked for only 3 days though before the mouthpiece broke and started dripping everywhere though. Disappointed.

Too little. No storage

Material is thinner than other camelback backpacks and while the straps adjust in the front, the part that covers the water bladder just slips onto a plastic part of the water bladder. Since there is also a pocket on the top flap, it sometimes blows open, because there is no sturdy clasp to keep the top down. This also makes the pack less compatible with other water bladders.In comparison with the camelback packs sold circa 2010, this one is lower quality, with less helpful clips. The camelback bladder that comes with this pack has a very short tube (cannot snake through easily to the front clips) and is not able to be dismantled. Essentially some camelbacks have the tube and body that clip apart easily, but this one doesn't. It's basically all lower quality components than I expected given the price. It is better than running with a water bottle in my hand. If you're thinking about another pack, it may be worth it; especially if you value quality in your sporting products.

it was too small for me

It didn't get 3 stars because it is a bad product. In fact; I really like the product and it works great. The issue is that it is supposed to hold 70oz and mine only holds 50oz. I didn't notice this until several months after I bought it because I never used a measuring cup to figure out how much it holds. Great product. Just be careful that you get what you pay for.

I bought this bag for my 11year old son. Within 2 hours the mouth piece was leaking. The tip of the mouth piece began to break away on the side creating a tiny ant size hole. I was a little disappointed because I watched several YouTube videos about how durable and well tested these parts were. Aside from that, great bag.

A tight fit. I am only 5'8" but I have wide shoulders. I am never comfortable wearing it. It works as described but I will say any water left in the hose between the storage chamber and mouthpiece will taste bad but if you drain it or just spit it out on the first draw you will be okay.

Great pack, but there was no Quick Link system on the Antidote Reservoir on the Rogue which makes it incompatible with other parts unless I buy the replacement reservoir or a Quick Link converter.

I bought this pack for a music festival. It leaked the very first time I used it and never stopped. It was defective from the very first time using it. I was very disappointed as I had assumed that i would always have water so I didn't have to run and get more and miss sets. The only good thing about this pack was that the leakage cooled my back down.

It was clearly used!!! Gross I thought I ordered a new one

It broke two days after its first use.

Have used this item almost a handful of times now. It's clear what its purpose is intended for, which is to carry water portably. The little mini pocket allows for either 1 regular-sized iphone such as the 5s but not anything bigger such as the iphone 6 or the galaxy Nexus. So if you're planning to carry at least a phone, keys, and your credit card/ID, don't count on it because they won't fit. This means you may have to keep them in your pockets or carry another bag.. As a hiking/camping enthusiast, the prior was somewhat of a nuisance for me, and I might as well just bring a backpack to carry water bottles so it could fit other things such as food, keys, wallet, etc. Cool design but not exactly the most efficient outside of carrying just water.

Really small. Mine leaked on bladder, returned and got a bigger different brand that I like.

I'm down grading this to one star after using it for the first time. 1) no sternum strap. 2) the flap doesn't even attach. It blows around like a flag. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) 3) at least 1/3 of the bladder isn't insulted. It might be easy to add water but there is no insulation around the mouth and that flap that doesn't fasten is just nylon. My water was pee warm after an hour of riding in 67 degrees, overcast. I can't imagine what it will be like when it's actaully hot out. Piece of junk. Do not buy.