Posted: 7/7/2007 10:07:51 AM EDT
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Is Camelback the best there is, or are there others (Blackhawk, etc) that beat them out? I'm looking for something that can take some abuse on a hiking trail, maybe has some small pistol storage. Thanks |
| They have really gotten very mission specific. How much water can you/do you want to carry. The camelback products get my vote, put mine to the test for sure. It survived being worn while doing a lot of leg lifts and never leaked at all. Oh, and for the record front leaning rest I never found all that relaxing. In the end for me its the cleaning that is a PITA on all of them. |
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I've had good luck with my Camelbak. I've had it for 6 yrs and it still works fine/doesn't leak. Cleaning the bladder is a pain but i think that's gonna be a problem with any brand. ETA: I use mine for trailriding on my motocross bike, so i would think it would hold up to hiking with no problems. |
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I've got Gregory, Platypus and Camelbak systems. I have Camelbak SnoBound, MULE, Transformer, Motherload, had a BFM but sold it. I also have a Gregory Endurance and a bunch of other packs but these are the ones that came w/ hydration. I've got a stand-alone Platy that you can lash to the side of your pack or slip inside and a Platypus Lil' Nipper too. I use them for mtn biking, hiking, inline skating, trail running, I've used them white water rafting and dirt biking, I take them 4-wheeling/rock-crawling, I've taken them to the range and to machinegun shoots. I use them snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, snowboarding and downhill skiing. I take them on 14ers and I've used them in amateur adventure races. Overall, I like the Camelbak bladders, hoses and accesories better. The Platy is cool because you can freeze and boil it and I really like the Lil' Nipper as a flask for a few shots on the slopes skiing or snowboarding. ETA: Oh yeah, I've also got a Tactical Tailor hydration pouch on the back of my 2-piece MAV. I was thinking of selling my Camelbak transformer but I've never done EE before. It's a pferfectly good pack and been used very little but with so many packs I just never get to that one. It was intended to go with my MAV bt the hydration pouch kind of eliminated the need. |
| I've been using a Camelbak Lobo and Mule for years and they are great.I'm sure others are good also.My Lobo holds 70 ounces of water and the Mule 100.Both have the omega screw on opening making for easy filling with water and the opening is big enough to put ice cubes in.Good buy for the money.I use mind mainly for mountain biking and they have lots of storage even for concealed carry. |