CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout

Comments about CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout:

I have a 20-year-old MULE that has holes now, and always wore it with a big fanny pack, as it was much smaller than this one. I bought this on sale without noticing it was meant as a bicycling pack, when I wanted it for hiking. It does just barely hold the "10 essentials" for a day hike, and living in AZ I certainly need the water capacity. However, I have extra medical equipment I need to carry, and that means something else won't fit. I really like the expandable "helmet" pocket, use that for all sorts of things to which I want quick access, and it closes up so nothing falls out and it isn't even visible.
I took the waist strap off, but wish it actually had little side pockets in that area for stuff like lip balm that I want at random times without taking the pack off.
My biggest issue is that it's really hard to get the full water bladder into the pack. One shoulder strap is in the way, and I always have to take everything else out of the pack to get the bladder in at all. And I have trouble getting hold of the zipper to close the bladder pocket, though I generally have very good fine motor skills. It also has a clip on the right side to hold the drinking tube, but I prefer mine on the left, where there is no clip. Maybe that's a bicycling thing?
It's supposed to have great air-flow for the back, but I find it sweatier than other packs. Maybe if I were leaning over on a bike the air would go up my back?
I don't hate the pack, will keep using it, but wish it was a tiny bit bigger too. I do have a bicycling friend who loves hers and uses it for lots besided biking, though it looks like hers is a little bigger--maybe from a different year.

Comments about CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout:

Every couple of years I get a new camelbak thinking they must have fixed that plastic taste by now. Nope. They still taste terrible. And yes, I tried baking soda and the denture tabs, but if water is in the bladder for more than 30 mins or so, blah -- it tastes bad. As usual I returned it and am going back to ol' faithful bpa-free bottle. The MULE pack itself is nice though-- 5 stars for that anyway!

Comments about CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout:

I started hiking 14ers in Colorado last year and took this pack on at least 4 trips. It was the perfect amount of water for me - I finished it at the very end of each hike. It can hold several layers for when the mountain gets cold, food, and it ties up to be close to your back and very stable. I'm going to be using this for a long time.

Comments about CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout:

I got one of these to do distance cycling in the summer of 2012 in Central Illinois. Temperatures over 100 every day and this literally saved me in the hottest summer on record.

The hidden bonus is that the big "gear" section is capable of carrying a second 100 oz. reservoir while leaving the smaller pockets free for gear/food.

Most people may not need this kind of capacity, but when the temperatures are showing at 105° and the roads have turned liquid in the sun it's nice to have.

I would suggest getting a dark color though (mine was a funky white/blue that turned nasty after being coated with sunscreen/road dirt over and over).

Comments about CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz. - 2012 Closeout:

I love this thing! I bought it a year ago, I use it on a regular basis. I live in San Diego and I use it for all sorts of hiking in the desert. It is great for trips to Disneyland where all I need to carry is sunscreen and maybe an extra layer for my daughter and myself. I even use it when I go fishing on the coast it carries the basics and enough water to keep make me stop for pee breaks every once in a while.