{"id":9539,"date":"2016-09-28T14:48:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T21:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=9539"},"modified":"2018-11-11T21:49:07","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T05:49:07","slug":"gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack","title":{"rendered":"Gear Review: Men&#8217;s CamelBak Franconia Hydration Pack"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p>As I pulled CamelBak\u2019s new hydration daypack out of the box, my first impression was \u201cWow, this thing is hefty.\u201d The Franconia LR 24 is both a daypack and a hydration pack, but it\u2019s the Cadillac of those categories. It\u2019s full of features found on most big backpacking rigs, such as load lifters on the shoulder straps, a generous hipbelt with expandable pockets, and compression straps to bring the load closer into your back. And, it has a metal frame. All of these give it the ability to comfortably carry a good-sized load, and with over 20 liters of capacity, that\u2019s a real option.<\/p>\n<div class=\"curalate-widget\" lang=\"en\" style=\"margin: 0 auto !important; position: relative !important; max-width: 1080px !important;\" data-widget-id=\"kj3iPohNK8S93aKMGjCkEz6ODy6lqVsO\" data-active-product-icon=\"tag\" data-stretch-to-fit=\"true\" data-shop-button-text=\"SHOP\" data-auto-show-products=\"true\" data-replace-tabs=\"false\" data-custom-css-url-override=\"\" data-custom-js-url-override=\"\" data-widget-version=\"v1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"curalate-widget-image\" style=\"display: block; margin: auto; border-radius: 3px; max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/d28m5bx785ox17.cloudfront.net\/v1\/img\/MNdPychvIgDMl7d2b4bIxpSGN7i5syVUN7DUUgFkFNQ=\/d\/l\" \/><script class=\"curalate-widget-script\" async=\"\" defer=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net\/js\/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>In addition to what I normally carry for a day hike in the mountains (snacks, layers, jacket, water), I was able to put a DSLR camera with a couple lenses in the pack body along with a couple cans of beer to fill it out properly. There still was room for a sandwich and an apple. With the three-liter water reservoir filled to capacity, my daypack weighed about 28 pounds\u2014all of which would cut straight into my shoulders with a classic \u201cbag with two straps\u201d kind of pack. But trying on the Franconia, fully loaded for a posh day hike, I could feel how the solidly built frame worked with the load lifters, hipbelt and compression straps to provide a smooth carry. This proved to be the case on a couple peak-bagging missions in the mountains near our home in Anchorage, Alaska.<\/p>\n<div class=\"curalate-widget\" lang=\"en\" style=\"margin: 0 auto !important; position: relative !important; max-width: 1080px !important;\" data-widget-id=\"QJ4wi3w8YnpVEjdbc9GLYkM7YQ7YOeV6\" data-active-product-icon=\"tag\" data-stretch-to-fit=\"true\" data-shop-button-text=\"SHOP\" data-auto-show-products=\"true\" data-replace-tabs=\"false\" data-custom-css-url-override=\"\" data-custom-js-url-override=\"\" data-widget-version=\"v1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"curalate-widget-image\" style=\"display: block; margin: auto; border-radius: 3px; max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/d28m5bx785ox17.cloudfront.net\/v1\/img\/0Eq0HZbfYO0for72Mz6WU-2cSHr-sEcvgbN7QFfE1Pc=\/d\/l\" \/><script class=\"curalate-widget-script\" async=\"\" defer=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net\/js\/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>Scrambling up craggy ridgelines, I appreciated how the pack is designed to pull the weight into my back. The side compression straps for the internal reservoir pocket securely put those three liters squarely up against the lumbar area of the back instead of higher up in-between my shoulder blades.<\/p>\n<div class=\"curalate-widget\" lang=\"en\" style=\"margin: 0 auto !important; position: relative !important; max-width: 1080px !important;\" data-widget-id=\"V1Vpe8gCtmrRtfUfmb6saVd9a281Hu5R\" data-active-product-icon=\"tag\" data-stretch-to-fit=\"true\" data-shop-button-text=\"SHOP\" data-auto-show-products=\"true\" data-replace-tabs=\"false\" data-custom-css-url-override=\"\" data-custom-js-url-override=\"\" data-widget-version=\"v1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"curalate-widget-image\" style=\"display: block; margin: auto; border-radius: 3px; max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/d28m5bx785ox17.cloudfront.net\/v1\/img\/RT2mzGS0islG9gAadmtaxnRgPXV-WoHcHTLE6etcjiQ=\/d\/l\" \/><script class=\"curalate-widget-script\" async=\"\" defer=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net\/js\/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>The pack\u2019s air suspension back panel was also one of my favorite features, since hiking a good-sized load up a couple thousand feet of mountain can be sweaty work. Even though I did break a sweat, the back of my shirt didn\u2019t get the soaked feel you can get with limited-airflow back panels. Lastly, the hipbelt tightened easily and both cargo pockets were easy to access while tight on your hips.<\/p>\n<div class=\"curalate-widget\" lang=\"en\" style=\"margin: 0 auto !important; position: relative !important; max-width: 1080px !important;\" data-widget-id=\"ju4YwqnsXZ6HQdetTsNk76bEAJn1vVzt\" data-active-product-icon=\"tag\" data-stretch-to-fit=\"true\" data-shop-button-text=\"SHOP\" data-auto-show-products=\"true\" data-replace-tabs=\"false\" data-custom-css-url-override=\"\" data-custom-js-url-override=\"\" data-widget-version=\"v1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"curalate-widget-image\" style=\"display: block; margin: auto; border-radius: 3px; max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/d28m5bx785ox17.cloudfront.net\/v1\/img\/VCd9kgzOFN8mGJCVdKmFHUYSE1buDOtbGS06ojTgFrI=\/d\/l\" \/><script class=\"curalate-widget-script\" async=\"\" defer=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/d30bopbxapq94k.cloudfront.net\/js\/curalate-widget-client-all.prod.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>CamelBak\u2019s latest incarnation of their signature hydration reservoir, the Crux LR, is topnotch. I\u2019ve shied away from CamelBak hydration systems after years of wonky screw-on lids that often went on half-cocked only to leak two liters of water into my pack. Those days seem to be behind us now: Filling and tightening the new Crux LR is easy and secure.<\/p>\n<p>I did have a problem with the hydration hose being too stiff and sticking out awkwardly. However, I would chock that up to my pre-production sample. When I tested another new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-womens-camelbak-sundowner-hydration-pack\" target=\"_blank\">CamelBak Sundowner<\/a> daypack with the same Crux LR system, the hose hung off the shoulder just fine. Trying the pack on at the store to see how hydration hose rides is a good idea.<\/p>\n<p>The Franconia is more like a mini full-featured backpack than a daypack or hydration pack. Because its empty weight of nearly three pounds would easily eclipse the payload, you wouldn\u2019t want this for a trail run or if all you carry is a jacket and a couple energy bars. But its awesome carrying capacity does make it a good choice for day outings (bring a cooking system for hot drinks or dinner on top of some peak) as well as minimalist overnighters (we\u2019ve done three days out of 25-liter packs).<\/p>\n<span class=\"cb-button cb-white cb-normal cb-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-womens-camelbak-sundowner-hydration-pack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow\">Check out the\u00a0women&#8217;s CamelBak Sundowner gear review here.<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" role=\"presentation\"><path d=\"M16 12a.997.997 0 0 0-.288-.702l-5.005-5.005a1 1 0 0 0-1.414 1.414L13.585 12 9.29 16.295a1 1 0 0 0 1.417 1.412l4.98-4.98A.997.997 0 0 0 16 12z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span>\n<p>Shop the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/108334\/camelbak-franconia-lr-24-hydration-pack-mens-3-liters\" target=\"_blank\">CamelBak Franconia LR 24 hydration pack<\/a>\u00a0and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/108364\/camelbak-crux-lumbar-100-reservoir-3-liters\" target=\"_blank\">CamelBak Crux Lumbar 100 Reservoir &#8211; 3 Liters<\/a> at REI.com.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As I pulled CamelBak\u2019s new hydration daypack out of the box, my first impression was \u201cWow, this thing is hefty.\u201d The Franconia LR 24 is both a daypack and a hydration pack, but it\u2019s the Cadillac of those categories. It\u2019s full of features found on most big backpacking rigs, such as load lifters on the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":9543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[671,277,8],"internal-tag":[559,1673],"class_list":["post-9539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","tag-camelbak","tag-gear-review","tag-hike","internal-tag-matt-agnes-hage","internal-tag-pre-redirect-hike"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Gear Review: Men&#8217;s CamelBak Franconia Hydration Pack","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/09\/AKHK20160606-0845.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/09\/AKHK20160606-0845.jpg?fit=1500%2C855"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Angela Crampton"}],"creator":["Angela Crampton"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["camelbak","gear reviews","hike"],"dateCreated":"2016-09-28T21:48:52Z","datePublished":"2016-09-28T21:48:52Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T05:49:07Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Gear Review: Men&#8217;s CamelBak Franconia Hydration Pack\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/gear-review-mens-camelbak-franconia-hydration-pack\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/AKHK20160606-0845.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/AKHK20160606-0845.jpg?fit=1500%2C855\"},\"articleSection\":\"Hike\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Angela Crampton\"}],\"creator\":[\"Angela Crampton\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"camelbak\",\"gear reviews\",\"hike\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2016-09-28T21:48:52Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-09-28T21:48:52Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2018-11-12T05:49:07Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/09\/AKHK20160606-0845.jpg?fit=1500%2C855","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9539"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20533,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9539\/revisions\/20533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9539"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=9539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}