CamelBak  M.U.L.E. Evo Hydration Pack

This is now my (almost) all-in-one go-to hydration pack! Very light for the capacity and construction. It's great for just about any kind of bike riding except when you're racing on a road bike, and in that case, you would never look to one of these anyway. It does double up very well as my hiking companion too. This is not what you'd use for running, obviously. It's a bit heavy and not as held-in-place as one would need for that The construction helps facilitate ventilation against your back and this is great on muggy days when out riding. Only got a chance to spend a minimal amount of time with it in light to moderate rain. It did fairly okay at keeping the insides dry. But I cannot say how it would fare during a heavy downpour. My only gripe would be that it sits fairly high on my back when adjusted to not wiggle much. And lowering it affects the fit, at least for me (think: how tight do you want the two straps to fit across the chest?) But it does seem fairly easy to adjust and your mileage may vary as far as the fit goes. I'm 5"9, 130lbs Bottomline: Great for long bike rides on hot days. I do like my Nathan Rob Krar running hydration pack more though, in terms of comfort and fit. But, apples and oranges, really.

A great riding hydration backpack for day outings in soggy conditions. The pack keeps everything high and dry. And it carries ample water for refreshment. As a mountain biker who also likes to trail ride and hike in one outing, the pack made an excellent comfortable transition from riding to hiking. That being said, the pack didn't have much space for a full-day outing once full of water. It was a bit of a chore to squeeze and stuff the pack with necessary food, supplies, and protective clothing for the elements in wet, moist and chilly riding conditions. And, though the he outside mesh can hold a good amount, it's exposed to the elements. For longer day outings in colder wet conditions, a bigger pack might make more sense. Overall, it's a great mountain bike pack for raining conditions in warm weather situations.

I love this pack and see myself using it a lot here in the Pacific NW. It is roomier than I was expecting, with space to hold a layer, snacks, tools and my first aid kit, in addition to 3L of H2O. I was skeptical that the harness pocket would be big enough for a phone but my iPhone 13 fits just fine. I was also worried that the material might be too hot to use on sunny days but I went for a hike in 80 degree weather and the ventilation was impressive. The hydration bladder has a handy handle that makes filling it easy for one person to do solo. Bonus points for that and a nice upgrade from my previous bladder. Gone, however, are the ‘wings’ that would fold out to make drying the empty bladder a little faster, but I think the handle makes up for those. I will be using it for biking, hiking and skiing.

This is my 4th hydration pack and needed one that would handle wet and damp conditions. The materials are great on this pack. It’s also sleek and stealthy which is a big plus for my aesthetic. Fits comfortably and has raised breathable so it does not stuck to your pack and rub when wet. Overall great quality and I think is priced really fair. Just did an AT hike with it and have previously done a kayak trip.