CamelBak  Arete 14 Hydration Pack

The backpack itself was great. Lots of easy access pockets. However, packing the bag meant squishing the bladder and I found it hard to suck the water out of the straw unless it was turned a very specific way. I rinsed out the bladder but couldn't remove the plastic taste so ended up using a Nalgene bottle for water instead. All together it was heavier to carry the daypack and bladder than a day pack and a Nalgene bottle. And it wasn't ideal to carry too many items in the bag as it seemed to effect how easy it was to suck in the water. It also felt heavier than carrying it in a Nalgene bottle thrown in a day pack. I'll definitely use the day pack itself but not so jazzed about the bladder. It was my first time using any Camelbak or bladder system and not sure I'd use it again, mostly due to the plastic taste of the water and how heavy it felt.

Not for everyday mountain biking (which was when we first tried it) but a nice all-purpose bladder/pack. Limited pockets, just the one big one and a smaller one that doesn’t hold gear in place. Too wide on the back for biking (too hot) but functional in a pinch. Would be great for traveling (to a destination hike, e.g. one where you need to pack your gear into a carryon/luggage) as it compresses pretty flat and is lightweight.

This pack is very light, it works very well for short hikes, and can still carry everything you need. For longer/all day hikes I would recommend something bigger to carry food or extra clothing if you expect the weather to change, but this works perfectly for everything else, or if you expect to be able to stop and refill the reservoir. It also breathes very well against your back.

Great lightweight, affordable hydration pack for shorter walks. I found myself wanting a hydration backpack over hip pack mounted water bottles which I find fiddly to access while on the move. I tried a shoulder sling type system but that never stayed put. This pack fits the sweet spot, not too large but still enough room to stow snacks and outerwear like a rain jacket and pants, windbreaker or down sweater. The outer sleeve fits maps and other things for quick access, but it doesn't close up securely so I'd advise against using it to stow cell phones, wallets etc... The included bladder is on the small side at 50 oz, but again this is meant for 1-1.5 hr walks not epic hikes. There is room for a 70 oz/2L bladder if you drink lots, but you'd sacrifice volume for outerwear/snacks. Finally, the shoulder straps and chest strap do a decent job securing the pack to your back, but it does shift about somewhat when scrambling. If you're looking for trail running pack, look elsewhere.

The Arete 14 is a nice day pack that works well for biking, hiking, and scrambling. With a full water bladder and gear, it fits well to the body and has less movement than other similar packs. The mesh back and shoulder straps are of some benefit when trying to beat the heat. If you run hot, they won't help much, but do at least dry quickly when wet. It is clear the design of Arete 14 is to hold water and gear together. If just going with the water bladder and nothing else, the bottom of the empty pack will curl up when the shoulder straps are tightened, so it will not lay fully flat across the back (an annoyance with many packs where the bladder hangs from the top and does not extend down to the bottom of the pack). The outer mesh pockets are very convenient. Even with a full pack, items can still easily be stuff in those. The inner mesh pocket is a nice idea, but would prefer if it zipped closed and was relocated as it's a bit difficult to access with other gear in the pack. The bladder lid and on/off valve are much improved over older Camelbak bladders. The lid is easier to seal, and it's easier to tell visually if the on/off valve is opened or closed.

It has a big enough volume to contain snacks and extra layers of clothing with carrying around something big and bulky. The reservoir was plenty big for a day hike. Also, I love the mesh outer pocket for quick accessible items. All around great! My wife used this more than I did. It seemed a bit small for me but perfect for her.

This was a nice lightweight pack that would be perfect for any short day hikes. It provides enough water and has an enough room to carry snacks and an extra thin layer if needed.

I wore this pack biking, hiking and running. First, the amount of space is great. There is enough room for snacks and I could put my sweatshirt in the pouch after I got to hot. I really liked the handle to use while filling the bladder, but it does add extra weight to the pack. Another plus to this pack is that the bite valve has an "on/off" lever, just gives a little extra security to it not leaking. There is only one buckle on this pack which at first gave me concern but if you adjust the sides and the sternum strap it fits fine. I would make one change with the bladder hose, adding more clips to hold it in place and one on each side for the left handed people. I found myself hitting it while I ran. This is a great pack for hiking and long bike rides. I found it a bit heavy for running. Overall I would recommend this pack for the space and convivence you get.

This is a decent little one-pocket festival hydration pack. The size is great - not too big, not too small. Plenty of room for everything you'll need for a day on festival grounds. The problem is where the hydration tube comes out of the pack itself. Right in the top-center. This causes the tube to lay strangely against my neck since it doesn't come out where the shoulder strap connects like so many other Camelbak models. If you need a festival-approved pack, this one can work, but keep in mind the tube placement.

This pack is a great size for day hiking when you want to carry enough water for a long day and also have room for a few essentials without a lot of bulk. In my urban use, this pack was the right size for longer bike rides in the summer heat when I needed to carry more water and also have room for sunscreen, a hat, and snacks. I am able to fit my 13" laptop in the pack but it's a tight fit. If your mantra is less is more this pack may be a great fit for you in that regard. When loaded down I found the pack to be comfortable. The shoulder straps are wide enough to keep from digging in and there's plenty of adjustability for different torso sizes. There's no hip belt but I don't think it's even worthwhile in a pack like this. It's not a pack you're going to take running in my opinion. The mesh pockets on the outside of the pack easy accommodate my size 11 flip-flops but I could just as easy stuff a windbreaker or light rain jacket in there. It may not be obvious in the photos but there are actually two outside mesh pockets. On the inside there's a smaller mesh pocket for storing smaller things like a phone, keys, or wallet. This pocket doesn't have a zipper however which I found disappointing. In fairness, if something does fall out, it should fall into the main body of the pack assuming it's closed. I would just appreciate the peace of mind knowing it's zipped up too. The water reservoir is really easy to use and fill. The wide opening makes refills trouble free. I didn't experience any leaking in my use. The bite valve works smoothly and can be set up on either shoulder strap. One thing I wasn't sure about is the clip that holds the hose to the strap. It's attached to the sternum strap on the right side. It would be nice to be able to swap the sternum strap so the hose clip can be on the left side. Maybe this is possible but I was afraid of breaking it so I left it alone.