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 CamelBak Men's Alpine Explorer 3-Liter Hydration Pack (Black/Graphite) By: CamelBak Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 3 More Information Excellent backpack!  On: 2008-06-22Ive used this backpack over the past 6 months as a hiking day pack in Belize and Patagonia; w/everything I needed for a 3-day hiking/sightseeing trip to Iguazu Falls; and as a standard backpack for Spanish class & being a tourist in Buenos Aires. It has seen glaciers, beaches, rain forest and subways, and has been well worth the money. The pack is well made w/sturdy zippers, strong material & quality craftsmanship. The large pocket holds tons of stuff easily & the smaller pocket also has a nylon pouch w/zippered pocket, pen holders, key chain clip & another small velcro pocket. The iPod/sunglasses pocket is nicely padded w/soft material to prevent scratching and a small hole allowing a headphone cord to poke through (the zipper on my sunglasses pocket is a bit quirky but still works fine). It also has an expandable mesh section between the 2 main pockets that can hold easily accessible rain gear/extra layer/food/water/travel guide, etc. Mesh pockets on the sides easily hold 1L water bottles and then some, and straps along the sides expand or contract the bag nicely. All the longer straps can be folded up & stowed out of the way w/velcro The padded/vented air circulation system used for the back of the pack works better than any other bag Ive owned to prevent ending up with a sweaty back & drenched pack at the end of the day. The Camelbak hydration pouch fits easily in a separate pocket that doesnt seem to sweat at all like my older model did. The 3L capacity is more than enough for a full day of hiking, and in fact I (perhaps stupidly) went nearly 2 full days w/o refilling. The pouch has a tight-fitting screw-top lid and (slightly awkward) hard plastic handle to hold while refilling. The hose has the angled head w/shut-off valve (that you need to pay attention to or risk soaking your clothes/bus seat/sleeping bag when you set the bag down on top of the hose...My friend told me that...) The only downsides (maybe redesigned by now?): - waist and chest straps are pretty much pointless & in the way unless youre actually running & need to tighten things down. Not sturdy enough to be load bearing. - shoulder straps are only moderately padded, but I guess that helps keep the weight down. - A clip for the CamelBak hose would be nice so you could secure it rather than letting it swing free or having to tuck it under straps (would also alleviate the accidental leaking problem mentioned above). - not very easy to refill hydration pouch w/o having to re-thread the hose, but thats nothing new. Overall Im quite happy w/the bag. Maybe a bit large if you only need a day pack, but its great as an overnight/3-day bag if you pack economically. Finally, a pack worth taking! On: 2008-01-27We have been looking for a pack with a camel for a long time for my husband. Finally, we have found one that has easy access to his glasses, ample room for extra gear, and a large water bladder. The pack is perfect! great pack if your needing a large daypack On: 2008-01-12My wife and I have several different packs , but this is my favorite. Plenty of room very expandable yet doesnt feel large or bulky. I would highly recommend it. |