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Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack
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By Jessica Brown
Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack Review Facts
The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is an all-around good hydration pack that customers seem to love and use often. You can use the pack for a plethora of activities, such as running, racing, cycling, and even traveling. The pack is small and does not have a lot of storage room, but if you are looking for something simple, convenient, and relatively inexpensive then this is definitely a great choice. There are a couple different color options that you can choose from so you can make sure you get something that is going to fit your style and personality. The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is lightweight and small and can fit comfortably under a jacket or coat if you are planning to use it in colder weather, keep in mind though that the bladder itself is insulated but the tube is not so that does have the potential to freeze if you are not careful. The back panel of the pack is made out of an ultra-lightweight breathable material to make sure that your back will stay cool even on warmer days and long runs. One thing that you may want to keep in mind, however, is that if you have wide shoulders the straps may be a little tight and uncomfortable, but other than that customers like how this fits on their back. If you are looking for something to easily and conveniently keep you hydrated without the added hassle of carrying extra water bottles, you should try this hands-free hydration pack.
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
- It is exceptionally easy to fill with water
- Drinking from this is fairly easy
- Super lightweight and small
- It is relatively easy to take apart and clean
- Can help keep your back cool
- Breathable mesh back panel for great ventilation
- Great price point
- Durable
Cons
- This does not have a lot of storage space
- Shoulder straps can be snug if you have wide shoulders
Positive
- This hydration pack gets high praise from hikers, bikers, and runners.
- The lightweight material doesn't weigh you down.
- The mesh material allows good airflow.
- The mouthpiece is easy to use and doesn't require a lot of effort to get a drink.
- Most buyers say it's a good value for the price.
- The materials and workmanship are high quality.
- The reservoir is easy to take out and put back in the pack.
- It's easy to fill and clean.
- The materials are durable.
- This is sized right for active people. It doesn't get in the way during runs, rides, or hikes.
- The straps hold it in place so there isn't a lot of movement on runs and rides.
- Buyers have used this for short and long distance runs with success.
- The extra storage pocket is convenient for storing a phone, keys, or an energy bar.
- It's easy to get extra air out of the reservoir to prevent sloshing.
- There are no reports of drips from the mouthpiece or tube
- The reservoir has convenient drying arms.
- The bright colors available add a bit of safety for road runs.
- The pack provides good insulation to keep water cool.
Negative
- There is very little room to pack anything but the reservoir and bare essentials.
- Some runners say that they felt a little rub on the shoulders when wearing a tank top.
- Some buyers feel it takes to much effort to get the straps and bag to fit just right.
- For runners, an extra strap or two would help keep the pack in place better.
- Several reviewers complain that the lid is finicky to close.
- There is no storage on the shoulder straps. For runners, that placement would be more convenient for some items.
- There are a few reports of chafing during long runs.
- The reservoir pocket does not have any fixtures to secure it closed which limits its uses.
- The tube is not insulated to keep water cool so on hot days the first few sips of water are hot until you can pull from the reservoir.
- Although rare, there are some reports of leaks within the first dozen uses.
Reviewmeter
The Reviewmeter shows you an overall score that you can easily refer to. The highest rating is 10 (100% positive feedback)
Of the 203 reviews we found in total,
24% were negative, and
76% were positive.
Use
Use
The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is a great hydration pack that customers use for a plethora of activities. No matter what you are doing it is always important to stay hydrated and the use of this pack is an easy and convenient way to make sure that you do. Camelbak suggests that this pack is best and mostly used for cyclists, but customers have said that they use it for so much more. Whether you are riding, running, or traveling, customers love the convenience of being able to have their water anywhere they are and they do not have to carry around extra water bottles. It is nice to have a hands-free way to keep yourself hydrated.
The pack is designed with reflective accents on it so you can run or bike in low light safely and you will not have to worry about not being seen and possibly getting injured. The pack is a plain and simple bag, but it does have limited space, only having one extremely small, zippered pocket located at the bottom of the bag. You may be able to carry a multi-tool or your keys in the pocket but not much else. That being said, this may not be the best pack to use if you are planning on hiking with it. The pack does, however, carry 2 liters of water which customers have suggested is plenty for just about any activity.
The pack is designed with reflective accents on it so you can run or bike in low light safely and you will not have to worry about not being seen and possibly getting injured. The pack is a plain and simple bag, but it does have limited space, only having one extremely small, zippered pocket located at the bottom of the bag. You may be able to carry a multi-tool or your keys in the pocket but not much else. That being said, this may not be the best pack to use if you are planning on hiking with it. The pack does, however, carry 2 liters of water which customers have suggested is plenty for just about any activity.
Breathability
Breathability
The back panel of the CamelBak Classic Hydration Pack is made out of a breathable mesh material to not only make sure you have optimal airflow but it also keeps the weight of the pack down and makes sure you have the highest comfort level possible while wearing the hydration pack. It is important to have a pack that is going to be breathable and allows for a decent amount of airflow. The pack will help keep you cool when you are on a long run due to the amount of airflow which customers love. You do not want to be in the middle of a long run or bike ride and have to worry about overheating because of the pack on your back.
Comfort
Comfort
The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is super lightweight and small which customers love. They can go for long runs or bike rides and not have to worry about their pack weighing them down too much. Some customers have even commented on the fact that it is so light and comfortable that they forgot they were wearing it all together. You definitely do not want to be wearing something that is going to super uncomfortable for any run, especially if you are on long runs or races.
Size
Size
The size of the CamelBak Classic Hydration Pack itself is fairly small which is nice because it keeps it lightweight so you do not feel like you are carrying too much extra weight on your back. Customers like that it is small and easy to wear. Just because the size is small, however, does not mean that it cannot hold a decent amount of water. Many customers have commented that this pack will hold an adequate amount of water for their long runs, hikes, or rides. The pack can fit easily under a jacket if you are running in colder weather as well.
One of the biggest concerns customers have when it comes to the size of this pack, however, has to do with the amount of storage it offers. There is only one very small pocket for storage located on the bag and customers state that they can barely fit anything in it. The pocket is so small that one customer commented he could not even fit his cell phone. Keep in mind when you are purchasing this pack that you will not be able to store a whole lot in it so if that is something that you are going to require you will either need to wear something in addition to the hydration pack or you may want to consider another option.
One of the biggest concerns customers have when it comes to the size of this pack, however, has to do with the amount of storage it offers. There is only one very small pocket for storage located on the bag and customers state that they can barely fit anything in it. The pocket is so small that one customer commented he could not even fit his cell phone. Keep in mind when you are purchasing this pack that you will not be able to store a whole lot in it so if that is something that you are going to require you will either need to wear something in addition to the hydration pack or you may want to consider another option.
Durability
Durability
The materials that make up the Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack are made to last and they do not seem to suffer from any premature wear and tear according to reviews. You can purchase this pack and not have to worry about replacing it for a good long while. That being said, there are some aspects of this pack that customers have commented could use some improvement.
Some reviews have mentioned that, even though the bladder itself is insulated, the hose is not and therefore can be subject to freezing. If you are planning on using this pack in cold weather keep in mind that it is possible for the water that is inside the tube to freeze if you are not drinking from it often enough, although you will not have to worry about the liquid that is inside the bladder freezing. Something else that customers suggest to keep the liquid in the hose from freezing is tucking the tube and mouthpiece under a couple of additional layers. It can become a bit of a hassle so it is something that you may want to consider when purchasing this hydration pack.
Another issue that some customers have mentioned when it comes to the Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is that it can sometimes leak and that can lead to some problems when wearing it. It can be rather difficult to get a complete seal on the cap which can cause the pack to leak pretty bad. One customer suggested if they removed the reservoir they were able to seal the cap and it would prevent the leakage.
Some reviews have mentioned that, even though the bladder itself is insulated, the hose is not and therefore can be subject to freezing. If you are planning on using this pack in cold weather keep in mind that it is possible for the water that is inside the tube to freeze if you are not drinking from it often enough, although you will not have to worry about the liquid that is inside the bladder freezing. Something else that customers suggest to keep the liquid in the hose from freezing is tucking the tube and mouthpiece under a couple of additional layers. It can become a bit of a hassle so it is something that you may want to consider when purchasing this hydration pack.
Another issue that some customers have mentioned when it comes to the Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is that it can sometimes leak and that can lead to some problems when wearing it. It can be rather difficult to get a complete seal on the cap which can cause the pack to leak pretty bad. One customer suggested if they removed the reservoir they were able to seal the cap and it would prevent the leakage.
Accessories
Accessories
The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack does not come with any accessories when you purchase the pack. Unfortunately, since there is only one small pouch on the front of the pack that is not big enough to carry much of anything, customers have mentioned that they do have to purchase additional accessories to wear with it to carry their other gear and snacks that they need when they are on long runs, races, or they are cycling long distances.
The pack might not come with additional accessories but there are a couple nice features that the pack offers that are built into it to give you a great product. The first is the Crux reservoir which allows you to get about 20% water with each sip you take. It comes equipped with a self-sealing bite valve for easy, hands-free access to your water when you need it. There is also a Crux lever that is easy to use, allowing you to turn the valve on and off so you can have water when you want it and it seals when you do not.
The pack might not come with additional accessories but there are a couple nice features that the pack offers that are built into it to give you a great product. The first is the Crux reservoir which allows you to get about 20% water with each sip you take. It comes equipped with a self-sealing bite valve for easy, hands-free access to your water when you need it. There is also a Crux lever that is easy to use, allowing you to turn the valve on and off so you can have water when you want it and it seals when you do not.
Style
Style
Customers love the lightweight and comfortable style of the Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack. The pack is sleek and stylish and comes in a variety of colors so you can choose something that is going to fit your style and personality. When purchasing this product you can choose between pure blue, lemon green, racing red, and silver black.
The pack is small and easy to carry. You wear the pack on your back and over your shoulders like you would any other backpack. The CamelBak logo is printed down the back in varying colors, depending on the color scheme you choose to go with. The small zippered pocket is located on the bottom of the pack. There is a small chest strap to help keep the pack stabilized when you are running or biking with it, as you do not want it bouncing around too much. Some customers have suggested, however, that if you have bigger or wider shoulders the straps can become slightly tight and uncomfortable to wear.
The shoulder strap length is 34 inches but they are able to adjust and can be made smaller as needed. The handle of the pack has a drop of 1.75 inches and the length of it is 4 inches. The overall dimensions of the pack are 15 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches so that gives you an idea of the exact size of it.
The pack is small and easy to carry. You wear the pack on your back and over your shoulders like you would any other backpack. The CamelBak logo is printed down the back in varying colors, depending on the color scheme you choose to go with. The small zippered pocket is located on the bottom of the pack. There is a small chest strap to help keep the pack stabilized when you are running or biking with it, as you do not want it bouncing around too much. Some customers have suggested, however, that if you have bigger or wider shoulders the straps can become slightly tight and uncomfortable to wear.
The shoulder strap length is 34 inches but they are able to adjust and can be made smaller as needed. The handle of the pack has a drop of 1.75 inches and the length of it is 4 inches. The overall dimensions of the pack are 15 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches so that gives you an idea of the exact size of it.
Price
Price
The Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack is in the middle range in price compared to other hydration packs that are on the market. There are some that are a bit cheaper, but keep in mind that you are getting what you pay for. The MSRP, or manufacturer's suggested retail price, of this pack is $60 which is fairly reasonable. Customers are happy to pay this price for a pack that is going to last them for a while so they will not have to invest that money into another one for quite a while. Reviewers seem to really like this pack and they have recommended it to friends, family, and fellow runners or cyclists.
Key Features
Key Features
-Small and lightweight
-Convenient and easy way to stay hydrated
-Can be used for a plethora of activities such as cycling, running, racing, or traveling
-A well-ventilated back panel made out of lightweight mesh materials
-Small, zippered pocket located on the front of the bag
-New Crux lets you get about 20% more water per drink you take
-Exceptionally easy to refill with an ergonomic handle
-Comes with an on and off lever that will help to prevent leaks
-Convenient and easy way to stay hydrated
-Can be used for a plethora of activities such as cycling, running, racing, or traveling
-A well-ventilated back panel made out of lightweight mesh materials
-Small, zippered pocket located on the front of the bag
-New Crux lets you get about 20% more water per drink you take
-Exceptionally easy to refill with an ergonomic handle
-Comes with an on and off lever that will help to prevent leaks
Bottom Line
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that this an all-around decent hydration pack that customers seem to love and use often. Yes, there are some things about that Camelbak Classic Hydration Pack that can use some work, such as the lack of storage space and the difficulty sealing the cap which can cause some leakage. Customers have stated, however, that the positive features outweighed the negatives. Reviewers love the lightweight and breathable materials of the pack. No one likes the idea of having to carry around a lot of extra weight on their backs when they are on the go and you will not have to worry about that with this pack. With the reasonable price point, customers do suggest giving this pack a try. Many have tried it out and have fallen in love with it.
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