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Submitted by
George Cruz
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisbon, Portugal
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | Dave's Cycle Shop, Fairfield, CT | | Strengths: | SPACE SPACE SAPCE - i can almost pack my bike in the large main pocket!! 2 fluid saks (+ hose and valve) included. | | Weaknesses: | None so far - nothing leaks, nothing broken, nothing ripped, nothing faded, both nags and valves like new. Rode with it in 108 degree weather (heat wave last summer in Lisbon) no problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Camelback thing, 1995-99 (also a very large model) | | Bike Setup: | DBR Axis TT, high level mix | | Bottom Line: | Bought this in late 1999. Still have it, used 2-3 times a week. I drink ALOT of water/fluids, from short 2-3 hours rides (1.5 - 2 liters), epic rides (4-5 hours, 3+ liters) to all day/night things (200 OZS!!! Thats 6 liters or 1.5 gallons!). Plus i can take a walkman, pretty well-stocked tool kit, extra tube(s), munchies, spliff(s), cameras, extra clothing, rain gear, full fluid load and it all fits!! Granted the thing weighs 25 lbs with everything in it, but i dont even feel it with this bag (well maybe when its really full). With a moderate load it feels heavy in your hand but the weight is very well distributed by the straps. The strap/support system is nice, with a 1/2 gap between your back and the bag - no sweatshop happening due to lack of air circulation. It has room for and comes with 2(!!) 100 ounce (3 liter) fluid bags, tubes and bite thingees, just those cost like $50 by themselves. Never had leakage from either bag. Bags have very large convenient openings, fold over with velco, it actually works. Spring-loaded bite thingee takes 1 ride to get used to, but after that you'll love it - no more drip drip drip on your leg or shirt!!! Mesh outer pockets can be reached without taking off the bag and are wider at bottom so things "settle in" and dont tend to fall out. Good solid construction, have used it as an emergency landing pad and its just gets a bit dirty. The really nice thing is that if you use it for a short ride (say 1 quart of fluid and a small tool kit) its light, and really doesnt flop all over the place just because its empty. So you can use it for every kind of ride (prolly not for racing though). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manny Chen
a Weekend Warrior
from Union City, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Skyline | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Lots of room and great suspension system that is well ventilated. Also works for great for hiking trips, cross country sking, snow boarding, rock climbing, etc. | | Weaknesses: | Bite valve, replaced it with a Camel Back. Straps hard to adjust, but are fine once adjusted. | | Similar Products Used: | Camel back | | Bike Setup: | Guercotti w/Easton Front Fork/ Shimano Dura Ace
Specialize M4 | | Bottom Line: | Great all around day pack if you need to carry some water and gear (OK lots of water and gear). A bit much for short rides. Not as large as a back pack for camping, but still a large enough pack for most day trips. Suspension system is great for active sports and it keeps you cool and the load off of your back. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peichen
a Weekend Warrior
from Roseville, CA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Forest Hill Divide | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$69.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | The thing can carry lots of water along with lots of other stuff you need. The suspension system is also pretty good with well padded shoulder straps and a good waist strap.
The pack is made with a pretty heavy material and can stand up to some serious abuse. | | Weaknesses: | The gulp valve that came with the pack leaked so my local Performance shop replaced them with a Camelbak bite valve. (Really easy to replace)
The shoulder straps are also not as adjustable as a "real" backpack. It would be nice to be able to adjust the vertical position of the straps for different torso lengths. | | Similar Products Used: | Various standard hydration packs (Blackburn, Camelbak, Cannondale). This one is really good for the very long rides. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F700 | | Bottom Line: | This is a very nice pack that I would recommend to anyone wishing to go on some long hikes or rides. For your average 2 or 3 hour rides, it may be a bit much. Hauling around 200 oz. of water is a lot of work.
I recently used this pack on a 36 hour adventure race and it was perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Martinez
a Weekend Warrior
from Rio Rancho, NM USA
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | Popular Outdoor Outfitters | | Strengths: | Holds a lot of water, tons of room for all your gear, good suspension system. | | Weaknesses: | leakproof bladders weren't. No matter how hard I tried to seal them up they allways leaked. Soaked thru the bag onto my back on multiple occasions. Bladders suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Camelbak | | Bike Setup: | 98 s-works etc | | Bottom Line: | Pack was comfortable to wear and pack. I liked it, would have been perfect if it had come with Camelbak bladders instead. Returned it after a week and bought a Camelbak Transalp, it cost more but it never leaks! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anton Schoenbacher
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Suspension system to keep it off your back.
Holds tonns of Water.
Holds another tonn of gear.
Comfortable shoulder straps. | | Weaknesses: | Valve leaks. | | Similar Products Used: | Camelback | | Bike Setup: | FS | | Bottom Line: | Good pack, cheaper then camelback, holds more, suspension
system minimizes back sweat ALOT ! Very happy with this
pack. I commute 40 miles a day. Haven't had it out in the
rain yet, we'll see how water resistant it is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Alvesteffer
a Cross Country Rider
from Green River, Wy
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Leak proof bladders, and lots of storage. | | Weaknesses: | One of the gulp valves leaked and the zipper on the small compartment came apart. These problems arose the first time I used the pack. | | Similar Products Used: | Camelback | | Bottom Line: | Their quality control seems to be lacking. Deduct chili's for shoddy workmanship. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, MA
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Woods, Middlesx Fells | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Space, Lots of space. So far I found this to be the most efficient of the combination Hydrasystem/Back Pack. Even with the two bladders filled the main compartment has a lot of room left. A large hidden compartment in the hood. A very convenient pump pocket/holder in the main compartment. A fairly large secondary exterior pocket on the back of the pack and two fairly large side mesh pockets. The shoulder strap and waist belt is comfortable. The best is the the pack sits off your back and is very stable. | | Weaknesses: | The new Blackburn Bladders take a little getting use to when filling them. Thay actual fold to close, no leaks as of yet. | | Similar Products Used: | You name it | | Bottom Line: | Very good all around pack. For short or long trips. If your not filling it to the max the suspension straps pull it in to make it a nice small unit | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Arlington, TX
Date Reviewed: October 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The road | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Designed like a good backpack.
Ventilated suspension system.
Large size pocket for large items. | | Weaknesses: |
Only 3 pockets.
You must get into the main compartment to change out the bladder. | | Similar Products Used: |
Several CamelBak models | | Bike Setup: |
Serotta TI | | Bottom Line: | After reviewing this site, an article in Bicycling magazine, and home trials, decided on this pack over the CamelBak TransAlp. One thing I discovered is that none of the bags I looked at where practical for more than an overnighter. Too much weight, will stick with panniers. The main advantage of this pack over the TransAlp is the ventilation system. The pack does not sit directly on your back. Rather two wide mesh panels keep it off your back and a stiff piece of insulating material inside the pack serves as an internal frame. TransAlp has none of that and all the weight rests directly on your back. The Mississippi seems well-constructed and durable. Not sure what I think about the NEW Blackburn bladder. You open it up at the top, fill and then ROLL - FOLD it back shut secured with velvco. I have turned it upside down and been unable to get it to leak. However, I did notice that when I filled it to the brim, and then pack the bag full, it leaked ever so slightly around the folds. Time will tell and I will update this review after some actual road time. | | Overall Rating: |
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