Camelbak M.U.L.E. Water Carrier

5/5

(14 Reviews)

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MSRP : $100.00

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Product Description

Camelbak M.U.L.E. 100 oz. Hydrapack returns redesigned this season to optimize carrying space, with a new back panel to help alleviate "Pack Back" and keep air flowing. 580 c.i. Displacement is perfect for all-day trips or over three hours ride time

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Reviews 1 - 14 (14 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

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Value Rating:

Submitted by neuregel a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: April 26, 2013

Strengths:    last long time, replacement water bladder and water bladder parts are easy to find and not expensive.

Weaknesses:    really none

Bottom Line:

I bought my mule back in 2003 gosh maybe 2002, its now 2013 and I still use it. Aside from changing out the water bladder here and there (just because they need to be changed) everything works. All the zippers still work. No fraying no cracking no rips or tears. Plenty of pockets and compartments and holds as much water and supplies as I need. Back around 2003-4-5-6 when I was 24hour racing, putting in hundred and hundreds of miles the mule survived it all in the mountains of calif and here on the east coast and its still holding up.

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Favorite Trail:   single track

Duration Product Used:   over 10 years

Price Paid:    $80.00

Purchased At:   probably ebay

Similar Products Used:   fox water back pack - mouth piece is horrible poor design

Bike Setup:   who cares

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Submitted by tylerw a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: April 20, 2013

Strengths:    serves the purpose it was designed for and beyond

Weaknesses:    none

Bottom Line:

I bought this to replace using water bottles and a seat pack. I was always limited on things I should be carrying on my rides. I discovered this on a close out 2012 model sale and had no choice but to buy it. The bladder holds plenty of water for an nice long epic ride on the trails. It has enough room to carry all kinds of different quick eats on the trail to keep the calories in you all day long. The front storage are has separate compartments in it to keep your important things safe and secure all ride long. It fits very comfortably and fells to be of good quality. The zippers and all seem to be plenty durable. I would recommend this exact one to anyone who likes to be on the trail riding hard for more than 2 hours at a time.

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Favorite Trail:   all

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $50.00

Purchased At:   amazon

Similar Products Used:   just bottles in cages

Bike Setup:   rigid 29 ss

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Submitted by nathan a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: March 29, 2013

Strengths:    extremely strong bladder aswell as material

Weaknesses:    none

Bottom Line:

awesome bag it has enough space to put your few vital things that you need. and holds three liters of water. bottom line i would highly reccomend this

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Price Paid: $215.00

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Submitted by jeffro a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: December 15, 2012

Strengths:    room for all of my crap, keys, cell..

Weaknesses:    had an issue with zipper on my original mule, which lasted me 8 season.

Bottom Line:

I used a mule for 8 seasons. Its been on my back every ride without fail. I had an issue with the zipper and Camelback took care of me, quickly. I have to say Camelback customer service is outstanding. They really do stand behind their products. I will buy another when this one wears out.

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Duration Product Used: 8 years

Similar Products Used: several camerlback bags

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Submitted by icecreamjay a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: September 24, 2012

Strengths:    Lots of storage space, good compression.

Weaknesses:    None so far

Bottom Line:

The MULE is a very well thought out and executed hydration pack. Its got lots of expandable storage, can hold 100 oz of water and has some seperate pouches in the main pocket to hold tools and small items. There is a nice small pocket at the top that has a fleecy liner for your phone or ipod. The back panel has been redone as well and is improved but I still get a sweaty back. I sweat a lot anyway so this is not surprising.

I've been using a MULE pack for about 10 years and my old one is holding up very well. The only parts on my old one that are showing wear have been eliminated with the current model. I still use my old one, but just for hauling tools for trail maintenance. I have an Osprey raptor 6, which is also a nice pack, but is just a little too small for my liking. I gave it to my wife and got a new MULE.

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Price Paid:    $90.00

Purchased At:   Bikeworks, Swansea,

Similar Products Used:   Osprey Raptor 6 , Osprey Manta 20

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Submitted by Hans Brakob

Date Reviewed: April 10, 2012

Strengths:    100-oz liquid capacity is BOSS! I use mine hiking in desert/mountain wilderness areas. Room for lunch, small first-aid/survival kit, GPS pocket. Durable (mine is six or seven years old) -- no signs of wear with ROUGH usage. The mesh storage area is great for sweaty layer garments --- sad to see that's not on new models of the MULE.

Weaknesses:    None in my style of usage.

Bottom Line:

Great pack --- I don't think I can wear it out. I think CAMELBAK made a mistake redesigning this unit, taking out some of the features of my older unit.

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Submitted by joe woods a Cross Country Rider from san rafael

Date Reviewed: February 28, 2012

Strengths:    this pack has lasted my for a long time with out aging a lot. i use this pack 4 or five times a week and couldnt be happer

Weaknesses:    the pack is big but can hold anything you need.

Bottom Line:

a great product for mutiple uses that you want to last a long time

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Favorite Trail:   Q3 and 2

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $80.00

Purchased At:   gift

Similar Products Used:   the other camel backs most sizes

Bike Setup:   treck superfly 29er carbon

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Submitted by bontragergreg a Cross Country Rider from Pocatello, ID, USA

Date Reviewed: February 23, 2012

Strengths:    The size, weight, storage, convenience, and quality make this a top pick for mountain biking. I have three camelbak's will buy another. I like the MULE the best because it holds my gear and has capacity for more when I need to throw in some cold weather gear or after I take it off. The reservoir is easy to clean and dries out quickly when I hang it after a ride. I like the wide opening which makes adding ice and water an easy task.

Weaknesses:    Even with the ventilation system it lays on your back and causes persperation.

Bottom Line:

This is a great product. Anyone can use it. I also use it when I go hiking and camping. I have never had a problem with a Camelbak product. The only thing I have ever had to replace is the bite valve.

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Favorite Trail:   City Creek

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $65.00

Purchased At:   Rob's

Similar Products Used:   My first hydration system was thrown away after my first ride with a Camelbak

Bike Setup:   Giant Reign 0. All stock parts

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Submitted by Shark a Cross Country Rider from Indy, IN, USA

Date Reviewed: February 21, 2012

Strengths:    Carries enough water for most rides. (3L bladder)
Nice size, lots of small pockets/compartments.
Seems to hold up to a lot of abuse.

Weaknesses:    Does not have some of the cool features the new packs, but mine is 9 years old so it's no fault of the pack.

Bottom Line:

This pack is 9 years old.....!!! Seriously, it just keeps going & going.

I toss it in the washer about once/month (I know it is not recommended but it works well on gentle cycle). This pack still looks new, pretty amazing for how many times I have fell on it :)

The only signs of wear are the velcro that holds the bladder section together started to fray so I had it sewn. The part where the mesh clips onto the top of the pack is looking a bit worn, but that is likely due to me jamming too much stuff into it for the past 9 years.
Pretty sure I can get one or two more years out of it, then I will have to buy a new one, but very impressed !!

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Favorite Trail:   Whole Enchilada

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $100.00

Purchased At:   BGI

Similar Products Used:   None

Bike Setup:   Trek EX9
9Zero7 Fatbike

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Submitted by Odii a Cross Country Rider from Phoenix, AZ, USA

Date Reviewed: February 12, 2012

Strengths:    Durable, Space, 100oz. water capacity. built like a tank

Weaknesses:    None

Bottom Line:

Love this pack, i try and find excuses to use it other places, which my wife hates... anyhow, on topic, this pack is the bee's knees.

It has enough space to carry everything I need for an all day ride, and then some.

The 100oz of water is a LIFE SAVER, literally here in the Phoenix Arizona summers.

Love this pack!

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Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $89.00

Purchased At:   Sports Store

Similar Products Used:   n/a

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Submitted by cstem a Cross Country Rider from Glendale, AZ USA

Date Reviewed: January 30, 2012

Strengths:    Durability, versatility and quality. Fits well, always works and replacement parts for the bladder system are readily available anywhere in the USA (and maybe the world?). Warranty is incredible. In fact I got this while looking to buy a new bladder for my six year old Mule. The shop just gave me a credit towards an entire new Mule pack! Outer pocket holds a helmet or jacket and SLR camera nicely and the utility pocket holds tools, wallets and keys in thier spot. A media pocket, lined with soft fleece like material, is perfect for phones, mp3 players or sunglasses in a pinch-also has earbud cord hole too. Straps are more adjustable than before which helps on skinny dudes like me.

Weaknesses:    Only thing I would change is to custom size it for myself. As stated in strengths- I am not typical in size and being more slender, it's obvious this pack is made for the majority out there. Not a real kick in the teeth-I don't expect companies to make everything fit me.

Bottom Line:

Camelbak has been at the forefront when it comes to on the back, on the bike hydration since 1988. The whole thing started with a thirsty bicycle racer and an I.V. bag of water. Michael Eidson was that man, and as a paramedic and bicycle racer in the “Hotter ‘n Hell” 100 mile road race (in 100 degree temps), Michael put the I.V. in a tube sock, pinned it shut and stuffed it in the back of his jersey. The Camelbak has gone through many versions since and seems to always be the leader in hydration and back pack technologies. I started out with one of the first Camelbaks a long time ago and still have it, but I now use my MULE for everyday Mountain Bike riding these days. It fits all the things I need, and holds 100 oz. of liquid as well.
The 2012 Camelbak Mule appears to be little changed from 2011 aside from the spec sheet on the Camelbak website. It showed the 2012 to have about 200 cu. in. of storage less than last year which was odd as the pack had not changed outwardly. A quick call to Camelbak customer service (still live, personal and answered in the United States-what?) cleared up my confusion, the company had merely stopped adding every little pocket to the storage total and lists the storage of just the main compartment. Pretty clear that way, and a lesson learned. Find out how a manufacturer is coming up with that huge payload and ensure it fits your needs. The Mule fits mine, so we continue on.
Fit: I am a thin and tallish kind of dude so it is hard for me to be objective about fit. Just like American car seats are made bigger than Euro or Asians for our big fat butts, I suppose the packs are too. I have to carefully strap in to my Mule to ensure it stays put, which is really easy to do with the adjustable and padded shoulder straps. There is also a sternum strap that has almost 8 inches of vertical adjustment up the shoulder straps and of course can be lengthened out for barrel-chested men or the ladies. The waist strap works well too and is removable although for my skinny waist I wish it could get a little tighter when the going gets vertically pointed down. Seriously, I am not the norm when it comes to fit, but you should always try before you buy.
Finish: I am a detail orientated person who looks for quality in every area. The zippers are smooth pulling even when the bag is packed (over packed) but the pulls are a little small for gloved hand use at night or when trying to access a pocket on the fly. I solved this by adding a bottle opener key chain on one pull and some other useful/decorative ones on the others for fun. The back Air Director pads work pretty well when the going gets hot and gives the bag a smaller footprint on your body. The construction is tough due to the use of 70D Diamond Clarus & 420 Nylon with DWR & 1000 mm PU coating, which means…Okay I have no idea what that means, but I have never ripped or torn a Camelbak before so we’ll just assume it means “Awesome”.
Details: The bladder uses even more of Camelbak’s patented features such as these pulled straight from the site “Includes the new 100 oz. (3 L) Antidote reservoir with Quick Link™ System, 1/4 turn - easy open/close cap, lightweight fill port, dryer arms, center baffling and low-profile design, patented Big Bite™ Valve, HydroGuard™ technology, 4mm insulated PureFlow™ tube, easy-to-clean wide-mouth opening.” All I know is I can leave fluid in it for a week by accident clean it and not worry too much about dealing with Giardia again.
The pockets inside the front compartment are sectioned to hold tools, survival gear or what-not and there is still a key hook too. The main compartment is giant sized at 580 cu.in. and there is an outer stuff pocket for jackets, cameras or a helmet. The trouble with being able to carry so much is deciding what you want to carry. You will get what you need inside this pack for a great epic ride of 3+ hours based on water capacity. There are four color-ways available and retail is about one hundred bucks.
In use: I have about 300 miles on the Mule right now and have not had one single issue. For that matter, I have never had a problem with any Camelbak I have ever purchased (five total) and recommend them to anyone. Feature-filled, adventure ready and always performing past my expectations. Those are redeeming qualities these days and Camelbak is reaping the rewards.

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Favorite Trail:   Trail 100 Phx Mtn. Park

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $79.00

Purchased At:   www.swissamericanbik

Similar Products Used:   MSR hydration, Lezyne and some REI brand. Two of which had bladder issues quickly and the other was just did not fit right.

Bike Setup:   How about pack setup? I carry first aid items, Crank Bros. trail tool kit, a windbreaker, usually a SLR camera, phone, keys, wallet and many times in the summer a second bladder for longer rides. Snacks, a pump, two tubes, and Co2 kit. Weighs in at around 14 lbs completely full and feels like a feather with the awesome padded straps!

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Submitted by denniswebb a Cross Country Rider from Glendale, AZ USA

Date Reviewed: August 30, 2011

Strengths:    Light weight, plenty of storage for pump, spare tube, patch kit, chain tool and multi-tool. Storage for phone / mp3 player. Excellent water storage.

Weaknesses:    None so far

Bottom Line:

This thing is rugged, and has everything you need. Add to that the support of REI and Camelbak and you can not go wrong.

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Favorite Trail:   All unpaved ones

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $66.00

Purchased At:   REI

Similar Products Used:   None, this is my first hydration pack (yes I was still using water bottles)

Bike Setup:   2011 Giant Talon 1 29er

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Submitted by ProjectDan35 a Cross Country Rider from Rhode Island

Date Reviewed: May 31, 2011

Strengths:    THIS IS FOR THE 2011 MULE. New Antidote bladder is awesome. 100oz capacity. Good straps, I love the waist strap for mountain biking, it doesn't fly around. Tons of pockets, I live the separate pocket for the bladder, so it doesn't take up precious pocket space for tools and stuff. Fits great, i love the fleece lined pocket for my phone and camera.

Weaknesses:    ABSOLUTELY NONE.

Bottom Line:

Buy it, ignore the price, you won't regret it. Just look at the rating of this pack, you can't go wrong, especially with the new antidote bladder.

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Favorite Trail:   Big River

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Purchased At:   REI

Similar Products Used:   Other hydration packs. THEY ALL SUCK EXCEPT CAMELBAK.

Bike Setup:   2010 Specialized Rockhopper Comp with many upgrades.

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Submitted by Fletch 1 a Weekend Warrior from Glendale, AZ, USA

Date Reviewed: May 13, 2011

Strengths:    I have owned several Camelbaks through the years and the MULE is my favorite due to it's 100 ounce capacity and handy storage capabilities.

Weaknesses:    I wish the bladder could be removed from it's compartment with Velcro as apossed to the zipper. It's a minor gripe but you have to wrestle the bladder in to place when it's full and I'm always afraid I am going to catch the bladder in the zipper and puncture it. Again, minor issue.

Bottom Line:

Great pack and just the right size for a half day ride in AZ heat. Has enough room to carry a small tire pump, multiple tool, tube, tissue, small first aid kit, wallet, cell phone, spare master links, keys, sandwich, energy bars and gels and room to spare. I can't imagine riding without it.

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Favorite Trail:   T100

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $60.00

Purchased At:   Jensen USA

Similar Products Used:   Camelbak Classic, Rogue, Hoss

Bike Setup:   Specialized Epic Comp 29er

Reviews 1 - 14 (14 Reviews Total)

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Camelbak M.U.L.E. Water Carrier

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