Long lasting, functional, cooler than most.

Mine didn't come with a bladder...

A great product which does what it's supposed to rather well.
Mine is ten years old...

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I've had mine for so long I can't remember!

Mesh back panel is pretty awesome - keeps you back really cool. Source bladder is very nice - easy to open and close and clean. Side pockets are pretty handy (hard to reach while riding though)

Two lower pads sit kinda funny on low-back and do not distribute weight very well - and shoulder straps are hard/stiff and not all that comfortable for all day rides. When your upper body moves while riding this pack does not conform at all and feels a bit "boxy"

Deuter packs are really well made (this pack seems indestructable!) and the layout is pretty nice. Rear small pocket and side pockets are nice.

The comfort is the one area that needs help. The two low-back pads are kinda hard and carry too much of the overall pack weight. The shoulder straps are heavy duty but are too hard (rubber?).

The biggest minus is the frame of the pack which supports the mesh panel (and make the pack seem very sturdy) causes the pack to feel very rigid on your back when you move while riding and also results in most of the weight sitting on the two low pads. The value is good as this pack would last forever with heavy use. Overall rating is ok given the fit/comfort issues. I would not buy it again.

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Camelbak Rogue, HAWG, MULE, and Classic. Wingnut Hyper 3.0, Osprey Raptor 6

Mesh back panel provides lots of air to the back so you stay dry(er). Mesh shoulder straps work well.

I'm being really picky here, but you asked: the zippers are a little tricky as they are rounded. If I could change something I'd make the pack a bit more square with maybe a coupla compression straps on the sides.

I found this in europe years ago and had to have it. Not sure why no one at camelback ever thought of this design. I was always annoyed at how sweaty my back was, but do not like to ride without a pack (lots of tools/water/food/protection/etc) so this fit the bill. I got another one for my wife and she loves it too. We even used them on a rim-to-river-to-rim day hike at the Grand Canyon and they carried everything we needed no problem.

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Many inferior Camelback products...

Light weight, holds all I need (rain jacket, rain trousers, 2 litre of water, tools, maps, first aid kit, camera, notebook), great harness, tough material (I've mis-judged a few fallen trees and collided with them, and the pack just shrugs off the impact - unlike the camelbak mule horror story that I read about, the rider had the outer pocket ripped off by the tree!) , great design.

None that I've yet to find in more than 18 months of riding.

After seeing the aforementioned camelbaks absolutely bloody everywhere, it was a pleasant surprise to find a company that can produce a product to "do exactly what it says on the tin" (tagline from a well known ad here in the uk).

The harness is a revelation, all the other packs I'd seen have some sort of neoprene pad that sits against the wearer's back and makes you sweatier than pig on a roast. The Deuter uses a mesh panel suspended from the wearer's back using one curved horizontal and two curved vertical metal bars in the pack itself, this creates an air channel that really does work. It is without doubt the best pack / rucsack that I've ever worn - bar none!

Not including a hydration reservoir with the pack is in my opinion a bonus that allows the user to use their preferred choice of hydration reservoir, rather than having to use a poor design (camelbak take note - how do you fill the omega without spilling some when the lid is closed?). Personally I use a Platypus BigZip 2 litre, you freeze the reservoir and the tube and then top up the rest before your ride.

The only possible downsides with my pack is that in the specification it states that there should be an integral pack cover and an inside valubles pocket, the fact that neither of these exist doesn't matter at all (my rain jacket is big enough to cover the pack, I look a bit like the hunchback of notre dame when its raining, but I don't care!).

The bottom line really is that the Deuter Race-X Air is the best hydration / carry-all pack out there.
Buy it you won't be disappointed!

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The over-priced and under-durable crappy bloody camelbaks, blackburn hydrapaks, da kine drafter.

aircomfort back, no more sweaty backs

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I'm actually reviewing the Race X Air II. Great for long day rides, with more capacity, side mesh pockets, front pocket, with stowaway helmet holder, interior valuables pocket, 3M reflectors and attachment loop for the rear blinkers. I transfered my Camelbak Stealth bladder to the Deuter and its fine.

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camelbak stealth

Looks slick, works even better

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A great little piece of kit. Designed as a streamlined unit with no bits to catch on to low branches or shrubs. The best back ventilation system by a long way. Has the volume and load strength to carrys all I need for a day ride and yet weighs very light.

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Camel bak etc

Good size, hugs in the right places considering my build which is pretty wide. cool to the back as i tend to sweat and heat up during rides as it lifts the pack's backside off my back. definitely a keeper, if i wreck this one you guys know what i'm gonna buy next.

none that i know of or report about.

the best one in the market, as far as how i actually use it for. comfy and well ventilated... something other manufacturers must look into. cleverly designed but functional. will take some time getting used to and if not secured or fitted properly it tends to swish side to side, very minor hinderance but i suppose most hydration packs do this too.

GO GET ONE!

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haven't tried other brands but fitted most of them at the stores. and they were hot to the back, camelback fits alright though, adjustment on those are good and comfy but still hot to the back! needs more ventilation.

Comfy when on the bike, the design really works! Large capacity for storing all that I need, and 3liters of h2o. Neat design perks such as hose holder, key clip, and side pockets that are easy to reach while riding or negate the need to take off the pack when off the bike (snacks and tubes and such). Real easy to load up water and go.

When standing up, frame of pack puts pressure on lower back area. Nothing too bad, just noticable. WIll not use for hiking!

The bladder that came with it was replaced with a Camelbak unit. Nothin wrong with it, and I will keep it and give it a try.

This review is for the Race Air X 2 (3liter)

My trusty Camelbak MULE bit the big one and was bitten by a small one (mouse who chewed up my bag and made a nest in it). As I have a couple of bags (hiking etc) I did not replace it too quickly. But the others were either too big and too much for day rides or weekenders.

I was looking for a hydration pack that would also keep my back cool and feel good (better yet if I don't feel it) when on.

The new Camelbak I tried out had ventilation but when full, it was rounded out by the bladder negating the ventilation on a rounded back.

I got a WIngnut 2.5 which is comfy, but hose routing and straps all over were not working for me. I will use this pack on occasion however as it's design and concept really work.

The Deuter fits well, feels great and keeps my back cool. After this weekends session at Mammoth, I think I sold a couple!

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Camelbaks, Wingnut, SIerra Design etc.

The perfect pack for all day rides (except in remote areas). I can fit my 80 oz bladder, rainjacket, windvest, arm and leg warmers in the main pocket and all my tools and Gu in the small pocket. Alternately, you can fit a spare bladder in the main pocket instead of the extra clothes. The design is top notch. The material is lightweight, ripstop and waterproof. The strap system keeps the pack securely fastened so it doesn't move around. It doesn't move around when I use it for running. It uses a mesh back and metal bars to suspend the pack off of your back which helps keep you and your water cool.

The straps were a bit short for my long torso. I had to modify it slightly. Doesn't come with bladder.

I'll never go back to those archaic Camelbacks.

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Camelback Mule, HAWG, Aeroback, various other hydration systems

lightweight high quality construction mesh back keeps pack off the body

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excellent investment in hydration. also new for 2003 they come with a water bladder.in hot weather the mesh keeps the pack off your body and air flows thru keeping you drier and cooler. enouigh storage for a full days ride.

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camelback platypus