Submitted by
Petr
a Cross Country Rider
from Prague, Czech Republic Date Reviewed: April 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Alpinus
Strengths:
small size, waist strap (could be!?), very easy accesible reservoir, price
Weaknesses:
underestimated storage space - means to carry water or cargo, straight valve - very unpractical for tube over my shoulder , generally not a bag for 2 L of water!
Similar Products Used:
water bottle
Bike Setup:
LX/DEORE/STX RC, Tektro, Pell´s, CrMo frame (Cool!), Suntour fork (looking forward to one made by Manitou)
Bottom Line:
If you want cheap, small bag just for water, take this one! But prepare yourself for struggle with a straight valve. You may love underarm tube placement, so valve is not a problem. I need it over my shoulder:-(. Back has no support, but very comfy with 1.5 L of water or less.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andro Galero
a Weekend Warrior
from Butuan City, Philippines Date Reviewed: March 1, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Malalag Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$32.00
Strengths:
-price -size -water capacity
Weaknesses:
-not very good cold water retention
Similar Products Used:
Camelbak Rogue
Bike Setup:
1999 Cannondale Raven
Bottom Line:
Bought this one second hand for $32 from my friend becoz it was too big for him but just right for my 4-6 hour rides on weekends. Its smaller in profile but can carry as much water and gear as my other pack. It is also more cooler on my back, i don't sweat as much as my other bag but ice melts much faster on this one. Just after 2 hours, no more ice. Cut the waist strap, the pack doesn't move very much so I have no use for it.
If cold water is not much of an issue for you, this pack is a winner!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sergey
a Weekend Warrior
from Tallahassee, FL Date Reviewed: June 6, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$22.00
Purchased At:
SuperGo Online
Strengths:
Holds more water than the regular bottle, plus a couple of other necessities
Weaknesses:
Misadvertised capacity on both cargo and water
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
irrelevant
Bottom Line:
Ok! For $22 and shipping, compared to some $100 CamelBak, this is great value, however it does not live up to its advertisement. It does not close if you will it with 70 oz. of water. The top effective fill is about 54 oz. Cargo capacity is nil with any water present, but it does carry ID, keys, phone, couple of gelpacks, small pump, and some first aid items. Don't count on much else. Bottom line, if you have a hydration pack, use it, and save for a MULE, Lobo, or the like. If not, get this pack for $20, and you won't go wrong.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ted Wiegandt
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagan, MN Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
The Farm
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$35.00
Strengths:
This product fits well and does not move around on you. I like the mesh shoulder straps that breath better. It also has a small footprint on your back so it doesn't trap as much heat.
Weaknesses:
There is NO storage space after 70 oz of water is put in. Also the bite valve is really prone to leaking.
Similar Products Used:
Cabelback MULE
Bike Setup:
Ti Hardtail
Bottom Line:
I really like the way that this pack fits but I can't get enough water in it. I have a tube, pump, patch kit, park tool dogbone (small), and a chain tool in there. With that in the storage part, I am lucky to get 40 oz of water in the pack. They really needed to make the storage compartment stick out so it did not take away from the water capacity. I have run out of water too many times and need a pack that can actually hold 70 oz of water and a few tools. The MULE is too big and this is too small in my books.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kameron Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane WA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
The Bluff
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
light, Stylish, does all advertised to do
Weaknesses:
funky taste at first
Similar Products Used:
CamelBak cloud walker and old tracker
Bike Setup:
97' giant sedona W/ various upgrades
Bottom Line:
better than the previous tracker fits awesomely holds lots of water, easy to clean and holds enough crap for a day long ride. no leaks unless you turn it upside down and squeeze it but maybe thats because i didnt seal it that well. Pretty awesome buy it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Morden,manitoba,canada Date Reviewed: December 31, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Tinker Creek cycles
Strengths:
Light weight, long hose, you can pull out the resoivor for easy cleaning, has never leaked water yet.
Weaknesses:
When completly filled to the 70 fl oz of water the storage is decreased.
Similar Products Used:
a water bottle.
Bike Setup:
2003 rocky mountain trailhead.
Bottom Line:
THis is a really good product Its lightweight and it stays on your back, and doesnt bounce around.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carcassone
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO, USA Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
colorado trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
nashbar.com
Strengths:
lightweight, products storage is ample to carry necessities, value for price
Weaknesses:
the hose coming out of the pack takes some getting used to. I'm referring to the "natural" out of the bottom under an arm and up the front of your torso. but once you get situated it becomes a non-issue.
Similar Products Used:
camel classic 03
Bike Setup:
oem trek 8000
Bottom Line:
the pack does what it's supposed to do, it carries your water and gear, it's not a heavy pack even when filled with 70 oz. The overall storage does decrease as you fill the pack up, but for myself, i have a tube, keys, tire levers and a few allen wrenches on my ride and space hasn't been an issue. As an added plus the bungee tie downs on the back can come in handy when needed (i've yet to use them).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dwight moody
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland ME Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Prides Loop
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
It was a gift
Strengths:
It holds water on my back, it stays secure and has enough space for my pump, wallet, keys and a couple Clif bars.
Weaknesses:
None I've noticed
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Rigid Hard Rock. with all that hardness and rigidity, I think I'll paint it purple and call it the Viagracycle.
Bottom Line:
It works. I haven't had any leaking trouble when I close the top correctly. It diffently not a storage bag, most of my tools still go under the seat. It stays nice and tight to my body when I'm flailing around, and I haven't been bothered by the routing of the mouth tube. I can position it so I can suck while biking, but I have to take my eyes off the trail to suck, so I usually don't.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich Grabarits
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO Date Reviewed: July 19, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Small and light weight. Doesn't cover much of your back.
Weaknesses:
Can't hold anywhere near 70 oz of water and 120 in^3 of cargo at the same time. Leaks if you put 70 oz of water in it.
Similar Products Used:
1998 Blakburn Hydrapak
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude Comp
Bottom Line:
Very disappointed. I thought I would like being able to Velcro the bit valve in a position that I could drink from it without using a hand. Unfortunately to get it that close to your mouth, it ends up hitting you in the face when you’re not drinking from it. So I pulled it away from my mouth and now it is just like every other hydration pack where you need to take a hand off of the handle bars to drink from it, except instead of coming over your shoulder it crosses in front of your chest which can get annoying. And that is just the beginning.
I took the reservoir out of the pack to fill it. I filled it to the 70 oz line being careful not to overfill it. Then I carefully closed it, A to A, B to B, C to C per the directions and Velcroed it closed. Outside of the pack the reservoir seemed to hold great, no leaks. I held it upside down so the air would go to end where the tube is and opened the bite valve to get any air out. Then came the hard part, getting the full reservoir into the pack. The pack has NO cargo in it at this point. After gently pushing and shoving, I got it in. Then I tried to close the Velcro on the pack that keeps the reservoir in. The Velcro on the pack doesn’t line up when a full reservoir is in it. Again, more careful pulling and shoving to get the Velcro to line up and close. Then I opened the cargo zipper. Wow. No room in there. I carry a light tube, patch kit, 16 g CO2 cartridge and dispenser, and a Topeak Alien multitool. I barely got it all in. Then I went to put my cycling cloths on. When I got back to the pack it was soaked. Leaking out the top “dry suit” closure. I opened the bit valve and poured water down the sink until it looked like there was enough room to prevent a leak. I put the wet pack on, filled a water bottle and put a cage on my bike and went riding. The pack was out of water in about an hour. When I got home I did some experimenting. I took the reservoir out of the pack and filled it to the 70 oz line then dumped the reservoir into a pitcher labeled in oz. The 70 oz reservoir filled the pitcher to the 70 oz line, so at least that is accurate. Then I put the empty reservoir in the pack which still had my cargo in it and filled the reservoir while in the pack. I filled it to the 70 oz line again then dumped it into the pitcher; 41 oz was all that was in the reservoir. Then I took my cargo out and did the same thing. I got 58 oz this time.
Even with no cargo, I wouldn’t put more than 60 oz in the reservoir in this pack. With minimal cargo, 40 oz. Which pack to try next? I’m thinking of going the popular route and getting the Camelbak MULE, unfortunately it looks big. But then the Tracker looked small and that is why it can’t hold anything.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris lomas
a Downhiller
from australia Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
fast single track
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
moterbike shop
Strengths:
good capasity of water hold. more pocket storage that earlier models
Weaknesses:
i only had mine for two months and there dosent seem to be anyhting wrong with it so far!
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
avanti....a little ashamed but i stiil ride good
Bottom Line:
a good pack with out breaking the budget
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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