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MEC
Mountain Fountain Tour XT
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from London ON Canada
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Kains Rd Kilworth Komoka Loop - London | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Light. Comfortable. Holds 2.5L of water | | Weaknesses: | strappy | | Similar Products Used: | camleback. Trek. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500 Sid SL Mavic X618 XT/XTR Mich CompS light | | Bottom Line: | I know this review is supposed to be for a Mountain Fountain but I dont think they make those any more and I wanted to leave a review for the 2003 Platypus from MEC.
SO
I've only tried this a couple of times but so far I really like it. Its a great place to stick your light battery and keep a multi tool and some chain lube.
I have yet to figure out how to get the hose to sit properly on the pack so it doesnt keep tapping me in the knee. I'm not sure either if its me that is not used to the flow valve or if the valve sux.... I'll let ya know.
The real benefit to this is that with the Platypus and a Helmet mount light you really look like a bio-warrior.
Space Aliens beware! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimbo
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Durham Forest | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$56.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Platypus bladder (doesn't taste loke a camel), lots of pockets, good value. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, but I have only used it for 3 years!! | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap knock offs that cost maybe 20% less but give you 75% less value. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS, XTR & XT, Mavic cross links, Hayes hydralics. | | Bottom Line: | This pack does everything. For riding with my buddies, I load it down with a tube, pump, tools, first aid kit, (for them) and a few extras and 2 liters of water and a handful of other stuff. For racing, just the bare essentials and water. Fits great and is fully adjustable. Lots of pockets and straps. I can even strap on a small bow saw to do trail maintenance. This pack is bomb proof. I know, I have used it as an air bag, more than once. After 3 years, there is nothing missing, broken, torn. It is just like new, except for the dirt and a little smell. As for the person below that complained about the bladder's zip not working, just send it back to Cascade Designs, and they will replace it. www.cascadedesigns.com I showed them mine at the booth at 24 hrs of Adrenaline and they gave me a new one, no questions asked, and they were happen too. That is service. My son now has the next size down, and his works great too. This pack is great for anyone doing longer rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Big
Tough
Inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | Lasts forever - no excuse to buy a new one | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn, Camelback | | Bottom Line: | Bought one of these in '99, used it for the Leadville 100. At the time, it was the only 3 litre capacity pack available for a reasonable price. I loaded it with about twelve pounds of liquid, food, tools & raingear and rode with it for 11 hours. It was quite comfortable.
Don't think it is made anymore, but MEC has new models that are similar. Buy one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gee
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Moutain Equipment Co-op | | Strengths: | Carries 2 litres of water.
Lots of pockets to hold everything.
Lots of adjustability. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, except maybe price. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized mtn bike, & road bike. | | Bottom Line: | I've always used water bottles and cages, but once I got the MEC Mountain Fountain, I'm NEVER going back. This water carrier is totally awesome....it has room for everything I need on a ride, and still holds 2 litres of water to boot. I took a major flip and landed on my back, with no affects on the reservoir or the bag...still as good as new. I recommend this to anybody looking for one out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
captain_clever
a
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price, carries everything you need plus a litre of water, protects your oh so precious spine. | | Weaknesses: | Platypus Big Zip bladder pops open on impact. | | Similar Products Used: | Water bottles | | Bike Setup: | Kona Lava Dome w/ Z5 Bomber | | Bottom Line: | A bit of a problem on how to rate this thing. The layout of the pack is awesome, lots of storage, it's comfortable, keeps the weight off your bike, it does everything it should.
However, the bladder is trouble. After having the thing for a few months, the zip seal started to lose its strength. Out of my last five rides the bladder has burst six times! That really sucks when you're nowhere close to running water (I'm glad it didn't happen on a desert ride). I guess if you NEVER fall it doesn't matter but I'm about ready to toss this bladder in the trash.
Now, how to rate it? Pack gets 5 chilis, bladder gets 1 chili, average is three, subtract 1 because carrying water really is its main purpose and it doesn't do that reliably. So the final quota is two (5 if you replace the Big Zip with a regular. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin
a Racer
from Calgary AB CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | snug fit, lots of adjustable straps, holds everything you need and then some, best price on the market, holds up longer than camel back. | | Weaknesses: | waist belt in awkward place and skinny. | | Similar Products Used: | camel back hawg | | Bike Setup: | GT, Manitou, XT, RooX, IRC mythos | | Bottom Line: | This product is one of the best out there, and the price is a bonus. I got mine for $59.00 cdn, the only thing is you have to be a member at mec(mountain equiptment co-op)costs $5.00. lots of pockets for tools, phone, keys, lunch, tube ect. an ideal person to bye this would be somone that is hard on equiptment like me. Me and my friend bought this and a camel back hawg and his is falling apart and mine is still new looking..... after taking all the mud and crap off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hero
a Weekend Warrior
from Peterborough, Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Carries water, and is cheap | | Weaknesses: | Bad fit, I only used it once and returned it. Got neck ache, and the straps were confusing and complicated to use, MEC gave me a hard time returning it, too. | | Similar Products Used: | Camelback Razor. Love it. | | Bike Setup: | Canondale R2000 | | Bottom Line: | I was not too pleased with its performance. I ordered it, took it for one bike ride, wasted my time trying to figure eveything out. Thing kept sliding around my back, straps were hanging everywhere. I guess you get what you pay for. Would not recommend it. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr Huck
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: December 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
I love all trails equally | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
VALUE!!!
Perfect size and layout for a day of MTBing | | Weaknesses: |
It's difficult to access the contents of the pocket when there's an inner tube in the X-bungee | | Similar Products Used: |
water bottles | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Mountain RM6 - e-mail me for specs if you want em | | Bottom Line: | Great Product! I can't believe tat noone else has posted anything on it yet | | Overall Rating: |
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