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Solid hydration pack?

wood booger

Monkey
Jul 16, 2008
668
72
the land of cheap beer
I know this is a DH forum, but it has the most depth and knowledge around and I seek the truth.

Here is what I need:
A pack that doesn't move and squirm all over my back when the going gets rough.

6 1/2" bike + rough trails + helmet light battery = pack bouncing all over the place.

Anyone use something w/ a frame or kidney belt type strap?

Nothing huge or extreme, a pack for real rides (up and down).

ergon, ?
 

Transcend

My Nuts Are Flat
Apr 18, 2002
18,040
3
Towing the party line.
My recommendation is the new Camelbak "The don". Can carry full face, knee pads, 3L of water etc and doesn't move at all. I rode a few enduro events and plenty of Epic Dh with a pre production version all summer.

Was going to have a review up, but seems that the new Rm management is not interested in reviews.
 

zebrahum

Monkey
Jun 22, 2005
401
0
SL,UT
What can I say, Dakine Nomad from me too. No problems with batteries, stays put really well, carries absolutely everything you'd need.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,573
24,192
media blackout
I have a Dakine Apex, which is basically a larger version of the Nomad (1600 cu.in. vs 1100cu.in). Been extremely happy with it. It's the pack I used to shuttle SJT when I was living in SoCal.
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
I'm another Nomad user. I've never carried batteries, but I carry everything else: water, phone, wallet, pump, tube, wrench, multitool, snack, windbreaker, extra gloves, etc...

And It'll carry my helmet, pads, even my full Dainese jacket with a little creativity.
 

KavuRider

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2006
2,565
4
CT
Has Dakine fixed their leaky hose swivel issue yet???
I was going to say the Dakine is great except for the bladder. The Nalgene ones I've used haven't worked for me.

The first one sprung a leak 5 miles into Amasa Back in Moab. Brand new, seam just came apart. The second one, same thing, it just split.

Replaced it with a Camelbak Omega, much better. Other than that, its a great pack, almost everyone I ride with uses one.
 

davec113

Monkey
May 24, 2009
419
0
Dakines fit me well... I have had 2 Apex packs, the 2nd was given to me by CS under warranty, and the bladder was improved over the 1st pack I had. The zippers are better too, except the one that holds the bladder. I'm sure this will be the first thing to go and I'm guessing Dakine will stand behind it again. Honestly, my Camelbak hawg does have better construction, both the bag and the bladder, but the Dakine's design is better, it's more comfortable, and doesn't make my back sore like the Camelbak does. I'd still go with Dakine as long as they have a lifetime warranty.
 

slowitdown

Monkey
Mar 30, 2009
553
0
Wingnut packs blow everything else away.

http://www.wingnutgear.com/

I've used plenty of Camelbaks, a Platypus Terra, a Dakine Nomad, and the Wingnut Adventure Pack. Nothing comes close to the Wingnut.

The Dakine was the next best, if you can't pony up for a Wingnut I suggest a Dakine Nomad. But it won't be as good, as stable, as comfortable, as light, or as useful as the Wingnut.
 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
I currently use a Dakine Drafter backpack (their smaller version). I love the pack's helmet carrier and straps as it allows me to carry my helmet (fullface or normal), arm and leg guards, but the shoulder straps are just way too small. I'm looking for a pack that is a bit bigger with longer shoulder straps.

I am heavily built at 5'10" 225lbs, and I just can't stand how small the shoulder straps are. This causes the sternum strap to ride way too high up (it is well above my sternum). If I adjust the backpack up, the sternum strap sits in the right place, but the backpack rides too high and the waist strap ends up uncomfortably around my midsection.

The Wingnut packs look good, but they are a bit too spendy for me for not coming with a bladder as well.

Any built guys using a Dakine Nomad, Apex, or Camelback Mule? Are the straps longer?
 

davep

Turbo Monkey
Jan 7, 2005
3,276
0
seattle
Don't mean to be rude, but you are WAY out of the 'norm' of cyclist or other mostly aerobic sport build. In fact, if you were to buy any quality pack, you would find that it would not fit you at all.

Packs to carry H2O or any other long term supply are not ever going to be designed around anaerobic body types. It is just 100% counter intuitive/productive/sales...

If you want an pack to fit, you are going to have to go custom, simple as that....
 
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spocomptonrider

sportin' the CROCS
Nov 30, 2007
1,412
118
spokanistan
I've had a CamelBack Mayhem for years now, I don't use it that often but it works great when I do. Non-leaky 100oz bladder that doesn't hold funky smells, enough room for a sammy some tools a tube and a camera/ music player/ cellphone if thats what you're into. Some of my friends have the Oakley Tool Pouch 3.0 and swear by it, they have a fancy bladder that has a pump on it, you pump it up then when you bite down the water pours out into your mouthpiece. Sounds gimmicky but I'm told it works, no more sucky.

I agree with davep though, most of these things are designed with light/ athletic build people in mind...
 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
Don't mean to be rude, but you are WAY out of the 'norm' of cyclist or other mostly aerobic sport build. In fact, if you were to buy any quality pack, you would find that it would not fit you at all.

Packs to carry H2O or any other long term supply are not ever going to be designed around anaerobic body types. It is just 100% counter intuitive/productive/sales...

If you want an pack to fit, you are going to have to go custom, simple as that....
Haha I've been trying to train more towards the aerobic side of things (got myself a road bike that I ride regularly). Actually I'm closer to 220 now, been dropping weight. If you saw me in person you wouldn't think I weigh that much, I played hockey (extremely anaerobic) as a defense men at a pretty high level up until two years ago and a lot of the weight is in my legs. But yeah I know I'm definitely not built like your average cyclist. Anyway, there's gotta be something built to fit taller riders that isn't quite as small as the Drafter. Here's a pic of me with it at Galbraith in Bellingham...you can see how high I have to wear it to get the sternum strap in the right spot.

 
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in the trees

Turbo Monkey
May 19, 2003
1,210
1
NH
Dakine is using a bladder with their own name on it now, I don't believe it is a Nalgene anymore.
The '09 uses a Hydrapak bladder. It's very nice - easy to use/fill/clean. It has a folding top with a plastic sliding locking "bar." No leaking.

I used a Nomad for years and loved it. And this was after continually trying to find the right pack (Camelbak and Dakine) that fit correctly and had all the features that I needed. I switched to the Amp 18L this Spring because I liked the rain cover feature and it's made a lighter-weight material that seems to fit/feel a little better. I do miss the organization/pockets of the Nomad, though - the Amp could use one or two more internal pockets in the largest main compartment.

toby
 

frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
I've been using Dakine Apex, previous model, with big pouch for ff helmet for some time. But, it was a bit too big. So, I switched for Nomad 2009. I like it very much.
You can also look at Deuter products. Great quality, great functionality, totally different design. Slick. Similar to Ergon or vice versa ;)
 

cableguy

Monkey
Jun 23, 2007
463
1
Southern California
Camelbak's the Don looks great. Look forward to the review. I have been using Camelbak Rogue, which is made for FR/DH. It's been working for me for the past year better than Dakine Nomad.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
I've had about 3 renditions of the Camelbak Mule over the years and the most recent rendition, I still appreciate. It's also the one most easily found in any outdoor store, REI, camping store, hiking store, military surplus, etc so that you can try it on.

I've seen the Ergon pack in person and it looked phenomenal, but I can't speak for the comfort of it since I didn't try it...quality wise, it's dead sexy. The other option you might look at is a Deuter. They are made for massively sweaty people with a suspension system to allow air to your back at all times.

I'm 5'10" 195lbs with a barrel chest and the Mule fits pretty well. You'll have to try it on first.
 

daway

Chimp
Apr 15, 2004
84
0
Seattle
I ended up picking up a Dakine Apex off chainlove for $50 shipped. It is perfect, fits like a glove. The padded shoulder straps seem much longer than the Drafter's. Also, the backpack as a whole is a bit longer, meaning I can get both the waist and sternum straps in the right spot now. I don't feel like it is too big, I am glad I got it over the Nomad.

But man, this backpack is nice. Same awesome features I appreciated with the Drafter and then some. Namely the separate tool organization pocket, main compartment, and bladder sleeve. Big fleece goggle pouch is a plus. Also, the Apex has four pockets down by the waist strap that you can reach without taking off the pack, which is an awesome feature that the Drafter could have used.

Chainlove only has the red flannel one though...I don't quite know how I feel about the design yet, but hey the price was right. I tend to wear flannel shirts a lot, so a flannel shirt and flannel backpack is pushing it....:eek: