CamelBak Backpacks

In 1989 Michael Eidson, an emergency medical technician, rode the Hotter 'n Hell 100 bicycle race in Wichita Falls, Texas, with an IV bag of water stuffed in a tube sock and pinned to his jersey. That improvised drinking system became CamelBak, and hands-free hydration is still the thread running through everything it sells, from bike and running vests to bottles, reservoirs and hiking packs. The company has changed hands several times; Vista Outdoor bought it in July 2015. Military and government contracts became a large part of the business after US troops used the packs in the Gulf War.

CamelBak's Got Your Bak lifetime guarantee covers packs and reservoirs against manufacturing defects, repaired or replaced at CamelBak's discretion. It excludes normal wear, accidents and improper cleaning, offers no cash refunds, and applies only to the original buyer of a pack bought in the United States from CamelBak or an authorized dealer.

Both of these come from the hiking range and ship with a Crux reservoir in the box, which is the main reason to choose CamelBak over a general-purpose daypack. The Fourteener 26 is the larger-reservoir option, with a 3 L Crux and a high-tension suspended-mesh back panel. The Rim Runner X30 trades that for more gear space, a 2 L Crux in its own compartment, recycled 210D double-ripstop nylon and a ventilated hipbelt with cargo pockets.

Fourteener owners are blunt that it is a reservoir pack: the bottle pockets are shallow and the bladder sleeve takes up part of the stated volume even when empty. Hikers who drink from bottles are better served elsewhere. Reviewers also report that the one-size harness suits medium and longer torsos, while shorter hikers have found the waist belt creeping up during the day.