CamelBak M.U.L.E. Mountain Bike Hydration Pack - Easy Refill Hydration Backpack

Update - 1/4/2018 So I have been using this for several months now, mostly for adventure racing (orienteering, mountain biking & kayaking) and am really come to appreciate what this is and is not. Each race I put about 40-50 miles on the gear, most of the mileage is biking, but each one is at least 10-12 miles on foot, essentially jogging. The pack is holding up beautifully, and I have been impressed with how comfortable it is. I usually only take 2 liters of water and then refill enroute to help save on weight and space for other gear without looking like a sherpa, but the times I have filled it all the way up it still felt good and there was still room for maps, rain gear, a small first aid kit, some bike tools and 4 or 5 energy bars -- decent space in these. One of the best features has been the "air director". I tried to take a photo, but it's a mesh over some foam pads to create breathable space on your back. It works! Two other small things I like are color coding the zipper for the water bladder (blue) and the reflective stripes on the back of the pack. LIKE THIS PAK!Fits like it should; really like how the bladder detaches and how well the fill cap works. I usually go with a 50/50 mix of ice and water in the summer and the big mouth on this bladder make it easy to get ice cubes in right from a big cup. You can still make a mess with the quick disconnect at the bottom of the drinking tube though; although the bladder doesn't leak when you remove the hose, any water in the hose can (and will) come out, so this maneuver is best done over a sink vice your couch. Plenty of storage -- most of it useful. I've used mine regularly for mountain biking and for adventure races -- really glad I decided to replace the generic hydro-pak I've been using the past two years with the Camelbak. A bit spendy, but I feel its been worth the price. Excellent construction; you get what you pay for with this. People who've complained about the shoulder straps need to try on my old one! I should have gotten this sooner.

After using three different antidote bladders over the last 6 years or so, I expected the new Crux bladder to be a major improvement. Instead, it is almost impossible to seal the new cap correctly. I got it to close without leaks once out of 25-30 attempts. I can’t state strongly enough how disappointing and frustrating this was.Aside from the bladder, the new pocket design on the bag itself is a major downgrade from the previous version. The front admin pocket, while now larger, has been moved away from the front flap and onto the main body of the bag itself. This takes away substancial storage space from the main pocket. It also makes the admin pocket difficult to access as is now requires unbuckling of the front flap. The shove pocket between the front flap and the main bag feels smaller and more shallow as well.I was able to find the discontinued 2016 version of the MULE still for sale here and picked that up instead. I’d highly recommend it over this one as it’s better in almost every aspect.

These CamelBaks were a lifesaver during our desert hikes through Zion and the Grand Canyon this past week. I filled them COMPLETELY with ice, then filled them up to around the 2.5l mark with water, and the water would STAY COLD all day long! Even after refilling with water along the way! There was still ice in the pouches in the evening when I dumped them out. So refreshing to have ice cold water during a long hot hike.

I bought this for a music festival but have so far only used it on long day hikes. I think I will prefer it for the initial reason I bought it (music festival) to what I've actually been using it for (day hikes). It holds plenty of water, but as with all hydration packs, the water takes up most of the cc of the pack. If anyone is curious, this is a great size for ACL and adheres to the backpack standards while still letting you carry all your necessities (wallet, poncho, maybe an extra shirt, etc.). I highly recommend it for that purpose. If you take longer (6ish hour or more) day hikes like I do, I would try a different backpack with a bit more storage.

I got this to ride mountain bikes and love it. The tool compartment has good pockets to keep your tools/keys/wallet from sliding around inside and works great to evenly distribute your things. The air ventilator design on the back really helps reduce sweat accumulation. The higher pocket is good for phone/Clif bars. Every spot of the bag serves a purpose.The product updates from my old Camelback purchased 8 years ago are substantial. The new bladders have a better design; the lid screws on and off more easily, the tube has an easier on/off lever, and the magnetic shoulder clip is very nice. Just for the updated bladder alone this is worth buying or upgrading if you already have an older Camelback.I've tried a knock-off Camelback and was disappointed in the build quality/bladder as it broke in less than a year of use. Just get the name brand here, it's absolutely worth the extra money and will last for several years worth of heavy use.

Love it! My bf and I hike frequently, and these are perfect; we each have one. There's plenty storage space for granola bars and wallets and phones, etc. Definitely more functional as a backpack than some other Camelbaks are. You do need to make sure that the lid to the bladder is lined up correctly before you head off. I accidentally didn't have it quite right a couple of times and it leaked a little, but it's an easy fix and not a problem for me anymore now that I know.

I really enjoy using this CamelBak. The reservoir works great and the pack is very comfortable on long hikes and has thoughtfully-designed storage. Snacks, extra clothing, keys, phone … it will hold it all comfortably. The pack also seems to keep the water cool in hot weather. I often end my hikes with ice cubes still in the reservoir.My only wish this pack was supplied with an insulated tube, since the tube heats the water quickly in the summer months. The water tastes so much better when it’s cold - the hotter the weather, the more ice goes it. I’m investing in the insulated tube for this reason.

Great bag as always excellent quality from camelbak . Enough room for more than the essentials when on an all day biking expedition. The reservoir is huge but obviously don’t need to fully fill it as obviously adds a lot of weight. Lots of nice little touches which add to the usability.

I'm sorry to say this version of the Mule is low quality and storage is limited due to bad design. I have the original mule and it's still in great condition, 5 stars! (apart from sticky zip) That's after 13 years of use as an outdoor Personal Trainer and put it to the test daily for at least a decade. This new version already has a torn shoulder strap, the zip is fragile and it's only a year old. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone I'm sorry to say.

Everythng you coud hope for. I've had 2 previous MULE, both lasted a long time. The detail improvements on this one are good. Minus one star as stitching was not done on one of the little tabs/tube guides on the strap (but not on the side I use)

Excellent quality, plenty of storage space and nice amount of pockets. I use it full and find it very comfortable weight is distributed nicely across the padding and decent air vents around your back. Room for your helmet if you need to carry your helmet as well. Strong construction makes this a worthwhile buy!

You can surprisingly fit a lot (relatively speaking) inside this bad boy & has a great reservoir.Down side is the magnetic clip - it’s sometimes a faff to get it to slide into placeIdk I could just be high

I wanted something with a hydration bladder and enough room for my TRX system to fit in for runs coupled with workouts. This fit the requirements. The TRX fits in the larger storage area with only a little room left. Other small storage pockets still unused with enough capacity for keys, money, phone. All in all the product is high quality and well made and will last well if looked after.

Got this for my son. It is a great bit of kit really well designed and very rugged. Very happy.

Excellent bag however removable waist straps are missing. Not sure how to contact seller to make arrangements for missing straps to be replaced as don’t want to return bag as my daughter as already used bag.

Very comfortable when cycling and I'm x-large so I was worried it might come up small. 3 litre water sack is useful. Happy buy.

You get what you pay for !...Its an old adage, but fact...This is a well thought out pack with lots of pockets for storage. On a hot day, you can feel the cool down your back, making this pleasant to use.. Great construction too....Bite the bullet, pay the extra and own the best !...

This is a great bag. i use for trail riding. it has lots of secure pockets for tools, phones, wallets etc and when packed is really comfortable to wear. a bit more money that some but well worth it.

Bought for my son, great quality and easily cleaned

Amazing product as expected

Great bag but tried water reservoir for first time today and it leaked everywhere. I hope seller will replace. Will let you know!!Update - mid August and no contact from seller - very poor customer service.

Just what my son wanted