According to my OH I have a terrible trail pack addiction – I’ve bought load of the bu**ers in last few years in search of trail pack perfection, and the spare room is festooned with em:)) Have tried Camelbak mule, hawg, blowfish; Wingnut hyper, Evoc Freeride, Osprey Raptor and one of their larger capacity ones.
Of all that lot, I like the comfort, layout & pockets of the Raptor. Bought the Evoc for the back protection and its stability on steep, rough ground – it’s very stable for its size, but I don’t find it that comfy compared to my latest addition to the collection.
My current favourite is the Camelbak Charge 10L; it’s basically a refined version of the Wingnut, with a strange looking water bladder that wraps around the lower back and waist to keep the weight down low. I think the stability and comfort of the Charge are brilliant, but as a bike pack, it’s not perfect – there’s not as much organised storage as the Raptor or Evoc, and there are things like a key fob and mesh pockets at the bottom of the inside of the main compartment. If Camelback could put a bit more organised storage, I think it’d really improve it – as it is, I’m not sure I’d swap a Wingnut for it, unless you want the hip hugging water bladder.
Uh oh, I’ve just seen the new Camelbak Skyline, with improved tool storage – I can feel a trail pack purchase itch again:))
P.s. Anyone want a Camelbak Hawg cheap?