What's good these days, just need something a bit smaller for a couple of hours in the woods. tools, tube, jacket, couple of Lt. of water.
Are Camelback still the 'go-to' company for this sort of thing?
I just got a camelback Octane to replace my old Dakine Helipro and cant believe how light and comfortable it is! Expands to take more gear too but awesome pack
tescos do a 1.5litre one for 11.99, its got two pockets and i've easily fit a tube, puncture repait kit, couple of tools, 3 lights, chewing gum, sweets etc etc, still room to cram a thin jacket in (as the girlfriend has)
i know its not a camelback and wont have the kudos, but its spot on for our 2-3 hour rides in the woods 🙂
+1 for Tesco. I use my Camelbak 2l bladder in mine. One zip's failed though.
I've just done this a week or two ago, looking for something smaller than my Dakine Drafter for short blasts.
After reviewing a good few, I went back to camelbak. I am very impressed with this - the camelbak classic.
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=5319
Its not the cheapest I realise, but its like Its not there - and, you can fit a 3l camelbak bladder in it if you need to.
Earlier this year I got a Camelbak Octane XCT to use for short summer rides and "racing". Stays put and doesn't move around on my back, can fit multitool, tube CO2, spare pads, keys, phone and the bungee will secure a thin jacket or extra layer. Has a 2.1l bladder. No room for a pump though.
I just got a camelback Octane to replace my old Dakine Helipro and cant believe how light and comfortable it is! Expands to take more gear too but awesome pack
Was it the Octane 18 model you bought ?
I like the look and feel of the XCT, but like you said, no room for a pump and thats the only thing that put me off it.
Is the XCT that strange looking thing with the twin pockets on the hips?
Does that not get a bit hot?
I've got a CamelBak Mule, big enough for everything I need to carry (and some more) but not too big looking / uncomfortable if only carrying the bare essentials!
I personally would forget the Mule and such for just a few hours and essentials. My Lobo is perfect for 2-3hrs and can easily be coerced into taking a full day's worth of kit (bare minimum mind). Very stable on the back too, but is quite long and narrow if that bothers you.
This is what I regularly take in mine:
3l water
Pump
Patches + tyre-levers
Tube
Multitool
Leatherman
Spare brakepads
Small f+r lights
A fistful of zipties
Snickers
Mobile
Camera
Small 1st-aid kit
Windproof (and occasionally legwarmers in the autumn).
Ospray Raptor - better than camelbak imo.
Blimey?
why carry all that?
2 lt water at most (this is for a few hours in the woods)
multi tool
montane (if the weather's looking iffy)
pump
tube
sweeties
I've used it all at some point, though usually on longer rides (6hrs+). That and a 20km walk home in SPD shoes just doesn't appeal to me, which I learned from bitter experience. Admittedly, I do seem to be the pack-horse on group rides though. I guess some of it is just taking into account differences in Swedish weather and seasons. 5mins to fix a puncture can be the difference between riding home in daylight and nighttime sometimes.
If it's just 1-2hrs I'll just take a bottle, pump and saddlebag with bare essentials.
nickc - Member
Is the XCT that strange looking thing with the twin pockets on the hips?Does that not get a bit hot?
That's the one. I don't seem to sweat more than usual when I'm using it.
Cannot go wrong with a Camelbak Mule imo
Merlin have them on sale for £48.
Ospray Raptor - better than camelbak imo.
OH bought a Raptor 18 the other day, before doing the Liverpool-Leeds. She loves it.