CamelBak Fairfax Hydration Pack - 150cu in - 2009 BCS

Bought this for my Dad. Likes to use it when he's riding his bike, but finds it most useful for when he's outside doing yardwork. Its nice and small but still hold a good amount of water. Plenty for a couple hours.

I purchased two of these packs for my wife and I. We are both distance runners, and the packs really work well for training runs. There isn't a ton of storage space in them, but I don't want to carry a lot on my back anyway. I can fit my cellphone, ID, money, and a snack in my pack and still have room to spare. I really can't think of a downside. The packs are well made, and serve their purpose perfectly.

The Fairfax is to me the evil twin of the classic 50 oz pack. It' a bit beefier, will hold more stuff, and comes in a really rad color. For my travels, I usually include some food in the big compartment, wrapped in a dry sack if needed, and little items, such as sunscreen, in the little compartment. These are useful, but I do have a gripe, and that is that the small compartment is the size of a coinpurse and isn't super useful. Why not combine it with the big compartment to have something really useful? Also, a smaller issue is that it is difficult to close the water compartment when the bag is full. This could result in a filled bag tumbling out of the pack while you are carrying it around or trying to put it on. A bit annoying. The chest straps is great for running, and it does not ride around my back the way some people have mentioned.

The hydration bladder itself is the standard Omega, which is where CamelBak really excels. I don't think their packs are great; in fact they are probably inferior to ones made by dedicated packmakers. However, their near indestructible bags really make me feel good whenever I fall on my back. and is the main reason I choose CamelBak over some knockoff. Good pillow too. The only flaw is that it does not come with a cap. WTF is up with that. The big bite valve is great, but after it hits the ground, I'm not sure who would want to suck from it. I installed the cap and feel MUCH better, but why make me pay six extra dollars....?