CamelBak Octane 14+ Hydration Pack - 3L - 2008

I bought this pack awhile back before running my first adventure race. It held just enough gear for me and the chest and waist strap helped keep the bag from moving around a great deal while running, biking, and kayaking. The 100 oz bladder was a life saver. I use it to go to the gym and carry all my clothes. The inside has a divider where I put my sweaty clothes after working out ot keep them from dirtying up my clean ones. Overall a great pack.

Just returned from a damp trip in the Linville gorge with this as my climbing pack. It compresses down and fits nearly unnoticed when climbing. Most reviews say it is a race pack but lightweight and slim design lend it to use for all day climbing. I was able to fit my shoes, a rainshell, headlamp, camera, packcover, and 3L of H2O with the front zipper shut. The red is a bit bright for me but that was the only color I could get and it does stand out on a wall. My only complaint was that the bottom of the pack blocked my chalk bag but I may just need to play with the adjustment straps.

I purchased this pack for my first 24-hour adventure race, and have trained with it now for the past 5 months. So far, I’m very pleased. I’m about 6’1” and 160 lbs. I keep my knife, compass, ID, and cash in the right hip-belt pocket and a stash of sport beans, shot bloks, and Clif bar in the left. Both pockets as very easy to access. In the other small outer compartment I keep my headlamp, lighter, and spare batteries. The 3L bladder is nice when you’re going to be out for awhile, and it doesn’t compress the pack such that space is lost in the main compartment. Regarding the main compartment, there is plenty of space for everything I am required to carry for this particular event, which is a considerable amount of stuff.

The pack isn’t waterproof so I carry a Sea to Summit Pack Cover, which has come in handy. Camelbak also makes a rain cover, but I had the Sea to Summit for another daypack, and it hasn’t failed me yet. Another reviewer noted that the Octane 14+ has limited padding in the shoulder straps, and that they are thin. This is true, and I would agree that this is something Camelbak should consider addressing. Although, it has not caused me much problem to date. The airflow system on the outer back panel isn’t that great, either (i.e., it gets soaked with sweat very fast). This is another area that Camelbak should consider fixing, but it hasn’t been a deal-breaker for me.

One of my training partners carries a Gregory Iso Daypack, which seems very nice and weighs less than the Octane 14+. I think this pack has been discontinued, but that Gregory has something similar with a different name. I would encourage those who are looking at the 14+ to also checkout the Gregory. I’m not sure one is better than the other, but it’s worth comparing.

Again, overall, this is a very good pack.

Ok, I used this pack in a 30 hour adventure race and became very intimate with its features.

The bad: First, the shoulder straps are fairly narrow and have no cushion resulting in some soreness- this is a major design flaw. The portion of the pack resting against your back has some kinda air flow system that does not work at all, I soaked the back of my pack with sweat. I also have a longer torso and found the pack to ride a little short, resulting in difficulty loading the hip belt with weight.

The good news- the 100oz bladder performed well, the hip pockets were a HUGE benefit. I like the panel load design and the collapable feature. The main zipper is beefy, which is good.

Final thoughts- basically a good pack, I would like to see some upgrades in the shoulder straps and maybe a more rigid back setup to allow more airflow. Other than that I think it is a good pack, as long as you are not loading it with too much weight (over 10-15 pounds).

This pack is great. I am a bigger guy and the waist belt is large enough to fit me. You can fit quite alot of stuff in pocket when unzipped.

I originally got this pack for an adventure race, it fits really sung after tightening it down and I am 5'6 150 pounds. After I got it i realized that it will be a great all around pack, it has plenty of room for a extended day hike. The shoulder straps are wide enough and i have yet to experience any discomfort from the straps digging in but i have yet to load it up completely. Same with the waist straps, the added pockets on the straps are convient for putting gels/bars in for quick easy access. So far i have no complaints about the pack

I have used this pack for trips for 1 to 8 hours. It has plenty of room for the day hiker ( as long as you know how and what to pack). I've used it the hot summer and in the icy cold winter. I'm a small guy - 5'6 150lbs so for me, it's perfect.