Adverture Racing Pack

By kkt2957156 Ranked #1249 - Trail Running Hydration April 27, 2009

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.

View Details: CamelBak Octane 14+ Hydration Pack - 3L

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