berettaman12000
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I'm thinking about ordering the Camelbak Ambush and was wondering about the overall quality of Camelbak products? Any comments, positive or negative? Thanks!
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What is the quality of Camelbak products?
- Thread starter berettaman12000
- Start date
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- Jan 5, 2001
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- 2,726
I have a 2L ThermoPak and my wife has a 52oz FlashFlo waist pack. Both have worked very well for us. It is clear that a lot of thought has been put into their products. The little details are all perfect. Overall quality of materials and manufacture is very high.
--Bob Q
--Bob Q
PlaceKnives
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I got on a CamelBak kick about 2 years ago and purchased their military issue 100oz. Storm and military issue 50oz. Pakteen. They are nice once you have them all ready to go, but with the style I own, it takes some work to get the bladders full, to get the caps screwed on without cross threading, and they are a little hard to clean. I got back from a camping trip last year and they still haven't been cleaned! It's just a pain to clean them and make sure they're disinfected and they take a long time to dry out.
I had problems with the thin O rings that come on the caps falling off. I had them both just fall off twice and they were never found, so I had 2 leaky Camelbaks getting everything in my pack soaking wet. I wrote to the company and got replacement O rings for free. They said that the O rings falling off are not a common problem, but I had the problem with 2 of their products purchased from 2 different stores at 2 different times. Could you imagine being a soldier in the desert and losing the O ring on your Camelbak?
The new Omega style bladders do not have this problem as the O rings on those are larger and are part of the cap. If I could do it over again, I'd buy the Omega bladder, the larger opening also makes them easier to fill and clean, will speed drying time, and the improved cap makes it easier to hold.
Even though I've had a minor problem, their products are built solidly and of really good, strong materials, and their customer service is good.
When I go camping or hiking now, I take a military 2 quart canteen and my MSR Miniworks water filter and leave the heavy Camelbaks at home.
I had problems with the thin O rings that come on the caps falling off. I had them both just fall off twice and they were never found, so I had 2 leaky Camelbaks getting everything in my pack soaking wet. I wrote to the company and got replacement O rings for free. They said that the O rings falling off are not a common problem, but I had the problem with 2 of their products purchased from 2 different stores at 2 different times. Could you imagine being a soldier in the desert and losing the O ring on your Camelbak?
The new Omega style bladders do not have this problem as the O rings on those are larger and are part of the cap. If I could do it over again, I'd buy the Omega bladder, the larger opening also makes them easier to fill and clean, will speed drying time, and the improved cap makes it easier to hold.
Even though I've had a minor problem, their products are built solidly and of really good, strong materials, and their customer service is good.
When I go camping or hiking now, I take a military 2 quart canteen and my MSR Miniworks water filter and leave the heavy Camelbaks at home.
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- Dec 16, 2000
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- 2,044
I have a Camelbak Mule, and an Eagle Liquidator. Of the two, the pack quality on the Eagle is far better and more durable than any Camelbak, and Hydrastorms for that matter. Eagle has just started making these again.
That said, I use hydration packs for very limited purposes (some cycling and a three gun match that requires gear to be carried). During movement, or removing, picking up the pack, I've hooked the mouthpiece ends and either opened them or yanked them out of the tube. I've tried three different mouthpiece types with no change. I don't find cleaning to be an issue, but for drying you need a rack/hanger thing that holds it open. Filling them is a pain. I can't imagine using them where I go backpacking.
Except for the uses I listed above, Nalgene bottles will do everything I need at a much lower cost.
That said, I use hydration packs for very limited purposes (some cycling and a three gun match that requires gear to be carried). During movement, or removing, picking up the pack, I've hooked the mouthpiece ends and either opened them or yanked them out of the tube. I've tried three different mouthpiece types with no change. I don't find cleaning to be an issue, but for drying you need a rack/hanger thing that holds it open. Filling them is a pain. I can't imagine using them where I go backpacking.
Except for the uses I listed above, Nalgene bottles will do everything I need at a much lower cost.
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- Oct 2, 1998
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I've used a variety of their bladders and packs over the years for everthing from motorcycling to strenuous outings in the mountains.
I have had one old bladder (circa 1997) begin to leak/ooze but am very happy with the current Omega bladders. Aside from a couple of 100 oz. "Unbottles" I currently have a Trail Blazer day pack (with 70 oz. Omega reservoir) for mountain hikes requiring less gear than my Kelty Redwing will accommodate but more than a hydration fanny pack affords.
If I would change anything it'd be the two year warranty that Camelbak offers but this is gotten around by buying the gear from reputable companies like EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) which warrants any such items purchased from them for as long as you own the product.
I have had one old bladder (circa 1997) begin to leak/ooze but am very happy with the current Omega bladders. Aside from a couple of 100 oz. "Unbottles" I currently have a Trail Blazer day pack (with 70 oz. Omega reservoir) for mountain hikes requiring less gear than my Kelty Redwing will accommodate but more than a hydration fanny pack affords.
If I would change anything it'd be the two year warranty that Camelbak offers but this is gotten around by buying the gear from reputable companies like EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) which warrants any such items purchased from them for as long as you own the product.
berettaman12000
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Thanks guys!! That is exactly the info that I was wanting. I will try out EMS..again, thanks!
PlaceKnives: I am one of the soldiers you mentioned have lost o-rings from the camelbak cap in the desert! The company told you it wasnt a common problem huh? Well I know of plenty others with the same problem. Camelbak does make a good product and I have used mine for trail running, rucking, mountain biking, and in several emergency operations. I like the idea of not having to reach foa a bottle in my pack or vest. Cheers!
I have an old mule, a new mule, and trailblazer and can't imagine how the quality could be improved, but I might not be a power user. I expected the trailblazer to be a smaller pack, I was surprized at how substantial it is. It would be a good choice for an urban BOB. If you don't want to carry a bladder in the bladder pocket you could put maps or other flat things in there.
The new mule is a good improvement over the old one, I got it because my old mule had thin straps and not much room for anything else. The straps on the new mule are much more comfy. I don't like the fact that the bladder sleeve velcros shut, I would much more prefer it to zip shut as velcro quits working after a lot of use. I would imagine that the bag would wear out before that happens.
I have mixed feeling about water bladders. I left water in my first mule and flaky stuff formed in it, like the inside of the bladder delaminated or something. I can leave water in platypus bottles as long as I want with no ill effects. It's kind of a pain to dry them out but I have some spares so I can rotate and use one while the other drys. I usually just use the 70 oz bladder in my mule for mowing or not very long walks, it's still more water than I need.
I like nalogene water bottles the best but they aren't as convienient as bladders many times and I wind up leaving them behind when I shouldn't have.
Camelbak is the only bladder system I've used, but I've used different bladders with it. I like the omega lid the best, especially the ones that attach the lid to the bottle, I got a spare omega bladder with a lid that doesn't attach and I'm afraid it will get lost.
The new mule is a good improvement over the old one, I got it because my old mule had thin straps and not much room for anything else. The straps on the new mule are much more comfy. I don't like the fact that the bladder sleeve velcros shut, I would much more prefer it to zip shut as velcro quits working after a lot of use. I would imagine that the bag would wear out before that happens.
I have mixed feeling about water bladders. I left water in my first mule and flaky stuff formed in it, like the inside of the bladder delaminated or something. I can leave water in platypus bottles as long as I want with no ill effects. It's kind of a pain to dry them out but I have some spares so I can rotate and use one while the other drys. I usually just use the 70 oz bladder in my mule for mowing or not very long walks, it's still more water than I need.
I like nalogene water bottles the best but they aren't as convienient as bladders many times and I wind up leaving them behind when I shouldn't have.
Camelbak is the only bladder system I've used, but I've used different bladders with it. I like the omega lid the best, especially the ones that attach the lid to the bottle, I got a spare omega bladder with a lid that doesn't attach and I'm afraid it will get lost.