I have been testing the Camelbak Octane 22 Hydration Hiking Pack 22l on various hill and mountain hikes.
Features include:
3D Mesh Ventilation: Ridged EVA foam with molded air channels paired with a layer of lightweight recycled triangular wall mesh for optimal airflow
Dual adjustment sternum strap.
Command Center Harness – Easy and secure access to phone, keys, fuel, hydration and other essentials
22 l of equipment storage
Elastic side pockets
Front pockets for soft flasks
reflective details
Dual Tube Trap: Keeps your tube secure and accessible when you need it
safety whistle
Elastic overflow pocket
Trekking pole accessory
Full zip opening to main compartment
rain cover
Ventilated hipbelt with zippered pockets
Price: £170
See: Camelback and Amazon (I get a small commission on sales through Amazon. This helps keep this website running.)
Pros and Cons of Camelbak Octane 22 Hiking Hydration Pack 22l
advantages:
- Light backpack for hiking.
- Cross between a traditional hiking pack and a running vest pack.
- Easy to adjust to fit and many adjustments.
- Comfortable back with light cushioning.
- Easy to use clips.
- Large zipper pulls on some pockets.
- Plenty of storage space and handy places to add gear, as well as the main zippered compartment.
- Useful pockets for soft canteens on the front of the pack.
- Large front zip pocket for phone.
- Bladder pocket and handy double clips to keep tube in place.
- Useful rain cover hidden in the lower zippered pocket.
- It comes with a hydration bladder.
- Useful pole fixing points.
Cons:
- One size fits most and a unisex product, meaning it needed more adjustments to get a perfect fit.
- Lots of loose straps after adjustment.
- When the large zipper of the main compartment is open, items often fall out. I prefer a more traditional drawstring top for a hiking backpack.
- Light package but feels flimsy. For hiking, I prefer a pack that is more rigid so that it will stand up on its own.
- Make sure you buy the darker color because the lighter color ends up very dirty.
- Expensive.
Conclusion:
If you are a medium sized man or a larger woman, this pack will fit you well. It is a lightweight backpack for summer activities and has a lot of useful space to carry many items. There are many different places to store water, food and small things in the many pockets.
It looks like a hybrid between a traditional hiking backpack and a more modern running vest. This works to a point, but I prefer a stiffer hiking pack that only holds up when I take it off.
It would suit fast-paced hiking activities where weight is important and you want a snug fit but plenty of room for gear.
It seems like an expensive pack to me, although you can find it cheaper on other websites.
