Full Review of the Camelbak Fourteener
You might think that one hydration pack is just as good as another, at least until you take a look at the Camelbak Fourteener hydration pack, which is one of the best and most technical packs you will ever come across. Camelbak have been the world leader of hydration packs for a long time but they have developed them even further in recent years, making them more comfortable and user-friendly. This particular pack is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who might spend the entire day hiking or rambling, and even won the title of ‘Best All-Round Day Pack Award’ from BACKPACKER magazine.
Technical Details
- Alpine N.V.I.S back panel – lightweight, low profile, multi-directional ventilation with super-deep pods
- Stability enhancing Dynamic Suspension harness with dual density padding
- Semi load bearing waist belt with load lifters
- Fleece lined valuables pocket, 2 mesh side pockets
- Quick access overflow storage
- Tool and helmet loops
- Weight exc reservoir: 1.07kg
- Hydration: 3.0litres Antidote with Quick Link system
- Max total capacity: 26 litres
Features
The Camelbak Fourteener hydration pack sports a wide range of features to make spending the day hiking much more convenient. The main purpose of the pack is to provide hydration to users, the large three litre bladder is bigger than most and would last most people for around a day.
The quarter turn bladder opening is ideal for packing it with ice rather than liquids and for cleaning out once you are back from your trek. The bladder now also has a handle which makes the job a whole lot easier! The valve lock on the bite valve is the perfect solution to all those accidents you probably suffered with older style bladders – just remember to turn the lock.
If you like to be prepared on a day hike the Fourteener hydration pack is definitely for you, there is so much space to pack all the essentials and more. The cargo area features two elastic pockets on either side which are ideal for carrying extra bottles of water. If you do choose to carry extra water with you, make sure you consider just how heavy this could be on a long day climbing.
There are some new designs on the Camelbak Fourteener hydration pack including the Dfit rings on the shoulder straps, allowing you to position the straps to suit you rather than having to deal with an ‘off-the-shelf’ fit. The actual straps are made from very thick padded material for extra comfort. The chest straps have also been redesigned to give the user a custom fit as they are now attached to the shoulder straps, and can also be adjusted.
Usability
As you might have worked out by now the designers at Camelbak seem to have had the user’s comfort at the forefront of their mind when designing the Fourteener hydration pack. Just one example of the extra lengths taken to make this backpack as user-friendly as possible is the N.V.I.S back panel which provides extra stability and support whilst remaining soft to touch. Although the panel is rigid, somehow it manages to mould against the shape of your back, making it easy to forget it’s even there.
One of the worst things about carrying a heavy backpack or hydration pack is peeling it away from your back on a hot summer’s day. If you are carrying something tight against your back for long periods of time, you will inevitably become extremely sweaty. This is why Camelbak have added some ridges for extra ventilation as they allow air to pass between the pack and your back.
Forgetting the compartment for the bladder there are three pockets for cargo, a smaller weather resistant one on top which is ideal for a mobile phone or an MP3 player; an outer flat pocket which would be suitable for maps, pens, torches and so on. There is another pouch underneath this pocket which would probably be ideal for a rain jacket or trekking equipment. The main cargo compartment is where you might keep the stuff you need to have with you but wouldn’t need to have easy access to, such as a first aid or survival kit, helmet, towels, headlamp, books, lunch box and so on.
Disadvantages
There genuinely isn’t anything bad to say about the Camelbak Fourteener hydration pack. The only thing some people might find is that it is just too big for them, but if that’s the case Camelbak do offer a range of other packs that might be more suitable.
Advantages
The Camelbak Fourteener hydration pack offers outdoor enthusiasts so many benefits, once you have used this bad boy a couple of times you will wonder just how you ever lived without it. This pack combines a large Camelbak bladder with masses of cargo space for you to carry just about everything aside from the kitchen sink.
Even if you forget about just how much gear this pack allows you to carry, its comfort is in another universe compared to other similar hydration systems on the market. The design of the back panel and the straps, mean that users can concentrate on the task in hand rather than become preoccupied by uncomfortable backpacks.
You might think that one hydration pack is just as good as another, at least until you take a look at the Came…
You might think that one hydration pack is just as good as another, at least until you take a look at the Came…
About Allan Quinley
