Camelbak Pit Boss

Full Review of the Camelbak Pit Boss

The Camelbak Pit Boss hydration pack has been designed specifically for skiiers and snowboarders spending hours at a time on the slopes. Whilst the actual backpack may not be as technical as others available on the market, it does have the advantage of the Camelbak bladder. If you are more interested in the hydration pack than the style and technicality of the backpack, the Pit Boss is definitely for you. The Camelbak Pit Boss does offer more than just water though, it also has enough space to carry the amount of gear you would need for a day out in the Alps. This pack even has compression straps which double up as carrying straps for your snowboard or skis.

Techical Details

• Material: polyester (600D), nylon (210D)
• Volume: 1800 cu in
• Reservoir Volume: 100 oz
• Pockets: 1 shovel, 2 hip-belt zip, 1 water bottle, 1 top lid zip
• Waist-Belt: yes
• Compression Straps: 2
• Locking Bite Valve: yes
• Recommended Use: backcountry touring, alpine skiing, snowboarding
• Warranty: lifetime

Features

The Camelbak bladder has always been a market leader but they have recently updated them, and now they are even better than before. The new bladder, found in the Camelbak Pit Boss, features a larger opening, ideal for cleaning and filling with ice cubes. The bite valve is one of the most impressive parts of Camelbak’s bladders, and you guessed it, they have improved on it further. As soon as the hose is detached the bladder nozzle shuts off supply so users can simply get a refill by unclipping the bladder with the hose still in place. Nice one!

This hydration pack is not just for drinking, it also sports the tri-zip build meaning that you can easily access the contents of the bag without having to remove the skiing gear that is attached. If you are in a rush, all three zips can be unzipped for much faster loading of the pack. The main pouch of the Pit Boss is absolutely massive, 1,800 cubic inches to be exact, so you should be able to fit everything you need for a day on the slopes, with space for extras.

There is another easy access fleece-lined pocket on the top of the pack which is perfect for all your bits and bobs that you don’t want to have to root around for in the large compartment. There is also a carry loop where you can stash your helmet if you don’t fancy wearing it.

Usability

As you may have guessed by the array of features, Camelbak seem to have covered every possible angle, leaving you with nothing to worry about. The straps and clips which prove themselves to be so useful and easy and simple to get to grips with, are retractable, adjustable, reinforced, and have bands to tuck them away so they don’t catch on anything.

The hydration pack itself is also better than ever thanks to Camelbak’s new and improved bladder system. The 3 litre bladder fits nicely inside the pack and is enough water to keep most going for a good few hours, without adding too much extra weight.

Disadvantages

The only real negative point to the Camelbak Pit Boss is the price, but if you are serious about keeping safe whilst out on the slopes, and need a pack which can do just about everything, it is worth the additional investment.

The backpack is not exactly stylish, it is black and quite bulky looking which won’t bother most concentrating on their activities, but if you prefer style over function you probably won’t fancy the Pit Boss.

If you find the Camelbak Pit Boss too large, they do make a smaller women’s version called the Roulette.

Advantages

There are so many benefits to the Camelbak Pit Boss hydration pack that it will be difficult to name them all, but the stand out features are definitely the tri-zipper design for easy access, the padded waistbelt for additional stability, the straps and cables for carrying skis or a snowboard, the Therminator harness with handwarmer pocket, the bladder and bite valve, and the helmet carrying loop.

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