CamelBak M.U.L.E. Mountain Bike Hydration Pack

I've had three M.U.L.E.'s stolen from me in the past decade! Picked up this latest model to replace my last stolen one and I'm impressed with all of the updates and upgrades from previous units, with the exception of two minor things: 1) the angle of CamelBak's new Crux Valve is odd for me. Hard to reach. I've read it was to increase water flow to get more water with the same draw. Camelbak claimed the 90-degree angle older valve created flow restriction. For me the old valve is easier to access, so I will likely change it out if those fit this newer, thicker hose. 2) I wish ALL the zipper pulls were a different color than the rest of the material (the bladder compartment zipper pull is blue [i.e.-water]), the rest are black. Black pulls on black fabric are hard to locate (especially in low light) for old guys like me. I'll likely change them out too with something brighter. Outside of that, I love the enormous storage capacity of this pack. I often hike full-day, +10-mile trails or use it on all-day flyfishing excursions, and having access to 3.0 L of water is essential. I also love the newly-designed Air Director that keeps air flowing up and down your spine and lower back to help prevent excessive sweating and hydration loss. For an idea as to how much this pack can hold, my MULE typically contains: - 1 Epic Wipe - small anti-septic towelettes - clip-on red strobe - emergency pancho - micro flashlight - spf - pocket knife - small first aid kit - ultra-light pack jacket - 1 pair extra socks - microfiber pack towel - lunch or snacks - small power bank - charge cord - pill bottle with Advil, Imodium, Benedryl - eye drops - keys - wallet - matches or lighter - 1 WetFire tablet - and I now have Tile hidden in it to track these darn theives! Overall, this is the best MULE I've ever owned. Worth every penny.

This bag is the perfect size for my husband (6’1” 230lbs) to wear while mountain biking. It holds a great amount of water and allows him to carry enough of his essentials with him. We also have the Lobo bag and this one holds more extras and more water. We tried to use it for skiing as well, but the tube is too exposed and froze. We have been very pleased with the durability and size. This is a great bag!

My old (15+ years) Camelbak MULE wasn't up for another North Florida summer season of mountain biking, so I went and bought the latest version of this reliable water hauler. I've been using it for a couple months and I'm very pleased with it, but I do have a few observations, etc. As you can see from the pics of my old MULE side by side with the new version, it's quite a bit bigger and meant to carry a 100 oz. reservoir vs 70 oz. The new MULE is very well designed, and for hikers and other non-biking folks, it distributes the weight well . The backstraps are much more substantial (no quick release buckles though) and there's a solid back panel that molds easily to your back once you've fitted it properly. The magnetic tube trap works well, and when you let go of the tube, it almost always snaps back into place by itself. The angle of the mouthpiece takes some getting used to, but it helps get more water into you faster, so worth the trouble IMHO. No real cons, but the Crux reservoir design also takes some getting used to. Be sure you get the reservoir dryer accessory - it's the only thing I've found you can use to dry it out between rides, since the Crux design includes baffles inside the reservoir and the older style dryer/hangers won't work. It also forces you to disconnect the tube from the reservoir since that's where the dryer connects - it makes sure you drain the tube after every use, but the quick release hookup gets a lot of extra wear and tear. I have some older reservoirs that I think I could fit into this new MULE, but I haven't tried using one yet. Another question - I'm not sure how you can wash this new MULE - my old one I could just throw in the washing machine. With the rigid backboard, I'm not sure you could do that with this new one. All in all, I'm very pleased with my new Camelbak MULE - it's great for off road cycling, and I can see how it would be a great fit for day hikers and other outdoor activities.

This camelback is amazing. Many pockets, enough room for a light jacket inside

Update September 2024: Quality if quality, it is something I have always liked about CamelBak. This pack as survived more than one mountain bike crash without any issues. The drinking tube and blader are still in great condition. Do the maintenance and I do not think you can go wrong. I am a 6-foot 265 lb. man, I have gone over the handlebars and landed on this pack, lost control and took a spill down a steep embankment, and a couple of other stupid things. Other than some minor damage this pack has come through and is still my go to pack when running, mountain biking, or hiking. OH, by the way, when I went over the handlebars the blader was mostly full when I landed on the pack. I am sure this exerted a lot of pressure on the blader. But it came through with no issues. I love CamelBak's! I have owned a few different ones. With the additional pockets for storage and relative light weight it is good for both hiking and biking. It allows me to carry some minor first aid items, protein bars, and a multi-tool. I could fit more in there, but I do not carry more than I reasonably need. The 3-liter capacity and the ability to carry first aid came in handy on a recent mountain bike trail ride. I was able to render aid to someone who was not prepared for the severe humidity in NC and was unfamiliar with the trail. All that matters is that thanks to this pack, I was able to give this person some water, electrolytes, a protein bar, and get them up and riding back to the trail head. Because I had the extra storage space, and the pack was comfortable while riding with the extra weight. I highly recommend this CamelBak. It is not a substitute for other equipment, but it more than does the job on short trips.

I've had 6 different packs over my life time. This one is my favorite by far. Great amount of storage and very light weight. The magnetic clip works really well and very handy. Can accommodate my milspec hose.

Excelente calidad, muy liviana, gran capacidad en con poco tamaño. Una maleta muy versátil, ideal para el día a día, viajes cortos, y definitivamente la mejor herramienta para andar en moto o bici! Excelente compra

This was a solid purchase. This backpack does exactly what I expected it to. It's easy to fill, doesn't leak, is easy to drink from, and it's durable. The extra storage is limited, particularly with a full water pouch, but you can tell from the picture and description you're not going to get a crazy amount of space. It's a great option for long walks or day hikes.