CamelBak Octane XCT Hydration Pack, 70oz

More comfortable than my previous 70oz water pack. Turn it upside down after filling to suck the air out so there is no sloshing while running. The shoulder straps are wide and vented for comfort. The 70 oz is enough water for a half marathon in hot AZ and of course you can fill it with less for a shorter run or cooler place to carry less weight..

The bag (OCTANE XCT 70 oz) has finally arrived today, so far so good. before purchasing, i had read some reviews regards to the water bladder leaking, which was the first thing i tested when the bag arrived, and i can say they have a great design easy to fill and seal (if you do it correctly and take your time!) they have included a handle with the bladder where the seal is to make it easier to handle. However when you are putting the full 2L bladder in the bag it can be a bit of fiddle but is easy enough. The only issue i really have is storage, its big enough to fit essentials such as a small tool box, small bike pump, medical kit, and a puncture repair kit with some room in the main compartment. But sometimes on those off days, i would need more space to carry some food, or a beer or two on a nice day and/ or long journeys. Also, they were nice enough to include some strap management so that you dont have straps flapping all over the place when going fast or its windy. The outer compartments are useful for little things like keys, gloves, glasses, etc. However with the waist compartments, i do wish they made it a little bigger as my Large IPhone 7 Plus can only just fit in it leaving a corner of the phone exposed. But its not a big deal, i can look for phone holder that can sit on my bike frame, and hopefully include small compartments for tools and hopefully a medical kit so i can free up some space in the bag. In conclusion, this bag should be great for cycling, with the main compartment big enough to hold essentials, water bladder thankfully doesnt leak yet, the outer compartments being convenient up-to the point. If you are like me, who cycles regularly, with the need to carry essentials in a small lightweight bag then this is a great choice. However if you need more space, i would recommend looking at the larger version of this bag (which is around (£100). But if you are also like me and dont want to spend that much money, you could purchase this bag and look for another small bag that would sleekly fit on the frame of your bike for the extra space. Hope this was useful for you :)

Lightweight, unobtrusive and room for everything you need. A great hydration pack

Bought 6 month ish ago and used quite a lot. The bag is comfortable and good quality, no question, but the water pocket gives a terrible taste to water. and once filled with water it does not leave much space for storage in main pocket

Perfect Camelback. Lightweight the side pockets are the best, easy access to bladder.

Great design and light. Holds plenty of water and keeps it surprising cool if you start out with cold water and ice. It’s comfortable and adjustable, but the waist strap my be tight or unusable for someone with a significant gut, but it stays on just fine without the waist strap. Storage is sufficient for a few small essentials for a half day hike. If you want more than an energy bar for sustenance, look for a different hydration device. The bladder was easy to fill and load into backpack. Just be sure to hang it from the strap at the top of the pack or it will slip down and may not flow properly. The flow of water through the mouthpiece is adequate. Emptying, rinsing, and drying the bladder is also simple and essential to ensure its ready for the next use. I’m very happy with this purchase.

I was worried that this would be uncomfortable because of the larger side straps but found it to be even more comfortable than other hydration packs with small side straps (the ones around the waist). Easy to access supplements while on the run thanks to the pockets on those side straps. I didnt notice in the pictures before purchasing, but the chest strap and water tube clip can be moved up/down the shoulder straps very easily. Not sure Ive seen a pack that allows for this (or maybe they all do this and Ive never noticed). I appreciated how easy it was to adjust. Bladder loads from the side and it was so much easier than the top loading style (in my opinion).