Whats a good size Camelbak?

[JXV]

Why?

1. You can get a combo Chainbreaker/mutitool/spokespanner they are small,

2. If you need a shockpump on a ride there are serious questions to be asked about your mechanic

3. Cable, which one? if you snap a cable then refer to to 2 above.

 

The rest can all be comfortably be carried in pockets or taped to the bike and there will be place for a wind jammer, sleeves and leg warmers in your pockets.

Hey I'm not asking you to carry it! This is the kit I fit in a Mule for an all day unsupported exploring trip in Lesotho where there is NO backup or rescue. And extra weight is good training on shorter rides. Many of my friends who carry less have avoided a long walk home because I was able to fix their bikes on the trail.

 

Those combo tools tend to be crap btw.....

[EmptyB]

3L mule. You can carry everything you need if you want to go on loooooooong rides. They comfy and last forever, worth the outlay.

[deanbean]

Ive got a 20l cadac. Can hold 3l water and a couple of quarts, and baggies for the end of ride swim in Gubu Dam . Plus all the necessities for a long day out expedition in severe country. There's not always a spaza shop when you need one.

[johannrissik]

Dean, 3 litres of water plus 1.5 litres of beer leaves 15 litres for your baggies....boet, that doesn't add up. Or did you forget to mention the half a skaap for the braai at the dam ?

[deanbean]

Forgot the half a sheep, and some wood to make the braai

[VicanZA]

Never had 1, 2x water bottles is plenty even on 6 hour john Rambo rides. Never had to walk home either.

[Brian Fantana]

I use a Dakine session which is a 8L pack with 2L bladder on most rides. Everything I need on a ride is in there.

 

I also have a Dakine Amp 25L pack with 3L bladder. I use it for touring, when I need to pack overnight gear. I also used it to carry markers when I mark routes for events.

 

On a long travel bike a hydration pack is pretty much the only option, especially if you do all day rides and need to pack food as well.

[DJR]

I have a mule and it only see use on really long (longer than 4 hours) unsupported rides or stage races where you want to take the kitchen sink along.

[Chro Mo]

Mule N.V. 3L for me - Durban makes for thirsty riding...

[Mojoman]

3lt Lobo for me (but when you stuff all sorts of crap in it you dont get a full 3lt carrying capacity in the bladder). The days of finding little farmshops for a coke and water top up on my longer rides seem to be a thing of the past....

[Sniffie]

Dean, 3 litres of water plus 1.5 litres of beer leaves 15 litres for your baggies....boet, that doesn't add up. Or did you forget to mention the half a skaap for the braai at the dam ?

 

 

Forgot the half a sheep, and some wood to make the braai

Shame! You eastern Cape boykies don't have mielie stronke to make a decent braai fire?   Whats more the Freestate sheep are so fat you don't need a lot of stronke for a braai since the tjops braai on their own energy as the fat drips on the coals. Njom njom!

[deanbean]

Shame! You eastern Cape boykies don't have mielie stronke to make a decent braai fire? Whats more the Freestate sheep are so fat you don't need a lot of stronke for a braai since the tjops braai on there own energy as the fat drips on the coals. Njom njom!

Pine wood makes the meat taste funny

[SimpleDom]

Osprey. Awesome packs. 2l water and plenty of room. Plus, if it ever tears, they repair or replace. Also half the price of camelbac.

[IH8MUD]

At 08h30 this morning it was 33degC. 

Went through 1-liter/hour on a 53km single track ride.  

 

3L Lobo is the one to have I think.

With the Mule you just end up packing to much crap. 

[linuxlg]

I use to carry a 3l camel back. No longer, I carry a 1.5l one ( small fox ). In it my cell phone and water prof jacket. The bike carrys the spare tube, and pump and a multitool. I started sweating alot with the 3l and found I never drank all of it, then why lug it around. So 1.5 l perfect. I usually ride 40km. Multitool and tube is enough to get me going again.

[amasendeinja]

Camelbak Charge 10 LR. By far the best Camelbak I have used. 2l is enough for most any distance if you can supplement with a bottle on the bike. LR stands for Lumbar Resevior which means the bladder is not vertical like the others but horizontal and wraps around your hips to some degree. All the weight is on your hips with nothing on the shoulders. Greatly reduces neck and shoulder fatigue.

 

Caveat: the local agents do not import that model for some daft reason. Or at least didn't when I was looking about a year ago. Ordered from CRCin the end.