CamelBak Fourteener 20 Hydration Pack

I had been using an older version of Camelbak and decided I was well over due for a new one. I was preparing for a trip to hike in the Grand Tetons and liked this as it has the loop to carry treking poles and plenty of room to carry additional clothes, food, first aid gear etc. I had never owned a Camelbak with the ventilation system on the back so I was pretty eager to try it. My old pack that laid right up against my back always left a big sweaty area. I also wanted a pack with the waist strap so that my shoulders don't get as tired and soar. When I first received it and tried it on, I wasn't so sure about the feel of the ventilation system as it felt very rigid...almost like a frame...BUT after doing two or three training hikes with it I really came to love it. I don't feel things that i've put in my pack poking me and it really does seem to have a little air flow. The waist strap made all the difference in weight distribution. Just make sure you have it riding on your hips not below it. It should support the bulk of weight..it's not just there to keep it from moving around. I hiked in Tetons everyday for over a week and it was everything i'd hoped it would be. It was well worth the money. One other thing, for those who have an older style Camelbak bladder, the new design is sooooo much better. I like the little arms that keep it open so that it can air out and I like being able to disconnect the straw.

I'll start by saying this bag is really awesome. The reason for the 3 stars is because the bladder seam broke after 1 excursion. I am still giving camelbak a chance though and ordered a replacement instead of a refund. The way the bag is built and structured is very nice, I just hope the bladder will last this time.

The boyfriend lives this backpack. We have used for short and long hikes which worked well. It's not bulky or heavy and doesn't sacrifice space and storage. It's perfect to fit snacks, water and an extra pair of clothes. If you are looking to back pack you will definitely need something larger to carry tent and/or sleeping bag.

My husband and I take our 3 boys on day hikes quite frequently, and decided it was time to invest in a REAL hydration pack- he was carrying a regular backpack and water bottles before we bought this pack. He reports it's very comfortable, and the airflow inserts helped him to stay cool, and comfortable. I must also say that with our 3 boys (all ages 10 and under) we tend to have quite a few "extra" items that need to be packed along- and my husband get to pack them (lucky him haha). This pack had more than enough room and pockets for ALL of our boys' stuff (ie. Pullups for our youngest, a few extra water bottles, sunscreen, snacks, gum, first aid kit, plastic bags, hats, jackets, etc...). All of our boys as well as my husband have Camelbak hydration packs and I couldn't be happier with the quality and ease-of-use involved with these packs. FO rthe record, I carry a camelbak water bottle on a waistpack too. We love our Camelbak products!

This was an upgrade to my last/lost camel bak. I went bigger so I could fit a camera and attach my tripod when I hike. I first used this on my trip to Crater Lake and it’s very comfortable & my back was dry compared to my other camel bak when I’d have a pool of sweat and a wet t-shirt. It fit my camera, snacks, tons of water, bug spray and I attached my huge tripod with no problem. I am happy how comfortable it is and the materials used are nice. Being able to carry tools like my tripod, keeping my back dry, cargo space and comfort are the main factors in my 5 star rating.

pros:well constructed, hydration system works very well and doesn't make the pack bulky, the 2 main zippered compartments hold quite a bit and the support system helps distribute the weight wellcons:i personally would like more pockets on the outside to hold things, bars in one pocket, maps in another, along those lines. the 2 outside pouches will hold water bottles if you loosen the strap. unfortunately getting them in and out of the pouch while the pack is on is awkward at best. the way i had to bend my arm was almost painful. the belt strap pocket is pretty useless. its the perfect location to hold your phone but it seems to have been sized for an old LG flip phone.

Love this pack! I use it all the time. It holds everything I need plus a bit more. The only downside is the wrap around sides are permanent. I would have liked to seen it where I can remove them if I don't intend on using the waist buckles, but I chose to deal with it, as that is how the product is. Thats more personal preference. Overall, the bag is fantastic, looks great and holds well.

Took on overnight backpacking trip.Pros:Lightweight3 liters!Tough materialBreathability and comfortable to wear.Lots of pockets.Cons:Main compartment kind of small and not expandable.Pack could have been a little wider/more room.Hard to use side pockets bc of design with straps blocking them.The pocket on the waist strap is a little too small.All in all, I would definetely buy again but I want a bigger sized pack for longer trips. Camelbak hydration system is still the best.