Ping: Kovie

Pat said:

I was so inspired by your hunt for the best hydration system, that I went
and bought a Camelbak Mule.
I haven't cut all of the plastic ties holding it bundled up yet, so I am not
sure if I will keep it....why? Well, it seems pretty heavy when it is empty!
On the other hand, it has a lot of storage space and I like the big opening
to put ice cubes and water in the bladder.

I am going to check out a few other models, but the Mule seems to be right
at the point where volume of water and amount of storage space are the best
for the price.

Pat in TX

The Mule is a good buy, It's just big enough to hold some tools, some
snacks and 2 x 70oz. bladders (one frozen) Works well for those 100°
days in Moab. I bought mine in 1996 or 1997(I think) and it's still
holding up, no rips, fraying of other signs of wear. I throw it in the
wash a couple times a year, let it hang dry and it looks good. Good
Purchase IMO.

-nc

The Mule is a good buy, It's just big enough to hold some tools, some
snacks and 2 x 70oz. bladders (one frozen) Works well for those 100°
days in Moab. I bought mine in 1996 or 1997(I think) and it's still
holding up, no rips, fraying of other signs of wear. I throw it in the
wash a couple times a year, let it hang dry and it looks good. Good
Purchase IMO.

-nc

Did you just say I could put TWO 70 oz bladders in it? More info, plz.
BTW, the new Mule is made of rip stop nylon. Seems like that would make it
even lighter in weight.

Yesterday, I drank an entire 100 oz bladder of water in my 3 hour ride....

Pat in TX

Pat said:

Did you just say I could put TWO 70 oz bladders in it? More info, plz.
BTW, the new Mule is made of rip stop nylon. Seems like that would make it
even lighter in weight.

Yesterday, I drank an entire 100 oz bladder of water in my 3 hour ride....

Pat in TX

There is enough room in mine to fit a second bladder right next to the
first one. I don't know about the new ones.

nc

Glad to be a source of inspiration! :-)

Still haven't purchased a cycling pack yet (other than the larger hiking one
I bought several weeks ago), mostly because work's been hectic and I haven't
had the time to make up my mind.

I'm leaning towards the Mule as well, given that most of the time, I'll want
to go riding with minimal stuff, but still be able to pack a light jacket or
shell and some food, in addition to water of course. It sounds like the Mule
is perfect for this. I agree that for MOST rides, anything larger would be
overkill and probably silly-looking.

And if I occasionally need to carry a bit more than the Mule can handle,
such as books, a laptop, a couple of large watermelons, etc., I can either
use my larger pack, or splurge for the Hawg.

Yeah, I know, sounds crazy to have 3 hydration packs, in addition to all the
other packs I already have (e.g. backpacking pack, lumbar pack, work
backpack, weekend pack, etc.), but I can definitely see them fitting certain
needs (and they can always be used as non-hydration packs by taking the
bladder out, and I always wait till they're on sale or closeouts before
buying).

I guess you can call me a packhorse! ;-)

I hope you enjoy your new pack. Try and post your impressions of it when
you've gotten some miles under you.

--
Kovie
[email hidden]

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was so inspired by your hunt for the best hydration system, that I went
and bought a Camelbak Mule.
I haven't cut all of the plastic ties holding it bundled up yet, so I am
not
sure if I will keep it....why? Well, it seems pretty heavy when it is
empty!
On the other hand, it has a lot of storage space and I like the big
opening
to put ice cubes and water in the bladder.

I am going to check out a few other models, but the Mule seems to be right
at the point where volume of water and amount of storage space are the
best
for the price.

Pat in TX

: Yeah, I know, sounds crazy to have 3 hydration packs, in addition to all
the
: other packs I already have (e.g. backpacking pack, lumbar pack, work
: backpack, weekend pack, etc.), but I can definitely see them fitting
certain
: needs (and they can always be used as non-hydration packs by taking the
: bladder out, and I always wait till they're on sale or closeouts before
: buying).

They're like arrows in your quiver--each has a different use. That's why I
have a mountain bike and a road bike.

: I hope you enjoy your new pack. Try and post your impressions of it when
: you've gotten some miles under you.
:
: --
: Kovie
:
I googled it yesterday and found some on sale for $44. Last year's model of
the Mule. What the difference is, I don't know just yet. The photo looked to
be the same.

Pat in TX

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

: Yeah, I know, sounds crazy to have 3 hydration packs, in addition to all
the
: other packs I already have (e.g. backpacking pack, lumbar pack, work
: backpack, weekend pack, etc.), but I can definitely see them fitting
certain
: needs (and they can always be used as non-hydration packs by taking the
: bladder out, and I always wait till they're on sale or closeouts before
: buying).

They're like arrows in your quiver--each has a different use. That's why I
have a mountain bike and a road bike.

: I hope you enjoy your new pack. Try and post your impressions of it when
: you've gotten some miles under you.
:
: --
: Kovie
:
I googled it yesterday and found some on sale for $44. Last year's model
of
the Mule. What the difference is, I don't know just yet. The photo looked
to
be the same.

Pat in TX

Pricepoint has it for $40 + S&H. I think the main difference is that they're
using a lighter fabric this year that saves a little weight. I could be
wrong, but it looks like they went from cordura to nylon. From the images
I've seen of last year's packs, and seeing this year's packs in stores, I
think I actually prefer last year's. It seems a bit more rugged, and the
weight difference seems minor. I like the cost savings even more, of course!

--
Kovie
[email hidden]

: > I googled it yesterday and found some on sale for $44. Last year's
model
: > of
: > the Mule. What the difference is, I don't know just yet. The photo
looked
: > to
: > be the same.
: >
: > Pat in TX
:
: Pricepoint has it for $40 + S&H. I think the main difference is that
they're
: using a lighter fabric this year that saves a little weight. I could be
: wrong, but it looks like they went from cordura to nylon. From the images
: I've seen of last year's packs, and seeing this year's packs in stores, I
: think I actually prefer last year's. It seems a bit more rugged, and the
: weight difference seems minor. I like the cost savings even more, of
course!
:
: --
: Kovie
:

I know for a fact that this year's model is made largely of ripstop nylon,
so it seems you are right about that. The Cordura couldn't weigh more than a
couple of ounces. The basic shape, zippers, pockets, etc., look to be the
same. I think I might order the 2004 model....

thanks,

Pat

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I know for a fact that this year's model is made largely of ripstop nylon,
so it seems you are right about that. The Cordura couldn't weigh more than
a
couple of ounces. The basic shape, zippers, pockets, etc., look to be the
same. I think I might order the 2004 model....

thanks,

Pat

You were concerned about the weight of the newer model, though, so given
that the older one is heavier yet, perhaps the newer one's better for you?
Unless you think you paid too much for it...

--
Kovie
[email hidden]

: You were concerned about the weight of the newer model, though, so given
: that the older one is heavier yet, perhaps the newer one's better for you?
: Unless you think you paid too much for it...
:
: --
: Kovie

I was concerned about the weight of the Mule that I got at the military
store. It is not even shaped like the consumer models although they bear the
same model name. The $40 one you were talking about is a lot cheaper than
the $80 in my LBS, and that is a big consideration. I don't have to have one
that is desert camo....

Pat in TX

I didn't even know they made a military version. Is there such a thing as a
"bike corps"?

In any case, if you need this for cycling, get the $40 version, assuming you
can return the other one, which sounds like overkill. Happy riding!

--
Kovie
[email hidden]

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

: You were concerned about the weight of the newer model, though, so given
: that the older one is heavier yet, perhaps the newer one's better for
you?
: Unless you think you paid too much for it...
:
: --
: Kovie

I was concerned about the weight of the Mule that I got at the military
store. It is not even shaped like the consumer models although they bear
the
same model name. The $40 one you were talking about is a lot cheaper than
the $80 in my LBS, and that is a big consideration. I don't have to have
one
that is desert camo....

Pat in TX

: I didn't even know they made a military version. Is there such a thing as
a
: "bike corps"?
:
: In any case, if you need this for cycling, get the $40 version, assuming
you
: can return the other one, which sounds like overkill. Happy riding!
:
: --
: Kovie

See http://camelbak.com/mil/cb_act.cfm?id=1 The troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as an example, need to carry their own water. They don't have
to ride a bike to carry a hydration pack and neither do we. But, we do.

Pat in TX

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

: I didn't even know they made a military version. Is there such a thing
as
a
: "bike corps"?
:
: In any case, if you need this for cycling, get the $40 version, assuming
you
: can return the other one, which sounds like overkill. Happy riding!
:
: --
: Kovie

See http://camelbak.com/mil/cb_act.cfm?id=1 The troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as an example, need to carry their own water. They don't have
to ride a bike to carry a hydration pack and neither do we. But, we do.

Pat in TX

I was referring to the Mule, which seems a bit small for military use. I've
seen the larger Camelbaks used by troops, and they're quite large, as is to
be expected. In fact, I can't think of a better use for hydration packs than
by troops in desert combat situations.

--
Kovie
[email hidden]