CamelBak 2016 M.U.L.E. NV Hydration Pack

This pack is the best smaller pack that I have owned. It easily holds all you will need for a LONG day hike. The bladder holds 3 liters and it does NOT leak and requires only a 1/4 turn to lock and it has a quick release hose which allows you to take it out of the pack to fill. There are numerous compartments for such as some food for the day and a place for sunscreen and deet repellent. It goes the day with comfort. The straps hold it in p-position and you hardly know it is there. It keeps your back cool too the way it allows ventilation between pack and back. The price is very reasonable.

I have used this pack so many times and absolutely love it. It has the quality of a camelbak and still has a surprisingly large amount of space, even with a full 3 liter water bladder. The one feature that I love the most is that the padding in the back is not only very comfortable but it is also raised. This makes it so the backpack does not cause me to get extremely hot on my back as I have had it on my back during concerts while dancing and during other physical activities. The other benefit of it being raised is that my back does not cause the water to become warm. If I put water in the pack, it will still be fairly cool hours later. If I put ice in the bag, it will keep the water cold for an extremely long period of time. I have yet to have water with ice become warm before I drink it all.

I bought this pack to replace the original M.U.L.E (from '96), thinking it would be around the same size. It turns out that the the new model M.U.L.E. is substantially larger -- around the size of an early 2000's era H.A.W.G. (that I already own and love). This was a bit confusing and disappointing since it made the process of selecting a replacement for my old pack a bit harder. But, as an example, even comparing cars over the same time span such as an Accord from the mid 90's vs current models, I guess things are just getting bigger.All that aside, the M.U.L.E. is a very well constructed pack with lots room for cargo -- plenty for a full day hike or a very long bike ride. But, since I wanted a smaller pack, I ended up deciding to get the Lobo instead, which is actually the better match to my old M.U.L.E in terms of size. Both use the newest reservoir technology which includes a quick release hose, magnetic tube trap, and 1/4 turn fill cap, all of which are all welcome upgrades. My only complaint is that I find it harder to purge all of the air out of the new style reservoir when filling compared to the older ones -- causing the water to slosh around in the pack. I will often perform a 2nd air purge during a break on my hikes or rides when the sloshing starts to annoy me. Overall, a minor issue.I was about to return the M.U.L.E when a friend decided to buy it from me instead... he had never owned any hydration packs at all, and was instantly converted. He is a believer!I'm giving this 4 stars -- excellent pack, but disappointed that the specific M.U.L.E. model has gotten so much larger.

Great pack! Used all summer in the Texas heat while biking and hiking. This thing is awesome for shedding heat. The NV series is unbeatable when in the high heat/humidity. The NV design holds the pack off your back and provides unparalleled breathability. You're still going to get somewhat sweaty from the contact points, but nothing like if the whole pack was resting on your back.As for the other functionality. It has plenty of storage for short trips and day trips. Don't need much more. Don't know that I'd try to use this for any sort of overnight trip, but day or less is great.Size wise: I'm a big boy and this pack fits me just fine. I was worried that the straps wouldn't fit my waist girth, but it did just fine.I hope you found this review to be helpful, please click below to indicate that you did. Thanks

I purchased this bag for a huge convention I attend every year. It was light weight, comfortable, and the pockets held a lot of con-swag I picked up along the way. Part of this convention is dressing up in hand-made costumes and taking part in a parade. With the humid summer we've been having, this pack made it possible to take part and keep hydrated. The pack is small and you can't really notice it unless you're really looking from the front. The bladder is pretty big compared to other hydration packs I've owned and it doesn't leak. At all.I was a little skeptical with the price but the reviews looked promising so I jumped at the chance. I'm really glad I did and I don't see myself purchasing hydration packs from anyone else but CamelBak.

My main concern was sweat, its been used for mountain biking.No more sweaty back ,not as much with this design.

Very small

ATTN: CamelBak: Please get back to me.I bought this and the seams are coming apart after TWO day trips and the bladder leaks. ...Otherwise a fantastic and functional bag. Please contact me to arrange a refund as I must have received a defective pack.Will update review when issue has been resolved.Thank you.Clare