I like to drink water while I'm hiking, even if it's just a short hike and I hate having to carry a full-sized backpack on those shorter hikes. That's why I decided to try out the
MULE Hydration Pack from CamelBak. I figured that it would carry plenty of water and that it would have enough space to hold the few things I needed to bring with me on shorter hikes.
Turns out it isn't quite as great as I expected, though I still do use the pack from time to time. I just found it to not be as comfortable as I expected and in the end, the storage space is pretty limiting, even for the few things I bring along on a short hike.
BasicsThe MULE is basically a mix between a water bladder with shoulder straps and a small daypack for outdoor activities. It holds a 100-ounce water bladder (the Omega reservoir) and it has 540 cubic inches of storage capacity. For reference, the average daypack is probably around 1,500 cubic inches, with some going upwards of 2,000 plus cubic inches and 100-ounces is just under 3 liters, which for me is about what I generally bring on most hikes.
The MULE has just about everything you'd expect to find on a backpack including padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap and a waistbelt. This lets you get the MULE solidly on your back and the side compression straps let you really tighten the pack down so it's not loose and bothering you while you are hiking or biking. There's padding on the back of the pack too along with breathable mesh so that as you are hiking, it is fairly comfortable on your back.
As for the pack, the cargo space is readily accessible and features a main compartment with the majority of the space and a smaller, zippered front pocket and then some mesh pockets on the front. It sounds like a lot of space, but it fills up quickly and with a full water bladder, it can be a tight fit for most items that can't be squished a bit. There's also an MP3 pocket if you can't live without your iPod and inside the smaller front pocket is an organizer type panel and a key lanyard so you can secure your car keys.
The pack, with the empty bladder weighs about a pound and a half, so it is pretty light and doesn't add that much weight on top of the water and your gear that you are carrying.
UseI've found that the MULE can hold a lunch along with a few other small items. If you want to pack a shell jacket or something like that, it will take up quite a bit of the room. I've found that I can put in a sandwich, some snacks, my first-aid stuff and if I really squish it down, a thin shell jacket. The problem is if you are trying to pack stuff that really doesn't compress or squish down, like a sandwich or some sort of boxy item. Those are much harder to pack, especially with the full bladder. You can stuff clothing on the outside in good weather or fit a larger item between the main compartment and the front compartment and cinch it down.
The bladder is easy to fill and use, it's just like any other CamelBak bladder. It can be accessed from the top of the pack and slides in and out. The tubing wraps around and is attached to the shoulder strap for easy access. After each you use you should remove the bladder, rinse it out and let it dry, otherwise it can grow mold (take it from personal experiences). The 100-ounces in the bladder is enough for all but the longest hikes and should be plenty for the shorter day hikes that people would be using this pack for.
Wearing & Using ItI never found the MULE overly comfortably. Sure it fits fairly snugly against my back and its an easy way to carry a bunch of water and a few items, but it's never been something that I really enjoy or like wearing, which is disappointing considering how much I spent on it.
This is the kind of pack that's going to basically melt into you and become like an extension of yourself - it molds to your back and is held tightly against you. Maybe it's because I'm a bigger guy and it seems to be designed for smaller people, but I just haven't liked the way that it fits and I've never been overly comfortable when I have used it.
That said, my partner has worn it and hasn't had the same complaints, but he's a bit shorter than I am and somewhat smaller, so I think that has something to do with it.
I've tried the MULE hiking, skiing and biking and in all the cases, I pretty much have the same feeling. It's a great idea, but it just doesn't work for me. I usually just put the bladder in my
Bigelow pack instead, which fits much better and can carry a lot more stuff.
Now I know a pack like this isn't designed with a lot of cargo space, but I've found that even the limited space does tend to be a bit of pain. I pack my lunch and a few other things and I'm already out of space. I almost always have to cinch my shell jacket to the outside and if I want to bring something like extra hats and gloves, I've really got to squeeze them in there.
Final ThoughtsI like the idea of having a smaller pack dedicated to mostly water, but I guess at least when it comes to the MULE, I'd rather just go back to my standard daypack with a water bladder or water bottles, be comfortable and have the extra space, even if it's just for a short walk.
If you are looking for a pack like this, I'd definitely recommend that you try wearing it at the store and really make sure you are okay with the limited storage space before buying it. I think for some people, they'd love this pack, but for me, it's just not my thing.
