I find camelbaks to be absolutely great, although I did have
a bit of a leak at the Caja ride last Sunday – orange Gatorade on my new
white shirt! I find that the weight on my back holding my shoulders back
actually helps my back to feel better than when I ride without or with a fanny
pack. Strange but true. If the straps itch or rub, you should check
out the other models. I got one once with the mesh straps, and it rubbed
like crazy, so I look for the padded straps. It also helps to wear a
shirt with a collar so that it doesn’t rub your neck, which it can with a
t-shirt. I just want to point out a very strange hazard of camelbaks.
Two years ago my sister and I were riding the NC100 ride in Kentucky. She
had the model with lacing on it – not sure what purpose that
serves. But when she went under a low branch on her tall horse a stub of
a branch snagged the lacing and picked her right off her horse and deposited
her on the ground. Now there is a riding hazard one wouldn’t
normally think of!
