Camelbak Repack LR 4 1.5L Hydration Pack

Camelback quality has gone down over the years. This product seems well designed but isn't particularly comfortable to wear or adjust. As you empty the reservoir the pack get looser and you have to tension the belt. It's also difficult to put the drinking hose back into the magnetic slot reaching across with the right hand to the left side. There is adequate storage space and enough compartments for essential items. At £40 it is good value compared to the competition

A good idea...has limitations

I really want to like this pack and I am starting to like it more than I initially did but it has some limitations.I like the fact that it keeps my back and shoulders clear which makes me feel lighter, less restricted, and I stay cooler. When it's loaded correctly and the bladder isn't full, I often forget I'm wearing it.On the downside, there are some issues and potential issues. First, it doesn't carry a whole lot. Second, it carries even less when the bladder is full. Third, I've found that if you really load it up, it feels heavy and will loosen, droop, and bounce around under certain conditions. Also, when fully loaded, you can really feel the belt digging into you on the front. Tightening the pack just makes it worse.I've had the best luck with putting ... MoreI really want to like this pack and I am starting to like it more than I initially did but it has some limitations.I like the fact that it keeps my back and shoulders clear which makes me feel lighter, less restricted, and I stay cooler. When it's loaded correctly and the bladder isn't full, I often forget I'm wearing it.On the downside, there are some issues and potential issues. First, it doesn't carry a whole lot. Second, it carries even less when the bladder is full. Third, I've found that if you really load it up, it feels heavy and will loosen, droop, and bounce around under certain conditions. Also, when fully loaded, you can really feel the belt digging into you on the front. Tightening the pack just makes it worse.I've had the best luck with putting the heavier items (tools, co2 containers) into the side/ hip pockets. This keeps weight off of the back which wants to make the back droop and loosen. I've found that for best comfort, I have to wear it real low around my waist so the belt doesn't dig into my stomach. When the bladder is full, this feels a little awkward but you don't notice it as the pack lightens.You will need to constantly adjust the waist and compression straps as you drink and the pack can loosen when full and heavy on rougher descents. The drinking hose is a little fidgety and it's hard to get it back in the holder if you're riding harsh or technical terrain. You have to plan your drinks more, it's a lot harder to take a quick sip like you can with a back pack.The only time I really noticed the pack bouncing was when jumping or bunny hopping, It tended to stay pretty quiet, even over rough terrain as long as my rear wheel was on the ground but if I hopped up over something or off of something, the pack would bounce up and then down, often loosening in the process.The biggest catch-22 with this pack is that I'd like to use it for hotter weather when I don't want something on my back but the 1.5 liter reservoir isn't enough for a 2.5 to 3 hour ride in summer temps (at least not for me). Using it in cold weather would be good but it's going to be difficult to put an extra layer or anything like that inside it.This would be great for people riding on the road, paved trails, gravel, non technical XC kind of stuff as long as they don't need anything but the essentials. I will keep experimenting with mine on more technical all-mountain type rides but I think its use will be limited.

Amazing Bag

I am one of those that likes to ride light, I've always used a bottle cage mounted to my bike and strapped my mini pump and spare inner tube to the bike. The only bag I have owned was Fox's 'slim' waist bag where I would keep a multitool, keys and phone. I purchased this CamelBak waist bag initially for longer rides where I could carry more on my person, before using the bag for the first ride I was quite hesitant that it would just be too heavy. However after a couple of minutes into my ride I didn't notice the bag at all. Now I use it on every single ride no matter the length. Only issue I had was figuring out how to use the water bladder, as it's quite a struggle to get the bladder back into the bag after it has been filled up, then you need to get it sitting in ... MoreI am one of those that likes to ride light, I've always used a bottle cage mounted to my bike and strapped my mini pump and spare inner tube to the bike. The only bag I have owned was Fox's 'slim' waist bag where I would keep a multitool, keys and phone. I purchased this CamelBak waist bag initially for longer rides where I could carry more on my person, before using the bag for the first ride I was quite hesitant that it would just be too heavy. However after a couple of minutes into my ride I didn't notice the bag at all. Now I use it on every single ride no matter the length. Only issue I had was figuring out how to use the water bladder, as it's quite a struggle to get the bladder back into the bag after it has been filled up, then you need to get it sitting in that 'sweet spot' so that the tube going into the bladder doesn't get blocked. Though this is a very minor thing as after one use you find that 'sweet spot' and it's never been a problem since. Would highly recommend

Badass bag

This is my favorite hip pack by far. It holds a fair bit of stuff, just enough for a multi-hour bike ride. I put some dog leashes on the loops so I can hang the bar for my convertible full face mountain bike helmet on the pack while climbing. Works great. I often ride without the bladder in it but it’s great to have the option if you need it. And, the zipper pocket holds an iPhone Pro, but not the pro max most likely.I had one of these bags that ripped but Camelbak honored the warranty without question and sent me a new one.

Barely Notice it When Riding

Wanted to try a different waist hydration pack and glad I chose the Camelbak! Holds enough water for most rudes, has plenty of tool/personal storage and most importantly, feels great when riding. Went with a waist option because I don't like having things on my back. One cool feature is as your drink water while riding, the strap design allows you to snug it up by pulling it tighter very precisely. I carry a couple of different brands of hydration packs and have tried many from other manufacturers. The Camelbak LR is a winner!

Best little pack ever

There are a lot of pockets and functionality with this waist pack! I bought myself one 2 years ago and used it at a multi-day music festival, and bought this one for my sister. Both in black. Great size (I like more space to hold all of my necessities) and still looked great with my outfits. I wish there was a way to hide away the mouth piece so it wouldn't touch things, but it's not a big deal. It never came undone unexpectedly.

Great Bag, modest storage at best

The Good:Lightweight, comfortable to wear, easy to adjust, affordable and as I'm in Southern California, Jenson USUALLY delivers within one business day. I say usually, as after years of purchasing , this was the first time that an order took more than the allotted time.The Bummer:While I can get necessary tools, phone and keys in this pack, that's about it. No way that you can get a suspension or tire pump in here- it's just not wide or tall enough. I get that space and weight are key issues, but what's the point of having a bag if you can't carry a pump? there isn't even an external strap or compression for oversized items.EVERYTHING else about this bag is nails- the way the main compartment has a "quick rip" feature for secure yet quick access to gear via ... MoreThe Good:Lightweight, comfortable to wear, easy to adjust, affordable and as I'm in Southern California, Jenson USUALLY delivers within one business day. I say usually, as after years of purchasing , this was the first time that an order took more than the allotted time.The Bummer:While I can get necessary tools, phone and keys in this pack, that's about it. No way that you can get a suspension or tire pump in here- it's just not wide or tall enough. I get that space and weight are key issues, but what's the point of having a bag if you can't carry a pump? there isn't even an external strap or compression for oversized items.EVERYTHING else about this bag is nails- the way the main compartment has a "quick rip" feature for secure yet quick access to gear via velcro and zippers, the color options are pretty decent, the quality and construction seem good so far. Just gotta make my g/f carry the pump on rides.On Shipping:As stated, jenson consistently gets me my orders next day and they have been awesome with price matching- the customer service usually beats any call center I've ever dealt with. On this order I was checking the shiping updates and it seems that the Shipping company (onTrac) goofed up and sent my order to Las Vegas, NV (my hometown starts with a "V" as well so therein may have been the confusion). Now, i understand that stuff happens. the main issue is that I started with the shipping company- I sent them an inquiry and waited. Then I went to Jenson's website and used chat to try to get help- no reps were available. When Jenson did finally touch base with me it was 3 days after the package had arrived.This is NOT typical for the team at Jenson, but I feel obligated to share my recent experience. I will still order form them, but will no longer rely on shipments coming next day. Most of my fellow riders HATE to be off the bike and even more so because they are waiting for parts/tools.

Just what I needed

I bought this to have extra water while biking in places where water may not be abundant. I have a camelback vest but didn’t want to have the weight of 75-100 cc of water and the bulkiness. I DO like my vest, but wanted something else. I bought this and wore it on a 15 mile ride to try it out. I honestly LOVE the fact that I almost forget I am wearing it. Hose is easy to access, but you have to play around with the length to be able to sip from it while riding. I also got wet my first time because the lid wasn’t in correctly, probably user error. Once hose was adjusted I was able to use it while riding. The magnetic catch can be a little tricky when riding but will be fine with hiking or sipping when stopped. Otherwise I’d say 5 stars. Definitely worth the purchase, ... MoreI bought this to have extra water while biking in places where water may not be abundant. I have a camelback vest but didn’t want to have the weight of 75-100 cc of water and the bulkiness. I DO like my vest, but wanted something else. I bought this and wore it on a 15 mile ride to try it out. I honestly LOVE the fact that I almost forget I am wearing it. Hose is easy to access, but you have to play around with the length to be able to sip from it while riding. I also got wet my first time because the lid wasn’t in correctly, probably user error. Once hose was adjusted I was able to use it while riding. The magnetic catch can be a little tricky when riding but will be fine with hiking or sipping when stopped. Otherwise I’d say 5 stars. Definitely worth the purchase, got it on sale site.

Professional Review from Bike Radar.com

Like many others, I expect any water-carrying device bearing the CamelBak logo to be first rate, with all the big and little details thought out. CamelBak's first foray into the waist-mounted bag world, the Palos LR4, wasn't its best showing, with excess movement when fully loaded and a waistband that needed constant tighteningThe Repack LR remedies all of those things. The waist adjusters have an additional buckle design taken from hiking packs. They're cinched forward, which makes it easier to get leverage against the bag. The important thing is that, once adjusted, the straps stay snug. Even when jammed full of water and trail essentials, the Repack LR manages to ride well. Even though the updated retention system is vastly superior to that used on the Palos, in ... MoreLike many others, I expect any water-carrying device bearing the CamelBak logo to be first rate, with all the big and little details thought out. CamelBak's first foray into the waist-mounted bag world, the Palos LR4, wasn't its best showing, with excess movement when fully loaded and a waistband that needed constant tighteningThe Repack LR remedies all of those things. The waist adjusters have an additional buckle design taken from hiking packs. They're cinched forward, which makes it easier to get leverage against the bag. The important thing is that, once adjusted, the straps stay snug. Even when jammed full of water and trail essentials, the Repack LR manages to ride well. Even though the updated retention system is vastly superior to that used on the Palos, in typical bum-bag fashion it needs to be snugged down tight. Both of us agreed the snug fit was more noticeable before riding than while pedaling or moving around on the bike.There are loops near the front of the pack to manage the excess adjustment strap ends to keep the pack tidy. The hose is long enough to easily drink from while pedaling, and a small magnetic clasp keeps the hose secured to the pack and holds the bite valve in place through the roughest terrain. The lockable bite valve is a welcome component that prevents leakage when the Repack is tossed into a vehicle to or from the trail.It's been noted before, but it's worth repeating, CamelBak's reservoir, hose and mouthpiece are some of the best in the business — no funky taste, good water flow, non-leaky valve, and an easy-open lid with a mega-wide opening. The Repack's 1.5L (50oz) continues that tradition. Its bladder lacks the quick disconnect hose, and, because of the pack's small size, filling the reservoir up at the sink was easy.On the trail, we loved the waist-belt pockets. Having one as zippered and one as a foldover pocket is a nice touch. The zippered pocket is ideal for storing a phone or multi-tool, while the easy-access foldover pocket is great for storing mid-ride nutritionals, such as an energy bar or gel.The Repack LR is a return to form for the company that invented the hydration pack segment. It rides well, hauls and organises gear and water brilliantly, and maintains its fit no matter how many shapes you throw out on the trail. Unless you need to haul a lot of water or gear, the Repack LR is the best way to get the bag off your back. Enduro, all-mountain, or plain, good old mountain biking, we recommend it to anyone who's in need of a new hydration pack.

This pack is missing one

This pack is missing one of the most important components: the side bands that adjust the pack up to our bodies after tightening the waste strap. This pack would be perfect for long runs except that it flops around while running making it totally unacceptable. Shame on Camelbak for forgetting us serious runners.By the way down on this questionnaire where it asks us to describe ourselves, it has no selection for "runner."