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BIKERUMOR.com 2009 SEA OTTER CLASSIC COVERAGE: Camelbak’s new BetterBottle stainless steel water bottles come with a variety of prints, and, like their awesome plastic cycling water bottles, they have both regular and insulated versions.  The insulated is available in 0.5 liter size for $30.  The non-insulated is 0.75 liter for $25.
Camelbak’s Mule, one of their longest running hydration packs, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new bright green color and the addition of their new N.V.I.S. back panel design.  The N.V.I.S. uses larger pads with a mesh cover to draw the pack away from the back, leading to better ventilation.  Click image to enlarge the pack, and hit ‘more’ to see more new features, like a stowable rain cover…
The new N.V.I.S. backpack keeps the pack from pressing into your back and collecting sweat.
The Mule comes with a 100oz Omega HydroTanium resevoir and lots of storage.  The front pocket has several storage sections to keep tools, tubes and other necessities organized and in place on the trail.  600 cubic inches (9.8L) of storage total let you bring everything you need (and probably stuff you don’t), and side straps cinch everything down.  The buckles for the straps are a new design that aren’t immediately intuitive and perhaps the only thing I didn’t like about the pack…their rep said they’re easy once you get used to them.
The integrated rain cover packs into a small zippered pocket on the bottom of the pack.  This is a new feature for the Mule pack.
Lastly, they had their Racebak hydration jersey on display.  It holds a 72oz bladder.  I can’t say that I’ve seen anyone riding with one of these, but for XC racers on a not-too-hot day, it might be the ticket.  Back in my racing days, I’d wear a minimal hydration pack under my jersey so as not to cover sponsor logos, and this would have certainly been more comfortable.
