As part of a package of goodies sent to The Cyclist from Camelbak, Grannygear received a M.U.L.E. NV pack to review.  First we hear from Grannygear and then we get some trail time input from JeffJ aka Circus Bear on a Bike with his thoughts and impressions.

Grannygear's words:

The original Camelbak M.U.L.E. was my first really good hydration pack.  I bought it from a friend who did not like the color and I used the whoopee out of it for years.  If I needed a bigger pack, I had a H.A.W.G. for that.  I still have that old green M.U.L.E. pack and just recently passed it on to my son.  Compared to that older version, the new M.U.L.E. NV is a big step up in both carrying capacity and functionality.  At 520 cubic inches (8.52L) of storage capacity and 100 oz (3.0L) of OMEGA™ HydroTanium™ Reservoir water capacity, the M.U.L.E. NV is a very useful size.  It certainly is big enough for most weekend warrior rides.  With the overflow storage compartment, it can hold shed layers of clothing, camera gear, extra food, etc.  In fact, if anything I find it to be too big for my daily use as I prefer a slimmer pack like the Octane XC.  But once the needs for water get into the 100oz range and you need to carry multiple clothing choices and extra food, the M.U.L.E. NV confidently bridges the gap into epic ride territory, something the Octane XC is hard pressed to do.

The N.V.I.S.™ Back Panel system of a padded and mesh covered panel that keeps the pack stable and lifted off of your back is very effective and an improvement over the typical pack that can feel like a sweaty water balloon after a few hours of riding.  There is a rain cover hidden in a secure pouch, the chest strap is height adjustable, the shoulder straps swivel freely for a better fit, there is an Ipod pouch...there are cool features almost everywhere you look.  In fact, it is the kind of pack that, if someone asked what hydration system they should buy for a first time purchase, recommending the M.U.L.E. NV would be a pretty good bet as a one pack to do it all solution.  The M.U.L.E. NV carries a price of MSRP (US only) -- $115.00

For me, the difficulty was I seldom need this much pack.  Unless I am hitting over 3 hours, it is too big.  At that rate, it would hardly get used enough soon enough to be able to give a decent test report. What I needed was a packrat minded rider that typically used a larger, more full featured pack to put the M.U.L.E. NV through its paces in a shorter period of time.  I found that rider in a local clydesdale-pack rat JeffJ AKA Circus Bear on a Bike, soon to be a featured blogger on this site.  Jeff brings years of riding experience and the viewpoint of a big guy to the product test bed.  I knew he would cram the M.U.L.E. NV full of tools, spares, water, brake pads, brake rotors, extra crankset...well, maybe not all that, but he does carry one of the biggest multitools I have seen.

Take it away, JeffJ:

In terms of hydration, I usually describe myself as an eighteen wheeler with the radiator of a Yugo. Since I require a fair amount of water on most rides, I find the 100 oz Camelbak hydration packs to be my water weapon of choice and my last two have been from the H.A.W.G. family.

The trend, for those Camelbak models that have been around for a while, seems to be one of constant refinement and growth. By “growth”, I mean they seem to get bigger each time they are redesigned and the 2010 M.U.L.E. NV is no exception. This M.U.L.E. is very close to the same capacity as the H.A.W.G. that I have been using for the past several seasons which means it has plenty of storage for those that like to be prepared for whatever may happen when they venture out for extended rides.

Relatively speaking, the M.U.L.E. NV has smaller compartments, but more of them and I appreciate this since I don’t have to rummage through so much gear to get to what I am looking for. There is a pocket  near the top, made from a material that is very soft and with a water resistant zipper, sized just right for a BlackBerry size cell phone. I imagine that is so your phone won’t get scratched. The larger compartment below that one has a clip to hold your key ring so it doesn’t fall to the bottom and a nylon divider panel with mesh pockets that are nice for holding other ‘things’ that you may want easier access to.

The N.V.I.S. feature of having pads in strategic places that contact your back, yet allow for circulation of air between the pack and your body, is one of those things you rarely think about because it just works. I have had other packs where I thought about this every time I wore them because my back would get sweaty. My last H.A.W.G. and another Camelbak model I have owned called the Rocket have had a similar pad system. I have seen the light and it is good. I don’t think I would buy a pack that didn’t have this type of interface between the pack and my person.

The built-in rain cover that is housed in it’s own zippered compartment on the bottom of the pack is out of sight and mind until you need it. Another feature that I appreciated is the area between the main pack section and the smaller rear section that is open at the top with mesh on the sides. It’s a perfect place to stash a windbreaker or a rain jacket, especially if you have taken off a wet garment and don’t want to put it into one of the main compartments along with dry gear.

The shoulder straps are quite similar to my previous H.A.W.G. and that means comfortable. In this case, it’s a good thing they took the attitude that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. I do like one refinement I found on this model and that is the elastic strap to thread the hose through rather than the one that doesn’t stretch found on my old H.A.W.G.. That makes it easier and quicker to thread the hose through each time I refill the bladder.

Speaking of refilling the bladder, if I have one or two nits to pick, the first is that if I have a moderate amount of ‘stuff’ in the compartment adjacent to the bladder compartment, it takes a little bit of ‘finagling’ to get a full bladder completely seated down into it’s compartment. My second nit is with the belly strap. There is a loop on each strap to thread the excess strap-end through on both straps to keep them from dangling, but they seem to need to be tucked back in or adjusted each time the pack is taken off and put back on. A very minor set of ‘nits’ in the big picture and not close to being deal breakers.

All in all, this is a well designed version of an old favorite with several nice features that add up to a solid choice for those that like to come fairly prepared. In addition to the 100 oz bladder, it will easily store an extra layer of clothing or two, a tube (or two if you’re out for an all day epic), pump (or CO2 inflator) first-aid kit, tools, small parts, cell phone, digital camera, keys and some snacks. Those who like to travel very light may find this pack to be a little more than they require. But if you like to show up prepared for a two hour ride in the heat of the summer or an all day epic in cooler months and everything in between, you are right in this pack’s wheelhouse.