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jayfurrI'll be wearing a Camelbak backpack (not one of the enormous ones) during the 3-day.
If my information is correct, a lot of 3-day walkers wear fanny packs during the event to carry their supplies and things and simply rely on the aid stations to supply them with liquids (or carry a sports bottle with them in a sling on their hip).
I've never enjoyed the feel of something banging on my hip or rear when walking. On the other hand, I can all but forget about a Camelbak between my shoulderblades; it doesn't bounce or jostle and it's no great burden to stop and take it off when I want to get something out. And I do like having lots to drink on me; staying hydrated and loaded with salts and electrolytes can make the difference between a successful hike and a miserable one. I know the 3-day organizers will have frequent refreshment stations but I like being able to sip as I go. I'll just refill at the refreshment stations and hope they don't blink at someone walking up to a refreshment station and requesting three liters in one go. :)
I've got two Camelbaks already: one that holds two liters of water (or whatever liquid you want to carry) and one that holds three. The one that holds two liters has just about enough cargo capacity in its two pockets to hold a wallet, cell phone, keys, glasses case, and MP3 player, and not much else. The other can hold a ton; it's a full-fledged backpack like you'd see a college student using to carry books to class.
Since the little one definitely doesn't have enough room for wallet, keys, cell phone*, AND spare pairs of socks, AND moleskin AND vaseline AND body-glide, and the other one is almost too large for an event in which I fully expect to get hot and sweaty and tired, I decided to get a third Camelbak, one that sort of bridges the gap between my other two. It holds three liters of water and has about a third the capacity of the big one I've already got.
Lest you think this is excessive, Carole already has three herself. Two that are the exact same kinds as the two I mentioned already owning, and a third (which Camelbak doesn't seem to make any more) that in addition to holding three liters and having lots of cargo capacity also came with a frame that arches outwards so your back has lots of ventilation and won't get sweaty. It also came with a rain fly you could stretch right over the pack when you wanted it and tuck back in when you didn't. They called it the "Ventoux" and since it's not listed on the Camelbak website any longer I assume they've stopped making it. (You can get one on clearance at various websites if you want one, including here.)
I'm not sure, because I haven't gone and picked the new one up yet from my local EMS store, but I think the new pack will have the same "Air Director" back panel that Carole's Ventoux has. If so, that's even more of a plus; anything that keeps me from becoming completely drenched in sweat during the 3-Day is a good thing.
For what it's worth, Eastern Mountain Sports is currently selling their packs at 20% off their normal price. If you have a store in your area, you can pick it up from their store and not pay shipping costs. While they're primarily a northeastern chain, they have stores as far south as Arlington and Dulles in Virginia.
* The organizers of the Breast Cancer 3-Day absolutely forbid walkers to walk along yakking on their cell phones or listening to MP3 players. They don't want people inattentively walking out into traffic and getting killed.
If my information is correct, a lot of 3-day walkers wear fanny packs during the event to carry their supplies and things and simply rely on the aid stations to supply them with liquids (or carry a sports bottle with them in a sling on their hip).
I've never enjoyed the feel of something banging on my hip or rear when walking. On the other hand, I can all but forget about a Camelbak between my shoulderblades; it doesn't bounce or jostle and it's no great burden to stop and take it off when I want to get something out. And I do like having lots to drink on me; staying hydrated and loaded with salts and electrolytes can make the difference between a successful hike and a miserable one. I know the 3-day organizers will have frequent refreshment stations but I like being able to sip as I go. I'll just refill at the refreshment stations and hope they don't blink at someone walking up to a refreshment station and requesting three liters in one go. :)
I've got two Camelbaks already: one that holds two liters of water (or whatever liquid you want to carry) and one that holds three. The one that holds two liters has just about enough cargo capacity in its two pockets to hold a wallet, cell phone, keys, glasses case, and MP3 player, and not much else. The other can hold a ton; it's a full-fledged backpack like you'd see a college student using to carry books to class.
Since the little one definitely doesn't have enough room for wallet, keys, cell phone*, AND spare pairs of socks, AND moleskin AND vaseline AND body-glide, and the other one is almost too large for an event in which I fully expect to get hot and sweaty and tired, I decided to get a third Camelbak, one that sort of bridges the gap between my other two. It holds three liters of water and has about a third the capacity of the big one I've already got.
Lest you think this is excessive, Carole already has three herself. Two that are the exact same kinds as the two I mentioned already owning, and a third (which Camelbak doesn't seem to make any more) that in addition to holding three liters and having lots of cargo capacity also came with a frame that arches outwards so your back has lots of ventilation and won't get sweaty. It also came with a rain fly you could stretch right over the pack when you wanted it and tuck back in when you didn't. They called it the "Ventoux" and since it's not listed on the Camelbak website any longer I assume they've stopped making it. (You can get one on clearance at various websites if you want one, including here.)
I'm not sure, because I haven't gone and picked the new one up yet from my local EMS store, but I think the new pack will have the same "Air Director" back panel that Carole's Ventoux has. If so, that's even more of a plus; anything that keeps me from becoming completely drenched in sweat during the 3-Day is a good thing.
For what it's worth, Eastern Mountain Sports is currently selling their packs at 20% off their normal price. If you have a store in your area, you can pick it up from their store and not pay shipping costs. While they're primarily a northeastern chain, they have stores as far south as Arlington and Dulles in Virginia.
* The organizers of the Breast Cancer 3-Day absolutely forbid walkers to walk along yakking on their cell phones or listening to MP3 players. They don't want people inattentively walking out into traffic and getting killed.
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Date: 2008-08-15 03:00 pm (UTC)I'll be carrying a backpack with two sidepockets for water bottles. I want the backpack not just for socks, wallet, etc. but also to carry any clothes I shed during the day. I'm figuring the mornings could be chilly but the afternoons could be quite warm.
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Date: 2008-08-15 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-15 03:03 pm (UTC)