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CamelBak Vantage 30 Hydration Pack - 3L

Hiking & Camping > HydrationRated: **** by 3 reviews.

Backcountry.com

Leaving extra layers at home because they won't fit in your hydration pack is lame. Getting a totally sweaty back because your pack's back panel has no ventilation is also not rad. CamelBak's Vantage 30 Hydration Pack takes care of both situations. The Vantage 30 Pack's D.V.I.S. Back Panel uses an independent pod suspension system to balance weight and promote crazy airflow. The large cargo bay holds your lunch and jacket or pant layers, and the three-liter water reservoir keeps you watered on the trail. Choose the medium Vantage Hydration Pack for your 18-20-inch torso length, or the large Vantage if your torso hangs out in the 20-22-inch range.

Bite Valve:Locking Big Bite
Compression Straps:2
Country of Origin:China
External Pockets:1 Front with key clip and orgaizer, 1 stash pocket on waist-belt
Manufacturer Warranty:[Pack] 2 years; [Bladder] lifetime
Material:Nylon
Recommended Use:All-day trips, hiking
Reservoir Volume:100oz (3L)
Volume:[Medium] 1830cu in (30L); [Large] 2135cu in (35L)
Waist-belt:Yes
Weight:[Medium] 3lb 8oz (1620g); [Large] 3lb 10oz (1670g)

View other products from CamelBak classified in Hiking & Camping > Hydration.

View all products from CamelBak.
View other products classified in Hiking & Camping > Hydration.

Sometimes, we can't be sure that the product is the same across the stores that offer its, so you may find the same product listed more then once on GearBuyer.com, we these list highly similar products below.

CamelBak Vantage 30 PackCamelBak Vantage 30 Pack$74.98 - $150.00
CamelBak Vantage 30 MediumCamelBak Vantage 30 Medium$89.95 - $154.00
CamelBak Vantage 30 - LargeCamelBak Vantage 30 - Large$99.95 - $149.95
CamelBak Vantage 40 PackCamelBak Vantage 40 Pack$84.99 - $175.00
silver star GearBuyer.com Top 25 Category Product
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Option Availability:

Use this chart to find which retailer offers this product in the size, color or other options that you desire. Click on the price to purchase.

SizeColor
Burnt Orange / Marigold
Medium149.95
Large149.95

Legend

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CamelBak Vantage 30 Hydration Pack - 3L Reviews Summary:

RatingNumber
of Reviews
*****1
****1
***0
**1
*0
To see how this product compares to others view Hydration Reviews.

Positive Reviews:

Review Title

Rating:****

I have the blue model of this pack, the older version and its a great pack.

There is a main panel loading compartment, a zippered organizer compartment and a pocket on the waistbelt. Two side pockets are perfect for holding water bottles and there is an external pocket for dirty clothes or things you might need quick access to.

There are plenty of cinch straps to tighten things down and the durability is pretty good. I've scrambled up and down 40ft waterfalls, dragging my pack along and its holding up great - some surface abrasions that are mostly cosmetic. The padding on the back, shoulder straps and hip belts are ok, but I would have liked to see something thicker.

The hip belt is also a nuisance to tighten (see comment below), but overall this is a great pack. One thing I would like to know is what the center strap on the outside of the pack on the external pocket is for - I just can't seem to find a use for it. Maybe I'm supposed to stuff a jacket in there or something.

Summary:

Pros
Q. Affordable if you know where to look, like SAC
R. Good design and durability
S. Comfortable if you've adjusted it correctly
T. DVIS panel gets decent airflow - but you're still going to sweat on anything above an easy hike

Cons
Q. Waist belt a nuisance to cinch down
R. More padding would be nice
S. Hard to load in bladder when the pack is full (a semi panel-loading pocket for the bladder, as seen in the MULE would be nice)
T. The smaller organizer pocket opens from the bottom up - just weird. I would prefer something that opens from the top so things don't fall out.

By the way, I picked this up for $60 off SAC - what a steal.

Rusty Shackelford at Backcountry.com on 09/03/2009

great pack for sweaty back and a lot of H2O

Rating:*****

I have the orange pack and I definitely hated riding during the summer w/ my old pack and having a soaked back in a matter of minutes, the D.V.I.S. doesn't totally solve the problem but it helps a great deal, I could actually feel air moving on my back instead of just sweat.

It also holds mega amounts of water. I ride the Mah Dah Hey yearly and it's always a struggle to bring enough water but this pack totally covers that problem, you can throw an extra 3L hydration pack in the other pocket when you need it.

Jared Fuchs at Backcountry.com on 12/29/2008

Negative Reviews:

update...frustrated w/ the insulation of the tube

Rating:**

don't take the black insulation tube cover off... you'll never get it back on it's frustrating as heck. It seems as though CamelBak has changed the fabric it uses for the tube covers.. it sucks.

Jared Fuchs at Backcountry.com on 03/05/2009