She said ...
CamelBak's 70-ounce Octane XCT pack is a lightweight, ultra-efficient pack for endurance athletes.
This super-slim pack weighs about 10 ounces empty and about 5 pounds with the full 2 liters of water. Store gloves, keys or packable layers in the medium-sized back pocket, and use the two smaller side pockets for quick, easy access to energy bars or other snacks.
moreIt's often frustrating having to stop and take off a pack to get into your fuel stash, but that's not the case with Octane's smartly designed 200 cubic inches of storage space. The two side pockets are cleverly located above your hips and are easy to get into without dislocating a shoulder. This design also lowers the location of the additional weight, which minimizes bouncing.
The pack, even when full, doesn't move around as much as other packs thanks to a set of nifty criss-crossed bungee cords on the back. Drink too much of your water, though, and you may want to stop and tighten these, something that does require taking off the pack, or asking for a hand. The bungees also worked well as impromptu storage for our Yaktraks when a change in plans forced us off the trail and onto the road.
Octane's fit is surprisingly customizable. The pack has the standard adjustable waist and chest straps, but the smarties at CamelBak also added cords on the front to make the chest strap's vertical placement adjustable. This means men and women can use the same pack.
Seventy ounces is a lot of water, but only enough for three to four hours on a hot day. Recently, this only lasted me 16 of 20 miles, making those last four miles pretty parched and miserable. If you're going out for more than a couple of hours, or when in doubt, take additional water.
Octane's reservoir comes with CamelBak's lifetime warranty, and the bright colors and reflective details make you easy to spot. All of these plus the pack's comfortable, streamlined design make it one of my top picks for a hydration pack.
He said ...
Sara's right -- CamelBak nails it with the XCT, its 2010 update to the Octane. As the company continues to specialize down into sport-specific hydration systems, they've got their adventure racing/ultrarunning packs just about dialed. This time around, the Octane boasts that improved bungee system Sara mentioned, along with 110 additional cubic inches of cargo room. It's not a lot, but on a pack this small, every little bit helps.
With the limited cargo space, though, you get a trade-off. It's a much more low-profile pack than other hydration systems of similar size, so it slips more easily under a running vest or jacket for cold-weather runs. The XCT was my go-to for most of the wild and snowy Virginia winter of 2009-10 -- including one cruel run during 20-degree temps and 20-plus mph winds -- and with the pack layered between my long-sleeve shirt and vest, not once did my water freeze up on me.
The side cargo pockets are roomy enough to easily hold four packets of energy chews and four large gel packets (yes, I know that's a lot of food for a four-hour run, thanks) with room to spare for keys and other odds and ends. The back pocket offers just enough space to stash your gloves, hat and arm-warmers.
Yeah, 200 cubes isn't a lot of cargo room, but you shouldn't need much more for a three- to four-hour run. If you're in need of more cargo room for a daylong adventure, look to the XCT's big brothers: the Octane 18X and Octane 24, which are built more for the all-day runner or adventure racer. The Octane XCT retails for $70, the 18X is $90 and the 24 sells for $100.
Mirroring a trend in ultrarunning gear across the industry, the XCT comes in freaky-bright colors, including the fantastic "Lime Punch" -- a fantastic space alien yellow-green color that's far superior to Sara's "Dark Cheddar" model. Basic black is available as well, if your next trail run is a black-tie affair. The material dries quickly, and the mesh portion that rests against your back breathes well, so it doesn't leave you feeling sticky and gross -- or any more gross than you'd feel after four hours running on a dusty mountain trail in high summer, anyway.
My one gripe -- and it's a minor one that I've grown used to with CamelBak's packs -- is that I find myself occasionally fussing with the shoulder straps during a run. With the pull straps tugged down tight, there's no noticeable bounce with the Octane XCT, but those straps require frequent adjusting -- they tend to slide loose if left unattended. One trick to stop that: Roll up the excess shoulder strap and put a rubber band around it (like you already do with your military ruck's straps anyway, right?).
Sara Davidson is an ultramarathoner and our resident women's running gear destroyer. Rob Colenso is an ultrarunner and a former Marine who hated running when he was on active duty.
