I am a gear head, gear junkie and the best of all a bag whore. I enjoy all the little cool features that the gear has out there. Bag whoring is a very complicated position to hold. I basically have a backpack or bag for almost everything or for any purpose. I like to be organized and like to have something that fits the sport in which I am participating. I hate having something that does not meet the standards of someone who expects ruggedness and durability. I often need a hint of more space for that one adventure that may go a little longer than expected. I like things to be multi-functional and I cannot force myself to cough up the big bucks if I cannot use a bag or pack for more than one event.
In my earlier years, I preferred to do lots of mountain biking, rafting and trail running. I used a Camelbak M.U.L.E. for most of my adventures. Nowadays my body has experienced too much trail carnage and I needed more space. There are things that I prefer to carry with me that I did not carry with me before such as FIRST AID KIT. The Alpine Explorer is a technical daypack/hydration pack that offers outdoor enthusiasts cargo organization and the ventilation they need for a one-day peak ascent. This also includes 3 hours of hydration as stated by their site. For the more space, I jumped from the Camelbak mule’s 549 cubic inches of cargo space to the Camelbak Alpine Explorer’s 1900 cubic inches of cargo space. Now I still have the 100-ounce water bladder that comes in very handy, but now I can possibly put the bladder from the mule into the outer large mesh pocket of my Alpine Explorer and carry 200 ounces. This would come in handy to share with my wife and our four-pawed friend. Even by doing this, I have two nalgene sized mesh pockets on the each side of the large one.
There are two cinch straps that run over the mesh pockets, which come from a medium sized organizer pocket in front of the bag. The bag has an enormous main compartment that has plenty of room. The day I tested the bag I put two beach towels near the bottom of the bag (to mimic my rain gear), two swim suits, two t-shirts, and still had enough room to stuff another towel or two if needed. This was just in the main compartment, not including the mesh. On the top of this main compartment pocket there is a small pocket that that can be used for sunglasses and could be converted to hold an mp3 player or iPod if needed.
So, Why this pack? If you need more space and like to carry a few more things than usual, or you just do not like stuff dangling from your pack this is the pack for you. The extra space and multi-functional compartments including the cinch down system made this pack the ONE! If you are looking for something smaller check out the review on the Camelbak M.U.L.E.
Here are some features that I was wanting in this pack. I wanted an equal amount of water storage to my mule but more cargo space to stuff my gear. After hiking or running for a period of time, the dangling gear from a pack can get really bothersome and annoying. I wanted a comfortable snug fit, a bigger waist belt, and space in my new pack and the Alpine Explorer was the answer. The Dynamic Suspension Harness system helps secure the load carried by the alpine explorer with increased stability. Another key feature is the Air Director. The Air Director allows for an air to travel between you and the back panel of the pack to increase comfort and to increase ventilation. Here are some important stats for the pack:
Capacity: 100 oz. (3L)
Cargo: 1900 cu.in. (31.1L)
MSRP: $100
In summary this is a great pack if you’re wanting more space for those unexpected extra things. The pack will cinch down tightly to keep things tied down and keep things from shaking all around. You will have to at least partially feel the main compartment to secure everything and would be able to leave the other pockets empty. This bag could be used for day hikes, long road trips, and bare bones overnight trip. The pack rides well and adjust to the small of your back. After adjusting the multiple straps you can get a real enjoyable fit. You barely notice that it is there. It has great loading options and can carry a heavier weight.
www.camelbak.com
Bentley | Venture Tree Team
