Roadcycling.com reviews the Octane XCT+ Hydration Pack from CamelBak.

The first thing I noticed about the Camelbak Octane XCT+ hydration pack was how light it is. A majority of the pack is made with rip stop nylon which helps to keep the weight down and make it super tough. Don't be fooled by the weight my friends, the Camelbak Octane XCT+ offers more than enough bells and whistles to the rider, runner or cross country skier. Yes I did say runner and skier (more on that later).

One feature I really appreciated are the two conveniently placed waist belt pockets, which have enough room to hold energy bars, a cell phone, car keys, a small tool kit, trail map and a even bottle of beer. Yep a bottle of beer, but don't forget the bottle opener like I did. The pockets were easily opened and closed using the draw string on the zipper tab. The center of the pack has additional storage. The elastic strap system on the back can be used to carry extra clothing, which I shed during my rides. I wasn't able to stretch the straps sufficiently to carry a bike helmet.

The waist belt and chest harnesses can be used to snug the pack close enough to your body to prevent the pack from bouncing up and down when riding through rough terrain. Its chest harness is especially nice because the sides are connected to a rigid track on the shoulder straps which allow the harness to be adjusted up and down. Sizing is nearly infinite for petite females to Boonen sized sprinters. Don't forget the featured item, which is Camelbak's bladder. The Octane XCT has a built-in 70oz. / 2 Liter Omega HydroTanium Reservoir with a lifetime warranty.

I'm not a So Cal dude, although there are times when I wish I was. There's still snow on the ground where I live. My first use of the Octane XCT+ was cross country skiing and later during trail running. The Octane XCT replaced my waist pack and water bottle I had used for years skiing. Have you ever wondered where your glasses were and then realized you had them on? When I used the Octane XCT I forgot I was wearing it! I told my friends I needed to go back to the bus to get my waist pack, which brought some laughter from the group at my expense. The comment was "you have the Octane on; you don't need your waist pack". It worked just as well for running also. Again, the strap system allowed me to snug the pack firmly to my body. There wasn't any bouncing up and down and it was very comfortable to wear. The drink tube was tightly secured to my left shoulder by a strap located on the shoulder harness. As comfortable and snug as the pack was, I found a drawback. The excess length from the chest strap wasn't able to be secured. It flopped in the wind and often times hit me in the face. I wish Camelback would have put bands to store the excess as they did with the waist strap. My fix was to roll up the excess and rubber band it.

Camelbak may have developed the Octane XCT for cycling, but I found it is versatile for many rigorous activities. It is a grab-and-go and literally forget-you-have-it-on pack. It allows you to maintain hydration and carry all your essentials. I'm going to use the heck out of it, summer, winter, fall and spring!

If you would like more information about the Camelbak Octane XCT+ visit www.camelbak.com.