CamelBak's TransAlp pack has gone down as one of the best packs the company has ever made. But now two years after its demise, CamelBak has finally launched its successor - the Hoss.
Still marketed as a versatile all-day riding pack, with 23 litres of cargo space and compression straps to keep the load stable together with a three-litre bladder, the Hoss builds on what has gone before with a fully taped and waterproof main compartment, complete with a dry-bag roll-down top and a new DVIS (Dynamic Ventilated Integrated System) back system. It uses eight individually sprung pods to lift the pack away from the back for good airflow and ensures that the bladder does not push into the main load space and it's noticeably cooler and more comfortable compared to the old pack.
The load space is a uniform rectangular volume rather than the wedge of the TransAlp, and although the waterproofing is great, the roll-down top trades off ease-of-access to the main compartment a little, when compared to top dual-zip entry packs. There is a good front pocket with good internal organisations and a helmet holder though, and the benchmark CamelBak bladder will come with an insulated hose. For the weight this pack can handle, we'd prefer to see a wider waist strap for greater stability and improved comfort.