The Octane XC is part of CamelBak’s outdoor range aimed at trail runners, but it’s a great lightweight pack for fast and thirsty bike riders too.
You can slip a pump in with the reservoir, but otherwise you’ll need to use the bungee to lash on tubes, jackets and so on.
Zipped pockets in the top flap and either side of the waist belt give enough room for tools, phone, keys, food and other essentials. The lightweight construction certainly means you’re not carrying any more weight than you need.
The hose can be routed to either side and there’s still no better way to drink fast and drip-free than CamelBak’s lockable Ergo bite valve. Given that the two-litre Omega reservoir costs £23.99 on its own, the whole bag is excellent value.
The only potential downside is that it needs to ride high and tight to stop it flopping all over the place, so if you’re into a loose and low bag fit, it’s not for you.
