Editor's Note: This article is part of the Mtbr Guide to hydration packs, featuring the new CamelBak Low Rider line. To see all the articles, head over to the Low Rider hydration pack hub page. This article and all the articles in this section are courtesy of CamelBak.

CamelBak's place in the history of hydration is secure. From the very idea of hands-free hydration to cutting edge present day packs, the California-based company has been at the forefront of keeping cyclists (and outdoor enthusiasts of all types) performing at their best. But how did we get to this place where the hydration pack has become essential to the mountain biking experience? Time for a little history lesson.

History of CamelBak

The CamelBak M.U.L.E. ushered in the age of easily carrying water and gear on the trail (click to enlarge).

Flashback to 1989. Cyclist Michael Eidson has signed up for the Hotter'N Hell 100, an 100-mile race in the unrelenting summer heat of Wichita Falls, Texas. Staying hydrated is critical to succeeding (and even surviving) the race, yet the course has few places to refill water bottles. Eidson, an EMT by day, is convinced he'll need more than the standard two bottles and decides to fill an IV bag with water and slip it into a white tube sock.

He then stuffs the make-shift contraption into the back of his jersey, tosses the thin hose over his shoulder and clamps it shut with a clothespin. When he needs a drink, the clothespin comes off and water flows out. Hands-free hydration is born. Eidson drinks as he pedals. His fellow competitors fiddle with water bottles - and worry about what they'll do when they run out.

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. A new product category commences and a company is born. But CamelBak's history - and historical significance - doesn't end there. Jon Austen, the company's director of product management and marketing, picks up the ever-evolving story.

"The next really big moment comes in the mid-1990s," recalls Austen. "We'd been in the market for about five years, and riders are telling us how awesome CamelBak is, but they also reveal that the packs are not super comfortable and that in some cases they need to be able to carry more than just water."

This critical customer feedback becomes genesis for the first CamelBak M.U.L.E. hydration pack. Now riders can carry water - and tools, food, spare clothes, and various other essentials. "But it was still pretty bare bones," concedes Austen. "It had hard edge nylon straps and a flat back. It wasn't super comfortable."

Just in case you leave your bladder in the driveway, CamelBak has your back.

Just in case you leave your bladder in the driveway, CamelBak has your back (click to enlarge).​

Initially CamelBak tried to address these shortcomings with accessories such as "Sissy" straps, which were pads you could strap on the nylon webbing of the harness for improved abrasion protection. Soon, though, it was clear that not only did the hydration pack need to be more utilitarian and comfortable, it also needed to suit a variety of uses. That's when pack became packs.

"As the market grew, we saw lots of different riders that had different needs," continues Austen. "Some were going out for the standard 2-3 hour ride. Other were venturing out on epic all-day adventures. That's when CamelBak realized the need to expand the model line. On one hand you had the minimalist pack for shorter rides. On the other was the large capacity pack."

One of the key markers in CamelBak history was the segmentation of its model line to serve various types of riders and riding.

One of the key markers in CamelBak history was the segmentation of its model line to serve various types of riders and riding (click to enlarge).​

Models such as the Rogue, Lobo, and H.A.W.G. were born, each suiting a different set of needs. At the same time, CamelBak started building more technology and comfort into its packs, adding features such as breathable back panels and improved harness designs.

Jumping ahead to present day, and CamelBak continues to innovate and push the envelope of what a pack can deliver to its wearer. In 2015, it launched the K.U.D.U. line, which carried forward previously established functionality, and implemented strategic back protection and the ability to carry light armor.

Continue to page 2 for more on CamelBak and the history of hands-free hydration »

The Low Rider (L) and K.U.D.U. (R) packs are perfect illustration of how CamelBak has met the needs of the sport's ever changing landscape.

The Low Rider (L) and K.U.D.U. (R) packs are perfect illustration of how CamelBak has met the needs of the sport's ever changing landscape (click to enlarge).​

This year the focus is on enhancing the riding experience through the new CamelBak Low Rider line, which allows the rider to carry weight lower on the body, lowering the overall center of gravity.

"It's really just a nod to the evolution of riding and how CamelBak has adapted and evolved itself," explains Austen. "We utilized lots of rider testing and feedback to determine that carrying water lower on the back when descending is superior to past designs. What we see is that the growth of the modern trail bike is allowing more riders to ride more aggressively more easily. So as an accessory we need to evolve with that to give riders a better experience."

Thanks to the capabilities of modern trail bikes, more and more riders are opting to carry more than just water, flat repair tools, and an energy bar. CamelBak has met that need with advancements in cargo-carrying options.

Thanks to the capabilities of modern trail bikes, more and more riders are opting to carry more than just water, flat repair tools, and an energy bar. CamelBak has met that need with advancements in cargo-carrying options (click to enlarge).​

Indeed, the evolution of CamelBak is, and will always be, driven by the people who use the gear. "Our product development process centers around input that comes from rider feedback and our sponsored athletes," explains Austen. "We want to know how they are riding and how they want to ride, and then be responsive while keeping in mind that hydration is a critical element of the mountain biking experience."

Of course in-house testing also plays a critical role in CamelBak's product development process, as you can see in this eye-opening video.



So what's next? What will the CamelBak hydration pack of the future look like? Austen believes improvements in impact protection will be at the forefront. "Safety technology will continue to get better, and that includes being lighter, more ergonomic, and more comfortable."

Austen also believes that the Low Rider concept will continue to grow. "We're confident that as more riders try it, demand will grow and you'll see us adding new product to that segment."

What the future holds for CameBak and the hydration pack is as exciting as the anticipation of a great ride.

What the future holds for CamelBak and the hydration pack is as exciting as the anticipation of a great ride (click to enlarge).​

And of course there is room to improve on the materials end of the spectrum. "It will be a combination of weight and construction," predicts Austen. "We are working on some very advanced projects right now, because at the end of the day we're striving to always be improving our products. Our mission is to keep riders hydrated and carrying the right gear, so they can have a good time riding bikes. That's what it's all about."