CamelBak Marathoner Review

I have been using CamelBak hydration packs for about 15 years.  My first one was orange and I used it when cycling.  I still have it and other than the bladder looking pretty old, it still works great.  With my first full marathon coming up, I wanted to test out a few hydration packs.  CamelBak sent me the Marathoner Hydration Pack to try. 

CamelBak started in 1989 when Michael Eidson, who was an EMT by trade, took an IV bag filled with water and stuffed it in a tube sock.  Michael then put the contraption in his bike jersey pocket, put the hose over his shoulder and clamped it with a clothespin.  He wanted to have extra water during the “Hotter’N Hell 100.”  That was the first CamelBak. 

CamelBak feels strongly about “Giving Bak.” They started a program called "We Know Water".  It is designed to teach 4^th and 5^th graders the benefits of using a reusable bottle.  CamelBak also believes in being environmentally responsible in their day to day operations.  The CamelBak headquarters is located in Petaluma, California.    

I have tested out the CamelBak Marathoner for over a month now.  Hydration packs can get heavy, even before you put in any water.  Not the Marathoner, which weighs in at 11 ounces (pack only).  The included 2-liter reservoir has a quarter turn wide mouth opening for easy filling, which is an improvement over the first versions of the CamelBak.  The hose has a quick connect so you can disconnect the hose before pulling out the reservoir to fill.  It makes the filling process much quicker and easier. 

One of the best features of CamelBak packs is their Big Bite valve.  You get a decent flow of water.  Nothing bugs me more about a pack than having to work really hard to get a few drops of water.  When I am running hard, I don’t want to struggle to get a drink of water.  There are also arms that fold down to keep the reservoir open after you clean it out.  That way the inside of the reservoir can dry completely.

Other cool features of the Marathoner are the multiple pockets, 5 in all.  There are two pockets in the front that are big enough to hold bottles, although I use them to hold gels and my cell phone.  There is an envelope pocket, which is where I put my used gel packs.  You even have a sweat proof pocket for your phone.  I found that it felt better to have my Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 in one of the front pockets instead of the sweat proof pocket.  Under the reservoir flap, there is another pocket to stash your keys and credit card. 

Pros:

Light Weight, Breathable Materials

Plenty of Storage

2-Liter Resivoir

Great price at $100

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The CamelBak Marathoner is an amazing hydration pack for runners.  It is extremely light weight, carries plenty of gear during a run, and holds up to 2 liters of water.  CamelBak has the best hydration bladders and bite valves in the industry and I couldn’t be more impressed by this pack.  You can get yours for $100 at Amazon or at the CamelBak website.  You can also find CamelBak products at your local retailer (click here for locations).  Do yourself a favor and pick one up today. 

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.