CamelBak Skyline

CamelBak’s steadily narrowing in on the ultimate mountain biking backpack. Though our testers had issues with one aspect of the design, overall, the 10-liter Skyline is ahead of the backpack pack. 

First, let’s talk the glaring negative: the main issue testers had is the hip pockets are a bit too small and too far back. It’s not a deal breaker, but on-bike hip pocket access isn’t as easy as it should be, and one-handed snack acquisition is tougher than we’d like.

Apart from that concern, our testers had nothing but positive things to say about the Skyline. Most of that positivity flowed forth due to the new Lowrider tech, which is CamelBak’s mountain biking initiative to allocate water storage lower on the back and closer to the bike. The 3-liter Antidote reservoir looks like a stingray — its wide wings help to distribute the weight of the water around your hips and lower back, improving everything from bike handling to back pain. Combine that with generous ventilated back padding and sling-like shoulder straps, and CamelBak may have made their most ergonomic mountain bike pack to date. 

In addition to the ergonomic benefits, a few key features further won over our testers: the stretch pocket, helmet hook and bottom buckle straps allow riders to carry pads and helmets on the way to the trail or on the uphill, essentially doubling the 10-liter size. A top sunglasses pocket and handy tool roll (a small, multi-pocketed roll that organizes your gear: we stuffed it with a bike tool, patch kit, zip ties and a few other essentials) top off the Skyline — a new favorite for downhill and cross-country days alike. 

Tester Comment: “A really comfortable pack — I love how the water weight is low. It doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome on technical descents. And the back padding inspires confidence. It’s not padding for the sake of comfort, though it is comfortable; the padding is designed to keep you safe in case you fall.”