Camelbak Skirmish Antidote Hydration Backpack Review

I bought the HAWG for my son because he's a bit taller than me and the Skirmish for me. I have an Ambush hydration pack which is great for half day hikes and has served me well, but I wanted a slightly larger hydration pack with room for more food and an extra pair of socks and a warm vest. This backpack is the perfect size with multiple compartments/pockets for large and small items.

Bag: This is a great bag, enough space to carry everything you want or reduce it with straps if you don't need to carry that much. The hip belt is not detachable but retractable. It took a bit of fiddling to get it off without creating a pressure point on my back. Warm not tested yet. The back of the bag is shaped and distributes the weight across the lower back/hips which is very comfortable! I've been using the bag for a month now.

Very good product. Strong zippers, durable material and a decent size. The picture doesn't justify it. Camelbaks are some of the best backpacks and hydration packs you can get. I bought my first Camelbak when I was in the military so they are battle proven. My last camelbak lasted me 14 years of almost daily use, including military use, and I've stayed with the brand ever since. You can't go wrong with this. The prices can be higher than other brands, but they are definitely worth the price.

I have several Camelbak military bags and they are all top notch in terms of quality and the Skirmish is no exception. My only criticism of the skirmish is that it's quite heavy for its size. It has a fairly solid frame and aluminum posts which are useful for shifting/balancing the load on the waistbelt, but this unpadded waistbelt is totally unsuitable for working with a full bag. I wish the camel would use the same waist belt as their triple zip fastening. I might try removing the frame foil…

I bought this backpack for an upcoming trip with my brothers and I expect it will meet or exceed CamelBack's high expectations of me. So the trip never happened. Still, it has proven to be a valuable tool for me. First of all, take this as a 3.5 rating on the product itself. My brother was a Marine Sergeant and my friend was an Army Sergeant, both praised CamelBack and both saw action in Iraq. (Both were called "POG" so is "Action" the right word? I'm kidding!) I looked at this pack recently…