Camelbak H.A.W.G. Review

• COLLECTION: Hydration Plus Cargo
• ACTIVITY: Hydration Plus Cargo
• USER: Unisex
• HYDRATION CAPACITY: 3L/100 fl oz
• HYDRATION TYPE: Mil Spec Antidote Long
• BPA/BPS/BPF FREE: Yes
• QUICK LINK DISCONNECT: Yes
• GEAR CAPACITY: 20L/1220 cu in
• PACK WEIGHT: 1.15 kg/2 lbs 8 oz
• DIMENSIONS: 48 x 27 x 26 cm/19 x 10.5 x 10.2 in
• HARNESS: 10 mm EVA foam shoulder harness
• NUMBER OF EXTERIOR POCKETS: 3

Camelbak hawg Features

• Two full-length compartments keep items organized
• Extended Composite MOLLE on the front for secure attachment of pouches and gear
• Independent Suspension harness and Air Director™ Back Panel for optimal load distribution and breathability
• Lower drink tube exit ports for routing tube underarm
• Noiseless zipper pulls throughout; External quick stash pocket

Why I purchased the Camelbak hawg

Knowing I was getting deployed soon to a very hot environment I knew I wanted a new backpack that also had a hydration pack built in. The Camelbak H.A.W.G. caught my attention when I was at the PX checking them out. The Multicam looked cool and the bag seemed very well made.

I have never owned a Camelbak before and heard some good things from friends and other people in the military community (one of my buddies had the same Camelbak). I didn’t plan on spending so much money on a backpack but knew I wanted a quality bag and a durable one. After quickly deciding to just buy it, I am overall very happy with my purchase.

Antidote Hydration Bladder

The Camelbak HAWG comes with the antidote 3-liter hydration bladder and drinking tube with a nice mouth valve. The lid to fill the bladder is very large and this makes filling the bladder very easy if you want to leave it in the backpack while filling (I personally still remove it from the bag)

The drinking tube is extended and insulated with a nylon material that protects it. The mouth valve works great and I haven’t had any issues with it leaking.

Storage Capacity

What I love most about the Camelbak HAWG is how much storage space it has for being more of a minimalist backpack. For a medium-size backpack, I can fit so much gear inside of it. The bag has 3 main storage compartments not including where the hydration bladder goes.

In the main storage area, I have fit my laptop, cold weather fleece, waffle top, beanie patrol cap, and gloves with no problem. It is a big main compartment with no dividers or small pouches.

The second main compartment has smaller dividers which I think the layout of these could have been designed slightly better. I am used to the setup now however it did take some getting used to.

The small outside zipper compartment is actually quite larger. I usually have a backup pocket knife, eye pro/sunglasses, a flashlight, and my keys in this area. This area of the Camelbak HAWG is deeper than it appears from the outside of the bag and a lot of small items can be stashed here.

Comfortability

The Camelbak HAWG is very comfortable to wear even when the bag is fully loaded with gear. The shoulder straps have extra padding in them allowing you to carry the bag for hours without fatiguing.

There is also a sternum strap which helps keep the bag secured in place and stop it from shifting or moving while moving. It minimizes movement and helps keep the bag high and tight closer to your shoulders and not your lower back.

Camelbak put extra padding in the back panel of the bag as well. The portion of the bag that is pressed up against your back is very comfortable.

The sizing of this bag is damn near perfect. When I am wearing it, it fits great (not too big and not too small). It rides high on my pack and has a slim design.

Camelbak hawg overall design

The Multicam pattern looks amazing on this bag, and the laser cut molle webbing has a good low profile appearance. In my personal opinion, this bag does look “tactical” especially because of the color I went with, but not too “tactical” if that makes sense. If you bought a basic black colored one it would look like a normal backpack.

The 4 compression straps on the sides of the Camelbak HAWG are great for collapsing the backpack down really small when there isn’t much in it. The hook and loop velcro is cool for attaching name tapes or any moral patches that you want but I wish it was a little bigger for some larger patches I have.

The YKK zippers are extremely durable and the construction of the Camelbak HAWG is outstanding. Eight months in the desert with me and it has held up great. If I cleaned off the dirt and sand it would look like new.

There are 4 D-Rings on the shoulder straps and a removable waist strap. I can’t comment on the waist strap though because I took it off as soon as I picked the bag up, but it is a nice added feature.

Should you buy the Camelbak hawg?

Short answer, absolutely! Overall this is a great backpack/hydration bag and I am very happy I bought it. Even if you aren’t looking for a hydration pack this bag still can serve as a great piece of gear. It is good for an EDC (every day carry) bag, hiking backpack, motorcycle backpack, law enforcement backpack, and in my case military deployment backpack. Lastly, it looks badass and that’s the most important thing right?

• Pros: Good Construction, Expandable & Collapsible, Comes With Antidote Hydration Bladder
• Cons: Expensive, No Side Molle

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