The Camelbak HAWG MG is a very versatile hydration backpack as reviewed previously. Unfortunately, it’s just a tad bulky for short trips. Enter the Camelbak Ambush.

The bottom storage compartment is just large enough to fit a Canon 400D DSLR. And the top storage compartment fits a medium sized lens along with a few other small items. You’re not going to be able to carry any additional clothing or snacks with this backpack, but then that’s defying my definition of traveling light.

Compared to the HAWG, it’s about 66% smaller in depth and 25% smaller in width. Obviously the HAWG is the better choice if you plan on traveling with a number of lenses, but I find the Ambush to be more of my everyday backpack.

In my quest to keep Mary and the baby hydrated during her commute to work, I purchased another Camelbak hydration backpack — the Sno Angel. It is much smaller compared to previous Camelbaks I’ve written about here, (Ambush and HAWG MG) but it should be as this backpack was designed specifically for women. Camelbak claims that it was built to fit the contours of a woman’s body compared to the ruggedness of their other models.

The backpack uses the OMEGA™ HydroTanium™ reservoir that holds 72 ounces of liquid. I swapped this out for several reasons.

1.		The bite valve is unprotected. So whatever it brushes up against, you’ll soon be putting it into your mouth when you take a sip. In the image (left) is the comparison between the Hydrolink with cover (left) and the regular big bite valve.
2.		Unlike the OMEGA™ Water Beast reservoirs that I’ve been accustomed to, the tube is directly connected to the reservoir and cannot be easily disconnected. Considering that Mary uses the backpack Monday through Friday, it would be very convenient to store only the reservoir each night in the fridge. The image (left) shows the OMEGA™ HydroTanium™ with the blue tube directly connected to the barb of the reservoir. This is now just a backup reservoir as I use the OMEGA™ Water Beast exclusively.

The storage compartments are rather small. In the lower compartment, Mary can fit her sunglasses case, a pack of gum, and some pregnancy meds. In the upper compartment, which also has the opening to the reservoirs mouth, she can fit her wallet and hand lotion. The backpack isn’t exactly a storage beast, but I don’t want my wife carrying a ton of stuff during her commute.

In addition, I’ve added a pouch from R.E. Load Baggage to make access to her cellphone much more convenient to access.

In conclusion, the backpack does exactly what I need it to do — keep water accessible. Mary also likes to lean back on it during her commute as it acts like a large pillow. Bonus points. The Sno Angel retails at $49.95, but you may be able to find it cheaper as they usually update this model annually.

In preparation for our family cruise to the Mediterranean, I picked up a Camelbak HAWG MG backpack. The thought process was that I could provide water to my pregnant wife, hold my camera + lenses, and keep a sweater available. It certainly lived up to expectations.

In addition, I picked up a Domke Camera Insert to hold my DSLR and two lenses.  The size fits perfectly in the backpack. But be forewarned that the bottom of the insert is not padded. I left a shirt at the bottom of the backpack to remedy the little shortcoming.

The additional storage compartments are good too. Enough to hold a flashgun, a Giattos cleaner, keys, and some other miscellaneous items that Mary wanted me to carry for her. I also used the MOLLE straps to hold two additional sacks. It’s definitely an expandable backpack for those gear intensive travels.

With all this gear in/attached to it, the HAWG MG was actually quite comfortable to wear. It sit’s high on your back and feels like it’s a part of you. You can feel the coolness of the reservoir on your back a bit, which is great on a hot summer day. And you sweat is wicked away from the special back material.

All in all, I’d say it’s the perfect backpack for traveling and having 4 liters of water strapped to your back (or 5 with the better bottle filled up).