The Octane 8 is designed as a lightweight adventure racing/multisports hydration pack. With a 2-litre bladder and an expandable carrying capacity of 8.6 to 12.8 litres, it's big enough for a decent day's trail bashing. A larger Octane 14 version with a capacity of 15.7 to 23.1 litres is also available for just £10 extra.
Although it's not a bike-specific pack, there are some great touches that make it definitely worth a look. The 'Johnny on the Spot' zipped hip pockets can take a multi-tool, tyre levers, a mobile phone and a puncture repair kit, and hip padding keeps everything comfortable.
The zip-up compression works as a corset on the main pocket and, together with two separate compression cord circuits, this means your load is held firmly. Unzipping the pack reveals a further deep canvas stash pocket.
The main compartment houses a slot for an extra bladder should you require it, and the pack has two further zipped stash pockets on its midriff. The lightweight construction won't stand up to abuse as much as CamelBak's more heavy duty bike-specific packs but the Octane 8 is all about speed.
The pack's all-in low weight, together with its instantly comfortable and secure harness, shows that CamelBak's basic recipe is good whatever its guise.