CamelBak 2015 Kudu 12 Hydration Pack with Back Protection

The Kudu 12 pack has wings which spread the load securely and comfortably to the rider’s hips. The shoulder straps are ventilated with mesh fabric.

Helmet and pad storage is well thought out and accessible.

CamelBak Kudu 12 Hydration Pack

One of the more impressive items seen at Press Camp in Park City in June was CamelBak’s Kudu 12 hydration pack. The Kudu has a pouch between its ventilated mesh back and its bladder compartment which contains a three-layer impact protection pad. CamelBak’s ‘Impact Protector’ is a CE 1621-2 Level 2 certified protector, which adds very little weight and bulk to the pack in exchange for a hefty measure of safety. The Kudu 12 features a pull-over rain shroud, a wide hip belt with a quick access pocket and the usual range of useful zip compartments that CamelBak is known for. An outer flap is designed to stow a helmet for transfer stages, and there are straps on the lower end of the pack to secure pads. The reservoir holds 100 fluid ounces (3 liters) and there is enough room in the larger compartment for foul weather gear. Inside a stretch-mesh pocket is a roll-up tool organizer to facilitate quick repairs. The pack design is wider than it is deep, to keep the bulk of the its contents closer to the body and less apt to throw the rider off balance. I thought the pack was an important development – a necessary item for enduro racing which has been redesigned to serve a greater purpose. The Kudu 12 holds 549 in³ (9 liters) and MSRP $200.

Six pads on the mesh-lined pack separate the Kudu 12 from your back, and form channels for ventilation. The tri-layer protection element is inserted into a dedicated pouch directly behind the six pads.