CamelBak Cloud Walker ($60):
Funny thing about thirst is that by the time you feel it you’re already in the first stages of dehydration. Not a good thing for geocachers who are likely focused on the wayfinding tasks at hand and would rather not fumble for those water bottles in their pack. So it makes a boatload of sense to opt for the convenience of hands-free hydration afforded by the CamelBak Cloud Walker, which happens to be the stalwart seller by this notable company—and for good reason. No wimpy, shoulder-flaying straps like you might find on econo models of other hydration-pack makers. The Cloud Walker treats you to the real-deal Independent Suspension Air Mesh harness and back panel, something you’d expect on a full-blown backpack twice the size of this 1,346-cubic-inch pack. The main compartment is voluminous enough to stash all sorts of geocaching paraphernalia for done-in-a-day antics, and a secure outer pocket fits CDs, your GPS, a small digital camera, or other quick-grab items. New cool factor: near the business end of the 72-ounce reservoir’s drink tube, you'll find a clever little Bite Valve Garage on the harness that lets you park the sucker to keep it clean, but still easily deploy it whenever the urge strikes. Contact 800-767-8725, www.camelbak.com.
