More Information
 On: 2007-11-24
I got this for my wife and she says it is perfect. She wishes it was a little bigger but loves it.
 On: 2007-08-05
Im training for my second marathon, and I was very excited to get this bag. It is beautfully designed and very comfortable to wear. The drink tube is easy to use, and the belt has soft cushioning next to the skin so chafing is avoided--even underneath a shirt. There are even two pockets on the belt, but they only have enough space for 2 gels and a single key (my cell phone fell out).
When I first tested the Catalyst on a 3-mile run (on a hot day) it was perfect. My time was better than usual as it was less cumbersome and easier to access than my old hydration pack (a Camel knockoff). Later, I tried it on an 12-mile run. Granted, this could have been the ultimate test--a heat wave in Maryland. But I went early in the morning. I was drinking conservatively, but by the time I was onto my 11th mile, all the water was gone. Luckily, I had set out extra water bottles at the end of my run. Based off of these two experiences, I believe the Catalyst is a great pack for shorter to medium runs, but I would not recomend taking it out more than 6-8 miles unless there are other sources of water available nearby (ex- water stations or fountains).
One final note, anyone who is prone to or healing from lower back injuries should avoid fanny-packs and stick with shoulder/back-pack styled hydration packs instead. I had just healed from an SI joint injury (lower back injury right along the pelvis). Most exercise doesnt bother me (including my runs) and back packs dont bother me. However, I should have known better than to put a fanny pack on for a long period, and I experienced mild lower back pain after the 12-mile run when using the Catalyst.
All that aside, this is still a wonderful little pack for shorter runs on hot days.
On: 2007-05-24
I started running regularly a few months ago. I wanted to carry water, but didnt want to carry bulky, sloshing water bottles. FYI, Im a male, 60" tall, 190lbs.
I was already a fan of Camelbak backpacks for hiking, so I bought the Camelbak Flashflo (Camelbak 2007 Flashflo 45oz. Running Hydration Pack) running pack. It had the largest water capacity, at 1.3 liters, but I had two problems with it. Firstly, when full of water the pack lost its flat shape and felt like I had a heavy football strapped to my back. I had to really cinch it down to stop it from bouncing around, which wasnt completely comfortable (I even got bruises on my hips). My petite girlfriend couldnt wear it all all when it was full because of this issue. If I filled it half full then it stayed flatter and felt better, but then whats the point of buying the largest capacity pack? The second problem is the screwcap on the water bladder. The Flashflo uses a large cap with a tight fit, like on their hiking bags, and it can be very tough to unscrew (even for weightlifters like me!). The cap and bladder both fit inside the pack, so you have to remove the bladder every time you need to fill it. Not a huge deal, but not nearly as convenient as packs with external caps.
I then bought a Camelbak Alterra (Camelbak 2007 Alterra 28oz. Run/Walk Hydration Pack - Graphite/Burnt Orange - 60610) running pack. Wow, what a huge improvement! It doesnt carry as much water as the Flashflo, but its still plenty for me for runs up to two hours. This pack is very comfortable, and you can secure it just snugly (not tight), and it doesnt bounce around at all. It has an external bladder cap as opposed to the Flashflos internal cap, and its a smaller-sized cap that is very easy to remove and put back on. It also has pockets large enough to hold energy gels/snacks, batteries/ipod, a cell phone, etc. I have run two half-marathons wearing my Alterra and was able to drink water when I wanted to (with water left over at the end), and not be bothered with the water stations. My girlfriend tried it and found it very comfortable. I have no complaints whatsoever about this pack, and recommend it highly!
I noticed Camelbak sells a running pack similar in design to the Alterra, called the Catalyst. It doesnt have pockets, so I would recommend the Alterra over that pack, though it would be better than the Flashflo for comfort and ease of use. Any of these three bags are better than any bottle system. I would choose these over competing bladder packs as well.
On: 2007-05-23
I started running regularly a few months ago. I wanted to carry water, but didnt want to carry bulky, sloshing water bottles. FYI, Im a male, 60" tall, 190lbs.
I was already a fan of Camelbak backpacks for hiking, so I bought the Camelbak Flashflo (Camelbak 2007 Flashflo 45oz. Running Hydration Pack) running pack. It had the largest water capacity, at 1.3 liters, but I had two problems with it. Firstly, when full of water the pack lost its flat shape and felt like I had a heavy football strapped to my back. I had to really cinch it down to stop it from bouncing around, which wasnt completely comfortable (I even got bruises on my hips). My petite girlfriend couldnt wear it all all when it was full because of this issue. If I filled it half full then it stayed flatter and felt better, but then whats the point of buying the largest capacity pack? The second problem is the screwcap on the water bladder. The Flashflo uses a large cap with a tight fit, like on their hiking bags, and it can be very tough to unscrew (even for weightlifters like me!). The cap and bladder both fit inside the pack, so you have to remove the bladder every time you need to fill it. Not a huge deal, but not nearly as convenient as packs with external caps.
I then bought a Camelbak Alterra (Camelbak 2007 Alterra 28oz. Run/Walk Hydration Pack - Graphite/Burnt Orange - 60610) running pack. Wow, what a huge improvement! It doesnt carry as much water as the Flashflo, but its still plenty for me for runs up to two hours. This pack is very comfortable, and you can secure it just snugly (not tight), and it doesnt bounce around at all. It has an external bladder cap as opposed to the Flashflos internal cap, and its a smaller-sized cap that is very easy to remove and put back on. It also has pockets large enough to hold energy gels/snacks, batteries/ipod, a cell phone, etc. I have run two half-marathons wearing my Alterra and was able to drink water when I wanted to (with water left over at the end), and not be bothered with the water stations. My girlfriend tried it and found it very comfortable. I have no complaints whatsoever about this pack, and recommend it highly!
I noticed Camelbak sells a running pack similar in design to the Alterra, called the Catalyst. It doesnt have pockets, so I would recommend the Alterra over that pack, though it would be better than the Flashflo for comfort and ease of use. Any of these three bags are better than any bottle system. I would choose these over competing bladder packs as well.
On: 2007-04-11
I love my camelbak catalyst. Ive gone on runs longer than 2 hours and it provided all the water I needed for runs in the winter and early spring. I barely notice I have it on when Im running. It nestles into the small of my lower back, it doesnt jiggle, and the tube is set up so that while Im running I can easily unclip it, take a few swigs, reclip it, and all the while keep on running without breaking my stride. The only reason I dont give it 5 stars is that my first camelbak began to leak from the screw on top for no apparent reason about 59 days after I bought it; I was able to get a full refund since this occurred in less than 60 days after I bought it! So far, the replacement is working fine, but I havent had it for 60 days yet.
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