I am starting to do more hiking and I am looking for a daypack that has a hydration bladder in it. I have started to look and there are 200 different kinds of backpacks. Does anybody have any experience or advise on a pack?

What do you use when you go and visit "30 mile post", "Wizard of WAAS"?

I have a camel back, it has served me well over the years. The mule model.

Personally I use a Camelback Mule Hydration pack for Women. It has a 100oz bladder and plenty of room for trade goods, firstaid kit, orange vest, B-R-E, and assorted geo-related necessities. The HAWG has the same size Hydration, but a little bit bigger pack area.

I find the Mule has a big enough pack area. I didn't want to get something I would put too much stuff in and make it too much of a load on my back.

Camelback makes a lot of great products. But there are other brands as well. It just happened to be the one that I chose...

Johnnie... we did it again.

I've got a Camelbak Rogue - it's one size down from the Mule. Use it for biking, kayaking, and hiking....but for hiking I'd recommend the Mule for its larger size. You'll need the space for an extra pair of shoes if you do a lot of water crossings.

I use a Camel Bak Fourteener. It has a 100 oz bladder and 1650 cubic inches of storage. Best pack I have ever owned. It compresses well when all the space is not needed, stores a ton with you need the space, and is comfortable. This pack of the first one I have used that does not fatigue my back and shoulders during a long hike.

Camelbak Mule. I also recently bought an Unbottle. Both 100oz. I got the Unbottle to "hydrate" a daypack I already owned.

I've used the Camelbak HAWG for years, had to replace the bladder a couple of years back when it sprung a leak.

I'd suggest putting everything you'd like to have with you in a grocery bag or small trash bag to get a feel for how much room you'll need. That varies from person to person, and I think you'll find a thread here somewhere on what people like to have with them.
Some items like a good first aid kit and rain suit, or even a rain jacket, take up quite a bit of room if you'd like to have those along. Some items are seasonal - I carry an orange hunters vest in mine, but tend to remove it when it's not hunting season. Some may not bother with space blankets and fire starters in the summer, some may just want to carry that stuff all year long so they don't have to worry about forgetting it when winter arrives.....
Some have to have a good selection of cache trade goods along, others go the TNLN route...

~erik~

I have the camelbak Blowfish. I like it because it expands. For a normal day pack I use it in the smaller mode but if I need to carry more, I unzip the expansion section. You can see what I carry in it here.

The first rule in buying a backpack, especially one you will hike with, is the best backpack is the one that fits you best. Go to some place like REI, try on a bunch and ask them if you can put a little weight in it. I have a Camelbak and a North Face and I like the fit of the North Face more than the Camelbak.

Thank-you everybody for the suggestions. Thanks Allen for the link to the picture of what you carry.

FourDoggies, I will most likely be going to REI and I will have them put some weight in the pack.

If anybody has any more suggestions, please feel free to add.