I ride in many different configurations but there is one constant;  I always wear a pack.  At Whistler I carry as little as possible - some first aid stuff, a multi tool and stuff to fix a flat - but for most of my rides I ride with enough gear to make the Scout leader proud.  Often I add my camera equipment to the mix and become a real mule.  These demands make me fussy about packs.  Ideally I want something that will allow me to ride at full throttle even when I'm hauling some weight.  In the past I haven't been happy with the strapping system of most bags.  In fact until recently I hadn't found a pack that was designed well enough to allow me to use the waist and sternum straps. 

When I picked up the Dakine Apex from Chico at Interbike I was impressed by the look.  The use of neoprene and the subtle colour accents make the Apex look very fly - perfect for the fashion conscious freehucker.  The first test I put it through was to haul my gear around the mountain at the Red Bull Rampage.  It worked great for that and it's always nice to have water close at hand when you are breathing Bender's dust.

One thing missing here that I appreciate about Camelbak bladders is the handle surrounding the fill hole that allows you to easily hold it under a tap even in awkward circumstances. When you grab the Camelbak handle's lower edge the fill hole angles horizontally so you have a much larger opening to work with. With this added feature it's easy to fill up without removing the bladder from the pack. (it appears the new Flowlock Reservoirs from Dakine have a similar system)  The Dakine nipple never leaks which I can't say about Camelbak and the new bags will come with a detachable hose allowing you to pull the bladder out of the bag easily without having to reinsert the hose. 

I really appreciate the nice wide should straps and the curve toward the centre as the reach upward keeping the pack from sliding left or right.  The waist and sternum straps are easily adjustable and extremely comfortable.  They keep the bag moving with your body and I'd have to say that this factor has given my riding prowess a much-needed boost. The hose is insulated to keep your liquids cool in summer and ice free in winter.   The straps that can be used to carry your helmet and your pads become compression straps when you are heading downhill wearing all your gear.  This makes the Apex feel like a much smaller and less bulky piece of gear for those times when less volume is needed. At the very top of the pack there is a fleece lined sunglasses case.  I use it to store my cell phone and keys if I don't need to stash my shades.

The only signs of wear visible after almost two years of constant use are at the base of the pack where it sits against my lower back.  The outer skin on the neoprene has worn through in one spot and it's almost through in another.