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A recent report has concluded that, in almost all circumstances, using a camel backpack—those backpacks with a sack of water and a hose to drink out of—is completely unnecessary.
The report surveyed hundreds of camel backpack users and found that the practice was almost exclusively done by outdoor hiking nerds who wanted to make their activity look more extreme than it actually was.
“We found that most of these hikers were simply walking on well-maintained trails and didn’t need to hydrate every five minutes,” said Dr. Karen Henderson, the lead researcher.
“Surprisingly, the people who used the camel pack the most were also the ones who complained about the least challenging hikes.”
The report also revealed that, despite carrying up to two liters of water, most users still made a point to stop every 20 minutes to “take a break” and “hydrate,” despite the fact that the temperature rarely exceeded 25°C.
One survey participant admitted to “needing” the camel pack for “mental hydration,” citing it as a mental crutch to look like a serious hiker in front of others.
“Honestly, I just feel cooler with the hose dangling from my mouth,” said James, 31, an avid weekend hiker who wears a camel pack on flat terrain.
Experts argue that a simple bottle of water could suffice, but admit it wouldn’t achieve the same level of “extreme” aesthetic.
For now, the camel backpack remains the ultimate accessory for anyone who wants to pretend they’re scaling Everest while casually strolling through a park.
