It's the company's largest offering, with 2550 cu in (42 l) of gear and up to two 3-liter reservoirs of water internally. Two more 3-liter ThermoBaks may be mounted externally, for a total of 12 liters of water. A zippered back panel access makes an easier job of loading a full water reservoir. Closed cell insulation and a neoprene tube cover keeps the water temperature stable.
Pronounced like a feminine name, Molly. An acronym for MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, a standard for modular load-bearing equipment currently used by the United States armed forces.
Attachment points are PALs (Pocket Attachment Ladder system) webbing, heavy-duty nylon stitched onto the equipment.
It has a good number of storage spaces: a main compartment with dual zippered mesh pockets and divided organizer, a safety kit pocket for first-aid supplies, side pockets for MREs or ammo (the company says; I put lip balm and a camera inside mine), and a zippered slat pocket for maps and other low-profile items.
It's made of 1000D Cordura, a rugged material which I've loved since getting professional Tenba camera bags many years ago.
First impressions
It just arrived. As I unpacked it I'm impressed by the fit and finish, the good number of pockets and MOLLE loops, and the size of the cargo area; this thing is huge!
After a few moments of sizing it to my body I'm again impressed, this time with the velcro strap stays (to keep them neat and out of the way), the interior straps to hold cargo from shifting, and how unobtrusively the three liters of water sit inside the pack. Even with an over-packed cargo area (did I mention that there's so many zippered pockets) it would be easy to have have two liters in the reservoir.
Pronounced like a feminine name, Alice. An acronym for All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment, a 1974 standard for load-bearing equipment used by the United States armed forces.
ALICE bags comprised two types of load: the "fighting load" and the "existence load". The ALICE system was designed for use in all environments: hot, temperate, cold-wet, and cold-dry (arctic) conditions.
The fighting load, the minimum needed by a combat soldier, centered around the Individual Equipment Belt, the successor to the Utility Belt of the two World Wars. The belt used slide fastener, or "keepers", co attach equipment such as a canteen, first-aid pouch, or entrenching tool. The keepers in turn had replaced the M1910 wire hooks for attachments, but the belt included grommetted holes that accepted the old hooks so both styles could be accomodated.
The existence load, the essentials for a soldier in the field in-between resupply, centered on the Combat Pack. This came in two sizes; mission length and weather conditions determined the size chosen.
Musings
The more I use the Camelbak BFM the more pleased I am with it. I keep thinking "this is the bag I would have designed".
Like all heavy-use equipment, taking the time to use it before it's needed is worthwhile. Each time I took the BFM out for a day or weekend I realized that I was using more of the built-in features. After each trip I'd completely unload the BFM, and then see how I could load it in better harmony with the big compartment, smaller compartment, side pockets, back compartment, and various pens, pencils, notepads, and other supplies in the supplied inserts. (But you can't get at them with the pack on your back; see Suggestions, below.)
Practice with folding your gear to the size of the pack is always a good idea; it's amazing how much space is lost by gratuitous folds.
The BFM's zippers have a sturdy feel, and the bag opens completely, giving you easy access to the contents.
Suggestions
When putting the bag through it's paces, fully-loaded and with a destination in mind, I found a few vexations:
The Camelbak BFM is a pretty big bag for our briefcase-sized existence, more than capable for anything I could come up with during my testing, including a week of night patrols at Burning Man.
The task defines the gear used. For a long backpacking trip, especially if you're carrying the lion's share of the load for smaller family members, you will need a bigger backpack.
The U. S. military's CFP-90, the Combat Field Pack, is a great comparison at the high end of extreme need. For a soldier on patrol, needing to be self-sufficient in hostile surroundings, the CPF-90's jaw-dropping 6590 cu in (108 liters) does the job.
The Real Test
I took the Camelbak BFM on a variety of urban day trips, weekenders, and will be taking it to Burning Man 2005. (This page, with photos and additional commentary, will be updated thereafter.)
One goal of testing the BFM was to see whether I could replace a venerable hip (or fanny) pack - attached to which are one-liter Nalgene bottles, one per side - with a back-mounted hydration system (which had seemed rather fussy and fragile in previous encountered, and didn't tempt me at all).
To my surprise, I was quickly won over. It's easier to use a hydration system (and the BFM's is de luxe), and best of all, the weight is distributed between the beefy shoulder straps and the traditional hip belt. I barely felt the additional weight of a two-way radio when I attached it to the BFM. I never got that overloaded feeling.
Conclusions
This bag is big, well thought-out and well-made, with a great variety of compartments, sections, and dividers. It's comfortable; a real pleasure to wear. It has become my favorite backpack. There's room for some minor improvements, but these are do-it-yourself tweaks and shouldn't inhibit you from buying one of these supremely satisfying packs.
The Camelbak BFM hydration pack has wowed us all. This is equipment that's clearly been designed for the extreme user. Every time we don it we notice more details to the design and finish that impress us. We gear queens smile every time we reach for the pack, and that's saying something, given the huge collection of racksacks we've tried. If you want to carry an impressive amount of gear in comfort and style with an integrated hydration system, this is the pack for you. Bar none. Really.
The BFM is a combination hydration system, gear pack, and medical kit (optional) to put others to shame. It's provided to the military, and there's often quiet a wait for civilian purchases (but you know you'll happily wait).
The BFM comes with an airflow back panel, an aluminum frame and lumbar support, a sternum strap, and quick-release clips. There's an independent suspension harness to keep the load stable. MOLLE attachment built-in. Radio attachment points hold communications gear securely (as we'll see).
What is M.O.L.L.E.?
I like heavy backpacks; when I would lead trips to the high country (and when I was training with an ALICE pack at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Bragg) I always was happy with a 50-pound pack. (In the high country it meant that the people I was with could have much lighter packs and endure a lot more hiking.) I'm of the school that says one should constantly be tweaking the shoulder and hip adjustments, as hiking conditions vary. The BFM is very comfortable to wear and easy to adjust. Even the sternum strap is wide enough for a big guy like me.
What is A.L.I.C.E.?
Size is Everything 
And so, we come to the end of our review. So impressed are we with the BFM that we're awarding it a GearQueen.com WINNER award, our first ever. Congratulations, Camelbak. The BFM is an unqualified success, and you should be very proud of having made a pack that not only is beautiful, functional, and sturdy, but has made other gear queens ask me about getting one for themselves.
