OUR STORY

An idea born from the most basic human need - thirst

OUR STORY

An idea born from the most basic human need - thirst

AN I.V. BAG AND A SOCK - THE REST IS CAMELBAK HISTORY

Bicycle enthusiast Michael Eidson was competing in the "Hotter'N Hell 100," and that's exactly what it is to this day: a 100-mile road race, over four days in the grueling summer heat of Wichita Falls, Texas. Water is vital to surviving the race, but there are few places to refill, let alone time to stop.

An emergency medical technician by trade, Eidson came up with a solution on the fly: he filled an IV bag with water, slipped it into a white tube sock (yes, an actual tube sock), and stuffed the whole contraption into the back of his bike jersey. He then threw the hose over his shoulder and clamped it shut with a clothespin. Hands-free hydration was born. And CamelBak was created to pursue it.

A THIRST FOR MORE

Jeff Wemmer, a competitive cyclist who fell hard for CamelBak, was so impressed by the product that he started bringing packs to races to sell them. Talk about a fan. CamelBak eventually hired him, and in 1993, Jeff embarked on a road trip to keep the startup running during very tough times. Company lore has it that Jeff visited bike shops from Florida to California, pitching our product from the back of his motorcycle. Each order Jeff faxed back to the factory breathed another day of life back into CamelBak.

TODAY, CAMELBAK IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME

A lot has changed since our days of an IV bag in a tube sock sold by a motorcycle-riding sales force of one, but our core values remain the same—it takes courage, conviction, and imagination to quench our thirst for better—from inventing the hydration category to becoming the world's leading maker of hydration solutions.

Our Values

Refills not landfills

We envision a future without single-use plastic water bottles. It’s a big goal but the good news is we already have the solution and it’s literally in the palm of our hands. Our reusable water bottles are easy to use, easy to clean, easy to carry, and forever taste-free. Join us in tackling this mammoth world problem, one plastic bottle at a time.

Our supply chain is clear

Transparency is key when it comes to our supply chain—where it starts, where it ends, and what happens along the way. The products we build come from supply chains around the globe, but we also build products in our wholly-owned ISO-certified factory, as well as with time-tested supply and manufacturing partners.

Giving Bak inspires us

We support this great big playground we call the outdoors and our Give Bak mission is all about being a force for positive change. We partner with likeminded individuals, groups, and programs that protect and enhance the places where we recreate. From coast-to-coast trail access to helping more of our youth participate in outdoor exploration - adventure is for everyone.

Refills not landfills

We envision a future without single-use plastic water bottles. It’s a big goal but the good news is we already have the solution and it’s literally in the palm of our hands. Our reusable water bottles are easy to use, easy to clean, easy to carry, and forever taste-free. Join us in tackling this mammoth world problem, one plastic bottle at a time.

Our supply chain is clear

Transparency is key when it comes to our supply chain—where it starts, where it ends, and what happens along the way. The products we build come from supply chains around the globe, but we also build products in our wholly-owned ISO-certified factory, as well as with time-tested supply and manufacturing partners.

Giving Bak inspires us

We support this great big playground we call the outdoors and our Give Bak mission is all about being a force for positive change. We partner with likeminded individuals, groups, and programs that protect and enhance the places where we recreate. From coast-to-coast trail access to helping more of our youth participate in outdoor exploration - adventure is for everyone.

Make an impact. Never leave one

We are dedicated to what we make, how we make it, and for whom we make it. Ultimately, our goal is to achieve the best, most reliable products in a way that impacts the environment the least. The most sustainable products last a long time and reduce the draw on new resources.