20 Best Water Bladder For Backpacking (2023 Updated)

Okay, so to start out this worked as intended for the first 2 times I used it and I noticed that there was VERY LITTLE bouncing while I was mountain biking so It worked great for that duration. After that though, when I went to put the pack on, the strap that holds the buckle in place ripped out.

If I were able to post a picture of it I would, but it looks as though either the glue they used to hold the strap in place failed, or the stitching never even touched the strap. I do have some other problems with it as well that are more along the lines of just personal preference.

In my opinion the bite valve that comes installed on the bladder was kind of hard to use without 2 hands to open the valve. And the amount of water that comes out of the tube when biting on the valve seems quite limited as well.

Also I know I was only able to use the product twice, but when using it the buckles on the removable pouch seemed to come undone fairly easily when I would store it in my travel bag with my other gear.

Lastly I would have preferred that the position it sat on my back to be a little higher up has where it sat felt like it was restricting my breathing.

I like it because it was the least bulky of the camel back type packs that I could find. The front straps could have been implemented better, and if you are overweight this product will not work well for you without a bit of adjustment.

But for the price I am absolutely happy.

The puctures Looks like the product was made out of neoprene to better keep the cold water but at arriving I so it was just regular nylon. Not good.

Although it is a decent hydration pack, the pack itself seemed like it was made for a child, there was no specific size listed, so I figured one size fits all, I am 6’2′ and the chest strap, was really a neck strap, kept creeping up until I abandoned that strap altogether.

Bought this to hike and have water available instead of toting bottles of it. Nice pack. It’s winter so I haven’t been able to use the bladder because I’m sure the water will freeze. Below 0 here. I did use it for my other items.

It is small but I didn’t want a big one just one to hike smaller hikes like 10 miles a shot. Not happy with the cord in the front. The plastic drawstring toggle spring stop (cord lock) never tightened and fell off my FIRST hike with the pack.

Now I tie the cord instead of using the toggle spring stop. If they could send me a replacement, I’ll be all set. Can’t wait to actually use the bladder.

I mistakenly thought I was buying both an insulated hose & reservoir. Only the hose is insulated though pictures appear otherwise & the product description is a bit unclear. There’s really no point to having an insulated hose without the bladder insulated too.

My water remains warm. Another issue is the slider seal is almost impossible to open despite having lubricated it multiple times. I can’t open it without assistance making it useless if I’m running alone and need to refill at my water stash.

Hydrapak does sell a 1. 5L insulated bladder with an uninsulated hose. I think they can do better by their customers. A very disappointing purchase that I won’t be using.

I’m a wildland firefighter and I purchased this reservoir for my line gear. The material is feels durable, an upgrade from typical everyday-use reservoirs, and I really like the closure system–I feel confident that this style will clean easily and dry completely between uses.

The drinking hose is also more robust, which I appreciate, although it could be a little longer. Given the shape of my pack, I wish it was a little wider and shorter, the 3L is very long and I have to orient it along the diagonal in order to close my pack.

I dislike the locking mechanism on the bite valve. I find it difficult to use one-handed, and sometimes with gloves on, so I swapped it out for a different style bite valve with an in-line lock.

Overall I like this hydration pack, easy to fill and keep clean. It’s robust and works with all my packs. Only minor gripe is that twisting open the bite valve so that you could drink from it resulted in the whole thing coming off.

This could be as a result of my brute strength and ignorance, but I’ve never had it happen with a different hydration system.

Love this hydration pack! It is perfect for day hikes, bike rides, and short adventures. It holds a sufficient amount of water and isn’t too heavy. It is comfortable to wear and easy to adjust! trailrunner10.

The size and profile of the pouch is great, as are the quick-release connectors (when they work) and the fabric-covered hose. But on mine one quick-release doesn’t release; the bag is hard to hold when nearly full – it’s heavy and there’s no solid piece to grip; and the supplied twist drinking valve is terrible.

If the bag is full of water and there’s pressure on it (such as in a rucksack) it simply sprays everywhere when you open it. It’s not easy to turn on and off either. The Camelbak and Osprey bite valves are far superior.

Source do offer a bite valve but why should I have to pay extra to get something that works?.

ok only for a bit, but the antiseptic taste is there until you’ve used it once or twice. other than that, this is one of the best hydration packs on the market. There is no need to clean this, if you only ever store water in it (and let it dry after).

I have also found it works well in a 2l hydration sleeve, just dont fill it past 2l.

The bladder’s design allows it to take up very little room, and it has no plastic taste. Very well built. The universal tube adapter is a brilliant accessory too. As a 3L bladder it doesn’t fit all that well in smaller bags, but for the price it’s more versatile.

Its was very good value

The product is good, great strengh in stearing

I love the size of this 1. 5 L bladder, I am not a regular user of bladders as they don’t seem durable. Sure enough, after I bought this for the 2022 season, mine failed on the second hike. The bladder started leaking from the edge seam, so not really a puncture from carelessness.

Is this normal, me conjuring up a story told in my head? I really want to be one of those posh bladder guys, sipping water with my pack on, but the fates weave what they gonna weave. 3 stars as I’m hoping the retailer or manufacter will give me a second chance to be hydrated in style.

Mouth piece is great as with other hydraflasks. However the folding top part of the pack is annoying when trying to fill while it’s in a vest/ bag. I have a platypus bag which is a slider style closure.

It’s much easier to fill and seal while the pack is still within my vest. While this hydraflask closure is annoying. It does work and it’s only a minor inconvenience as I love the mouth piece and material.

Far more flexible then my platypus.

Bought this to fit into my Salomon adv 5 vest. Opted for the lt version for the added insulation. Quality of the material seems thicker and more durable than my previous bladder. The thickness of the bladder material is noticeable right away! Kept water ice cold for the duration of the hour I ran.

Spout was easy to drink from with the bite value and shut immediately with no leak. The fact that I can wash this in the dishwasher was a huge selling point! Looks early on to be something that will last a while! Definitely would recommend!.

I love the color of this Camelbak. The front pocket is big enough for sunscreen, a wallet, keys, and minimal first aid kit. I was even able to strap a thin layer on with the bungees on the outside. HOWEVER, it has a major flaw.

LEAKING BLADDER. I have tried to use this pack twice now. First time heading out with it, I filled up the bladder, set it with my backpack, then noticed my pack was SOAKED when packing the car. I didn’t have time to sort out the leak, so I left the Camelbak at home and took a trusty water bottle.

Next time out with it, I filled the bladder up, applied pressure, didn’t see any leaks, so I hit the trail. About 1/2 a mile in, my back was soaked with water. I couldn’t figure out where the water was leaking from.

Tried to dry it off, disconnected and reconnected the hose; no leaks, so started hiking again. Minutes later, water was dripping from the bottom! I dumped the water out and continued the hike without water.

My hiking partner had some, so I was ok, just wet and cold in the wind from the leaking bladder. Back at home, I can’t figure out where the leak is coming from. I won’t use the bladder anymore. I do like the pack though.

So. not sure it’s worth the money, since I need to find a replacement bladder now. Great small pack though for short hikes.

I have used these for years and I absolutely love it. Hands free for biking, hiking, kayaking, all kinds of activities! I recommend this to anyone who does activities outside. All ages. Just keep it clean.

And I only used water to drink, tho at this point, I’d try wine haha! They really do make a great gift! If your life style changes, hand it down to someone else, they aren’t cheap and it will be appreciated for a lifetime.

There isn’t much more I can say other than AWESOME!! I really don’t need to type a 120 word review for this but it is making me do so, and I’m sorry you are still reading this thinking that there is more jazz to this statement, but there really isn’t.

Unless you want to know the story about when a moose bit my sister while hiking one day. I never thought that teaching her the sound of the Moose mating call would end up biting her in the butt one day.

The moral of the story is, Don’t make mating calls sounds to a full grown moose if you aren’t prepared for the dance that comes along with it! Moose bite hard.

Received just yesterday. Thoughtful design and very good quality. Colors look exactly the same as photos. Size looks big enough to bring rain jacket/leg and arm warmers and etc for leisure riding on road if water bladder is removed.

TranslateShow in original languageFür eine Grave-Runde ist dieser Rucksack genial. Es passt die 2 Liter Bladder rein und dann noch eine Windjacke und ein leichtes Langarmshirt. Riegel, Werkzeug und Schlüssel sowie Natel etc.

lassen sich auch gut verstauen. Sehr bequem.

TranslateShow in original languageJ ai acheté ce sac il y a 2 mois. Super confortable, se fait oublier sans problème. Seul bémol le goût du plastique les premières fois, un coup de bicarbonate et c est passé.

Bonne marque je recommande.

Most Hydration packs end up hurting your shoulders after a couple hours but I wore this one to a music festival for 8 hours and my shoulders never got sore once and it was basically full the entire night.

(Its a relatively big water pack) When I first tried filling it though it leaked so you just have to make sure that the cap is on it tight and on all the way (as well as the nozzle you suck on!!!!) and it should be fine a little drips here and there out of the nozzle but nothing big.

It does not have the strap that goes around you ribs but you can tie a belt to it if you really want to like I said it never made my shoulders sore but it wasn’t secured in one place if I was jumping.

10/10 recommend especially for the price. (Only gave it four though because of the second strap).

Everything but the bite valve worked. We purchased 5, tested 4 so far and 2 of those had defective bite valves. You have to pull the assembly off the hose to drink. I will acquire replacement bite valves, but to spend a couple more dollars each with a better bite valve would have been preferable.

Great product. Works perfectly. Looks great too

I used this hydration pack on my Kilimanjaro trek, and it held up well being jostled around in my day pack and never leaked. I liked how there were different ways to use it (backpack mode, camp mode, etc) but didn’t really use it for anything other than in my backpack because an actual water bottle felt more practical at camp.

I previously had a 2L Osprey hydration pack but wanted to upgrade to a 3L pack instead. My biggest complaint about this product compared to the Osprey is that it was extremely difficult to get it to dry after using it.

I’m sure it would be easier with a tool to reach inside or a hair dryer, but I hadn’t bought the cleaning accessory pack and was traveling for a few more weeks after using it. I tried shaking it over and over again, but it took about 4 days to fully dry on its own with the screw top open.

Overall, I prefer the Osprey hydration pack because it has a wider opening and allows you to reach a hand in to clean and dry it without having to purchase an additional accessory kit like you would have to for the Gregory pack.

I’ve used Osprey Reservoirs for years. I’ve never had one leak but the folded-flap closure system requires a couple of extra steps when re-filling a reservoir that’s already in your pack. I purchased this Gregory 3L reservoir based on reviews on another website and after being soaked dozens of times I can now confidently say that this is a horrible product.

No matter how hard you try not to, you will occasionally cross-thread the cap. I always spin in backwards to get the threads to drop into place but it’s impossible to have a flat surface supporting the male threads when the bladder is full of water.

That makes it real easy to cross thread even if you start out with the threads perfectly aligned. The quick connect coupling has also leaked on me on more than one occasion. Lastly, the bite valve design is dry finicky compared to Osprey.

Save your money. This will end up back in the store or in the garbage in less than a year of regular use.

Disclosure: I received this product for testing as part of the REI Advisors program. Bottom line: Light, but sturdy, with plenty of features. A good reservoir. I would be comfortable choosing this product over similar offerings from competitors if I were buying a new reservoir.

Fit: I tested this reservoir on a series of weekend day hikes in the summer and fall of 2020, ranging from about 3-8 miles. I used the reservoir exclusively with my Gregory Miwok 18 backpack (c. 2017 model).

I found that the reservoir was a perfect size for the hydration pouch/sleeve in my pack. I did a test fit in my Gregory Contour 70 pack (another good fit, though the Contour would probably be better suited to the 3L reservoir), but did not take that combo on the trail.

I prefer to have the hose over my right shoulder, which was tricky because I instinctively oriented the reservoir’s handle towards my back, which put the host on my left. Still, simply flipping the reservoir fixes the problem with no noticeable fit issues.

Features: My previous reservoir was a zipper-top, which worked fine with a faucet but was a big pain in the backcountry, where I had to support the reservoir, hold whatever purifier I was using, and work the thick zipper all with two hands.

From that standpoint, the hanging clip, front handle, and screw cap are all extremely welcome features of the 3D Hydro. I was initially concerned that the extra had plastic parts and what feels like a thicker bag would make this heavier than similar reservoirs, but a quick comparison as I write this review indicates that the weight is middle of the pack.

Surprising, and welcome. The 3D Hydro also comes with a magnetic hose clip, which functions really well as long as you keep track of the strap clip it attaches to, and provided you have a strap of the right width for the clip (you probably do).

The one feature I struggled with was the mouthpiece valve switch, which was very difficult to operate for me. It got a little better as I used the pack, and that trend may continue, but out of the box it was a hindrance.

Cleaning: As with most reservoirs at this point, the hose detaches for cleaning (or filling), but in this case only part of the hose comes off. I didn’t find that to be a problem, since a hook at either end of the bag makes it easy to hang and dry.

I found that the 3D structure of the bag made drying faster and easier, as I didn’t have to prop the reservoir open to dry it out.

Let me start this review by saying this is my first hydration pack, so I don’t have another products or experiences to compare it to. I love a lot of things about this pack, with the obvious one being how much water it holds (100oz) and how consistently it keeps me hydrated, because of the convenience.

It has a locking mechanism in the straw to control the flow of water, and a solid strap-in & magnet system that keeps the mechanism in place well. I will continue to use this pack for longer hikes and day trips.

As a hydration pack, it works exactly how it should: it holds water and keeps you hydrated. There are a few areas where I could see improvements: Firstly, because most of the pack-space is being taken up by 100 liters of water, there’s little room for anything else.

I can pack a wallet, a rain shell, and a few other small items, but I could not pack this like a regular (~18-22 liter) pack. Most of my daypacks can fit a couple nights of clothes and be used as a weekend bag, but this hydration pack is truly just a hydration pack.

Another note to be made: the water pack is not insulated, so your water temperature isn’t regulated. The temperatures have been in the mid-90s this summer, and it’s been hot, dry, and sunny. Even if I prep my bag with ice cubes and cold water, it’s warm within a few hours.

This isn’t a deal breaker for me– if I’m hot and sweaty and tired, I’ll drink my water at any temperature, but this is something to note. I’m excited to use it as my XC ski pack in winter, as I’m sure my water will stay nice and chilled.

My last concern is long-term sanitation. As a teenager, I loved Camelbak water bottles with the bite-down rubber straws (similar to this hydration pack), but the biggest long-term issue was the bacteria build-up in the straw tip that was impossible to remove.

I have the same concern with this. I drink tap water, I’m not using purified or filtered water, so I know there will be bacteria build-up over time, and I’m worried about how I will clean the straw. The water bag is removable from the bag, and you can sort of disassemble the straw tip, but not completely.

When I’m done with the pack for the day, I like to remove the water bag, rinse it completely, and hang it upside to dry. But I’m sure there’s bacteria getting stuck in the straw and straw tip, that’s impossible to clean out totally.

Overall, I genuinely really like this pack. It’s not going to become an overnight bag for me (which was never Camelbak’s intention), but I think it’s going to replace my other day-packs for many of my day hikes.

Usually, I will (at-most) carry two, 32oz water bottles on a hike, and this nearly doubles that amount, and the distribution of water in the pack makes it feel much lighter. I can also see myself using this for mountain biking trips (too hot for mntn biking right now)– the system is super easy and hands-off, and absentmindedly keeps me hydrated.

Even with my critiques, I would say this pack is fantastic, because it does exactly what it’s designed to do, and it does it well.

During my 2-3 weeks of owning the CamelBak M. U. L. E Hydration pack I have thoroughly ran it through its paces. I have used it while on multiple hikes, mountain bike trips and a camping trip in the remote PNW.

As such, I feel confident in saying this is hands down the best hydration pack I have ever owned. Read on for details. This review will be broken down into specific categories. 1. Overview 2. Functionality & Performance 3.

Recommendation. 1. Overview: The MULE has 5 compartments if you include the soft, small pouch as well as the compartment holding the bladder. The outer pocket seen in the first image has elastic on either side allowing it to stretch to fit a small bike helmet.

The next inner pocket shown in image 3 allows you to secure multiple personal belongings. I typically used this to my flashlight, keys, cell phone and other random odds & ends. The compartment after is not shown in images, however it lays open and flat.

I stored my journal and medicines in here while camping. In between this, and the hydration compartment, you’ll find a small microfiber pocket which is likely for holding sunglasses – which is how I used it.

The 3 liter hydration pack (image 4) has a sturdy handle allowing you to easily fill it up, while slipping smoothly back into the compartment once done, thanks to the material housing it on the backpack itself – this small detail was not lost on me.

If you’ve ever struggled with stuffing a bladder back in you’ll know what I’m talking about. The backside of the pack (image 2) is lined with a mesh and their AIR support technology logo is visible. The chest strap (image 5) has a quick clip & release system to easily slip into place.

The hydration tube attaches easily to this same clip due to the extremely strong magnet. 2. Functionality & Performance: The MULE works exactly as intended and then some. It holds a large amount of water -enough to keep both myself and my wife hydrated on a 5 mile hike – along with plenty of capacity to store most if not all of your personal belongings for any hike/bike/day trip.

If you were planning to do an overnight hike you’ll need something much larger, but fortunately the hydration bladder is easy enough to remove so it could be brought along with you. Speaking of – the tube itself has a sweet valve to prevent water from leaking on you when not in use, although truth be told I never found myself using the valve as it never really seemed to leak on me.

To draw water in you pinch (bite) the sides of the end of the tube. When hiking in warm to hot weather and sweating I did not feel that the pack was making the situation much worse. The mesh lining seems to help considerably here.

Something that should also be noted is the pack was extremely comfortable when full of water as well as loading down the inner pockets – in image 2 you’ll notice two pads lining the back of the pack helping to increase comfort when in use.

The only negative I have to say is the pack did leak at one point – but this was most likely user error in reattaching the tube to the bottom of the hydration bladder. I say this due to the fact that it quickly dried after I noticed, and I was not able to replicate the problem.

3. Recommendation: If you’re in the market for a hydration pack that holds a good amount of water as well as having storage for a ton of other storage look no further. The technology, features and comfort of these has come so incredibly far along in recent years, it truly blew me out of the water.

I would recommend this for people who are mountain biking and hiking. It’s also handy to bring along when camping!.

The Pros: As a hydration pack, this was a great product. It is lightweight, comfortable on a hike tested up to 4 hours and has a little storage for a few extras like snacks. I filled the water 3/4 full each time and went through it throughout my hikes without any noticeable sloshing or discomfort.

I did minimal trail jogging as well with no real sloshing of the water so when all straps are properly tightened this worked great. I have a more muscular build and often these vests do not fit at all yet this one fit comfortably, though it is noticeably small on me.

Comfort matters more than looks on a hike anyway. The quick release on the chest was a tad confusing at first but after a moment of figuring it out it was great. Never came off unintentionally and was incredibly easy to take off when needed.

All straps held and didn’t loosen prematurely. The Cons: Personally, I like a bigger pack that can hold a bit more, I couldn’t fit my little travel hardcase first aid/emergency pack inside which fits nicely in my other hydration pack.

I often like to bring a hammock on my hikes and there was no way of fitting this inside either. The pockets are tight, a sandwich, keys, phone and small hand towel fit but anything else would have been a struggle.

There are no front side pockets for snacks, a knife, a phone or anything so to access anything you have to take the pack off. I prefer to have a few essentials reachable without taking the bag off so this was a downside to me.

I hiked in my hiking shorts that have pockets but if you didn’t have any pockets or are wearing swimming trucks, which I often do on a hike where I can get wet, then you’d have to take the bag off each time you needed something.

All in all, it is great for the right application. If you like to bring a handful of extras on a hike for safety you really have to find the smallest things possible to fit into the pack. I would not want it on a longer more strenuous hike because of this, or any hike where the weather might change as carrying an extra layer would be nearly impossible.

The lack of front access is a major downside to me as well as I dont want to take the pack off until I find a resting spot many hours in. So it really depends on what you like to have on a hike and how long you go out, or if you are in a more rugged area or not.

A local hike on manicured trails would be perfect for this. Something in a more mountainous area or rugged terrain would not be preferable. I would need to know someone’s planned use before I recommended it.

I will have to mention again, it is definitely very comfortable and the water did not slosh around much at all.

Get the 12L! The harness is great and very comfortable. The pictures on the website are misleading. you can fit all that stuff in the pack but only without the bladder! A full bladder and very little else fits in this pack.

Wish I had purchased the larger version but I trusted the pictures and figured that was about what I carried. But once the bladder is even half full of water, the pack loses tons of storage. *Doesn’t have the refinement of Camelbak packs either.

Little things. designated spot for keys, extra zippers inside, soft cellphone storage. The concept is great. Just size up unless you want a small race bag or short ride bag.

TranslateShow in original languageGuter Wasserspeicher für längere Wanderungen.