Hydration Reservoirs

Recent Hydration Reservoir Reviews

Cnoc Outdoors Vecto

Great idea, very poor execution. First, getting the slider off the bag is ridiculously hard. I have to push the slider against a door jamb and try to slip the bag out of the slider. Try that when you're in the back country. Second, screwing the filter onto the bag is, again, ridiculously hard. The threads on the bag are too small and/or soft to make the process easy. If the white gasket on the filter is the least bit off kilter, the connection doesn't work. I had such high hopes and was sorely disappointed. Full review

Cnoc Outdoors Vecto

Solid water storage. The material the Vecto is built with is several notches above any other. It's superior in its ability to take abuse and withstand being full and packed tight in a pack, dropped on the ground, thrown etc. No worries about it leaking or bursting inside your pack. Capacity is 2L+. The wide mouth opening is easy to use when scooping from shallow streams or water sources. The locking strap ensures this thing is not coming open in your pack and can easily hang from any thing without… Full review

MSR Dromedary Bags

I have two of these, the 4 litre and the 2 litre. They are the older Cordura type and I was kind of hesitant to review them at first because of a recall of some of them due to leaching of a chemical used in manufacturing, but after consulting the store where I purchased them (Mountain Equipment Co-op) I was assured they did not carry the version that were recalled in the late '90s.  I have been using these two water bladders for close to 20 years. They were one of my first purchases when I started… Full review

Hydrapak Shape-Shift 3L

My next hydration bladder. After purchasing a Hydrapak Stash 750 ml and being very satisfied with its taste(less)ness? I searched for Hydrapak's hydration bladder options in order to replace my Source Widepak (still performs perfectly btw, just wanted to upgrade).I came to choose the Shape-Shift 3L because of the same materials used in the Stash and its versatility.Take some time to read the instructions. Especially the opening/closing is essential. Beyond lifetime guarrantee. Your grandkids are… Full review

Osprey Hydraulics 2L Reservoir

No caps to open, lose, or have leaking! A slip-resistant backing keeps the reservoir in place nicely. The mouthpiece needs to be bitten on to release liquid, so this is a bit funky. But in creating this type of mouthpiece, you are truly able to get every last drop of fluid—a suction is created. I used this bladder on my Rim2Rim hiking trip, and it did not disappoint! I would recommend this hydration bladder! I purchased the 2L Hydraulics bladder. In temperatures of 103° during the day, this size… Full review

Osprey Hydraulics LT 2.5L Reservoir

Well-thought out details make this the easiest to use of the several reservoir types I have tried over the years. As of 2016 Osprey and Hydrapak combined forces and features to offer up a new line of hydration reservoirs, to be included in Osprey hydration packs but also sold separately. I got mine with an Osprey Skarab 32 purchased in 2017, but I think the reservoir is worth reviewing separately. Here are the mug shot and profile views: The 2.5 L size is big for a lot of the trips that I do in… Full review

Hydrapak Shape-Shift 2L

A unique folding opening makes filling easy and is leak proof. Shape-Shifts baffle gives the reservoir a slim shape. Plug-n-Play hose disconnects without removing from your pack. As someone who has been using water reservoirs for over 25 years, it was exciting when I got a chance to test Hydrapak's Shape-Shift 2 liter reservoir. My pet peeves through the years have always included leaky threaded closures, a bulbous profile, cleaning issues, and bite valves that to often leaked onto my shirt. The… Full review

Gregory 3D Hydro 3L Reservoir

A reservoir with innovations that make sense, but durability could be a big issue. The main advantage is the three-dimensional shape of the reservoir, which allows it to easily fill and dry out. Other plus factors include a fold-away hook to hang it up, an easy-to-use open/shut valve, a sturdy hang hook (if you use it with a Gregory pack), and a baffle to prevent water from sloshing. With or without a Gregory pack, this reservoir should have been a worthy competitor for your hydration needs. Unfortunately,… Full review

Source Widepac Hydration System

The Source Widepac 2L Hydration System is a functional and fully-featured hydration system. The product promises a virtually maintenance-free system, negating many of the common hygiene issues associated with water reservoirs. In this regard, the Widepac does not disappoint. Despite heavy use and abuse, I did not experience any problems with microbial growth. Most components of the system also combined to provide taste-free, clean water. The Sawyer Mini Filter, as part of the Source Water Filtering… Full review