Packs, Vests, Water Bottles

Recent Pack, Vest, or Bottle Reviews

Platypus PlatyPreserve

Durable and a must-have for various adventures/venues. I have used this product for over 10+ years. I primarily use it for day hikes, picnics, in movie theaters, and indoor/outdoor concerts. I have also used it backpacking to celebrate seven successful summits of Mt. Whitney at Trail Camp. To get through concert jacket/bag searches “a friend of mine” says it conveniently fits within the “personal package” area of one’s underwear without drawing attention. His wife says there are also “female”… Full review

Platypus PlatyPreserve

I like wine!! A lot. And have no qualms about taking it on short backpacking trips. I must confess, that one of my favorite parts of overnight trips is "happy hour." And a nice glass of wine to accompany your Packit Gourmet or Good To-Go dinner, is a nice luxury. On short trips (2-4 days), I have no problem hauling a bit of the grape with me. But schlepping a real bottle of wine has issues for backpackers. Even empty, the glass bottle is heavy. And there's always the possibility that the bottle… Full review

Geigerrig Rig 500

Small, portable, capacity, maybe the air and water hoses are a bit "too cumbersome". Notice: Too small for day hikes, too big carry along a full mult-iday backpack (~45 Liters or more) That plastic taste (and at the beginning, even odor) that comes with the water out of the hose. I have washed the bag, but most probably I will have to use food grade detergent to clean it once and for all. The manufacturer recommends to wash it thoroughly and to store for an entire night water with a whole lemon… Full review

UltrAspire Momentum Race Vest

Fit: Sizing is usually true to size. UltrAspire's website offers a fitting guide for those who are unfamiliar with their products.  Comfort: No issues with chafing from the pack even when loaded to full capacity. Have used this pack for up to 11 continuous hours with no chafing or discomfort. Would always recommend a Body Glide type product if doing multi-hour or full day outings where you would be wearing a vest.  Capacity: Fluid capacity without a bladder is what makes this a very good vest… Full review

EcoVessel The Boulder Insulated

The EcoVessel is a well-designed, insulated container whose features give it a slight edge in a crowded market. The 24 oz "Boulder" holds enough liquid to keep you hydrated on shorter day hike. The dimensions are 11.625" x 2.875" (29 cm x 7 cm). This allows the bottle to fit into most modern car carrier holders. Luckily, because of an air tight screw on lid, you can just throw it on your adjacent seat without fear of leaking if you don’t have a cup holder.  The container keeps ice for more than… Full review

Bindle Bottle

A big bottle which will keep your drink cold. And then there's the "secret" compartment. I was looking forward to trying out the Bindle Bottle, so when it arrived a couple of weeks ago, I wasted no time in giving it a try.This hefty insulated bottle comes in two sizes—a 20-oz size and a 24-oz size (which is what I am reviewing). Upon opening the top lid for the first time, it didn't look big enough to fit 24 oz of water. But I used a pyrex measuring cup to test it a couple of times, and it does… Full review

Hydrapak Shape-Shift 3L

No hydration system lasts forever, and after one of our older ones sprung a leak (family hikes = multiple hydration systems), we tried the HydraPak Shape-Shift because we were impressed by its light weight and affordable price. And it offers more—a great bite valve, an interesting and effective top opening, and an internal baffle that opens to make this the easiest-to-clean hydration reservoir I have ever used. Nothing but happy with this one. INTRODUCTION   I have started to realize that I’m… Full review

EcoVessel The Boulder Insulated

Trying to keep a drink warm for at least a day, try this. EcoVessel, Trimax insulated, bottle. Most bottles will keep thing hot, or cold, depending on how you use them, for quite a while. I put hot coffee into my EcoVessel yesterday morning at 6 a.m., with the intention of drinking it later in the morning. It sat in my car all day, then overnight. High temp was 75°, low about 65°. At 10:30 the next morning (today), I opened it up on my way home and the coffee was still warm. Not piping hot, mind… Full review

Nalgene 38oz Stainless Steel Standard Bottle

A rugged water container that can be used on a fire to heat water as well as carry it. Though quite heavy this container will stand up to all kinds of abuse. This stainless steel water container has a capacity of 38oz/1L and is made with 316 stainless steel. It has a lid with a loop attached to the neck so it is less likely to get dropped and lost.  The bottle has a generous 1l capacity which is more than adequate for my needs. The advantage of making a water bottle with stainless steel is that… Full review