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Bladder update 😳 Evoc , Osprey , Camelbak , Hydrapak opinions

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[#13536548]

I've excepted I need to get the wallet out and pay for a new 3 L bladder . There's very little difference in price , I feel Camelbak don't seem to be as well designed as others , the Evoc looks like it won't connect with the loop on my Camelbak. But another option is Banana Industries have got the Camelbak Cloud walker pack with a 2.5L Crux reservoir included for £35 so I'm thinking a slightly smaller bladder is that a compromise not that I ever fill more than that . Hydrapak seem to make the Osprey bladders anyway , I've always used Camelbak but I'm wondering if there are better options?


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 1:36 pm
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Accepted*


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 1:48 pm
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@alpin thanks for the correction I was trying to multitask 😔


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 1:51 pm
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@oldfart - I've got 4x brand new Camelbak bladders - Mule LR 3 litre, Solstice LR 3 litre, Solstice LR 3 litre (2023 model) and Luxe NV 3 litre. 

 

They're all removed from Camelbak backpacks and never used. Open to offers - PM for info and pictures if interested.

 


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 1:58 pm
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I've got a replacement bladder in my Camelback Blowfish.  It doesn't attach to the loop but it's never fallen down and stopped the water coming out.


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 2:50 pm
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I could really mix it up having an Osprey bladder, with a Camelback mouthpiece, in my Evoc pack LOL

James


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 3:20 pm
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@fruitbat I thought I sent you a message but who knows where it went 🙄Aren't the LR bladders for waist packs ? I should have said it's for a backpack.


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 5:10 pm
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@oldfart - I got your message and have sent you 4x pictures. Indeed the LR bladders are low for level bags but the Luxe NV one is a taller thing.

 

Here are the pictures in all their glory. Floor boards are 7.5" wide (190.5mm) - for scale.

 

20260803_165803.jpg20260803_165625.jpg20260803_165548.jpg20260803_165455.jpg


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 5:21 pm
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After being a Camelbak loyalist for decades, I've been completely converted to hydrapak style bladders. The Osprey ones seems a bit fancier in terms of construction, but the Hydrapak basic one works so well, I don't think I'd pay the extra now. 


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 6:55 pm
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I’m a fan of the roll top style with the slider and the osprey bite valve. Roll top are so much easier to fill and clean. They are also more reliable in my experience 


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 7:47 pm
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3 litre Osprey hydraulics bladder over here (if I can work out how to upload a picture)

was in my raptor backpack which has since long gone, has been hanging in the garage for what seems like forever so MAY need a new hose / mouthpiece

if you’re interested, shout me the postage and you can have it


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:09 pm
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Posted : 03/08/2026 8:11 pm
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Well I’ll darned…it worked…TWICE ?!?!? 🤷‍♂️


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:11 pm
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@donslow thanks for the offer, I've just checked and a new quick release hose is £14 ! 😳So is the bite valve , double 😳 So I will gracefully say thank you and put that £28 towards a new bladder .


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:24 pm
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Pretty sure Evoc ones are made by Hydrapak


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:32 pm
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Posted by: oldfart

@donslow thanks for the offer, I've just checked and a new quick release hose is £14 ! 😳So is the bite valve , double 😳 So I will gracefully say thank you and put that £28 towards a new bladder .

all good, makes sense to me instead of spender a bladders worth of money on parts for one, offer stands if you change you’re mind 👍

best of luck with your bladder hunt going forward 👌


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:51 pm
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Posted by: donslow

Posted by: oldfart

@donslow thanks for the offer, I've just checked and a new quick release hose is £14 ! 😳So is the bite valve , double 😳 So I will gracefully say thank you and put that £28 towards a new bladder .

 

all good, makes sense to me instead of spender a bladders worth of money on parts for one, offer stands if you change you’re mind 👍

best of luck with your bladder hunt going forward 👌

 


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:52 pm
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Twice…again?!?

 

apologies for the double post 


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:53 pm
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@honourablegeorge I'm rubbish at making decisions and overthinking 🙄but I think I have in joint first Hydrapak and Osprey, I relegated Evoc to 3rd because I didn't think I could hang one from a Camelbak loop ? I may be wrong?

I've pretty much dismissed Camelbak they seem behind the times for ease of cleaning? After years of using them I figure it's time for a change ?


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 8:54 pm
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Just to buck the trend, i find the new Camelbak bladders excellent, and a big improvement over the old ones. And I much prefer the Mule Camelback bladder and bite valve than the Osprey one that came with my Seral 7.


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 10:08 pm
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Doh! 😔


 
Posted : 03/08/2026 10:55 pm
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This may have been mentioned before but the decathlon rockrider 3L bladders are £15. They're a hydrapak style bladder and it came with my vest pack and I've used it a few times on longer rides with no issues. 


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 8:06 am
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Long term camelbak loyalist here. The crux reservoir with the zip is excellent. Way better than the screw top crux  

however, have been using a Evoc hydra pack one in my hip pack. Mine is difficult to close. Is slightly newer one has a different material on the fold and is way better. 

camelbak bite valves are prone to leaking if you freeze them with water in which can happen if you keep it in the freezer and aren’t careful. Hydrapak bike valves seem to work well but again there are different iterations.  Mines a pain to shut off, is has a different design and is much better. 

 


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 8:34 am
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Maybe not large enough, but ratrace have a 2l bladder reduced to a tenner
Roll-top design with somewhere at the top to hook it into a bag and looks like a QR hose.

Rat Race scRUNch 2L Reservoir – Rat Race Store

No experience of them myself - I have always used Camelbak but find them a pain to clean & dry so would probably go for a roll-top design next time.


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 8:37 am
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@b33k34 A Crux with a zip you say ? AI has just told me it's called an appropriate name , apparently it's the Fusion which if I stick the letters Con in front is where I am right now ! 🙄🙄🙄


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 8:51 am
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As a serial procrastinator myself, the best advice I can give it to just buy one. They will likely all be fine & any differences will be  so minor you won't care or notice.

I have just spent 3 nights looking at a range of very similar suitcases & getting tied in knots over the most minor of details. In the end I just asked my daughter which colour she thought would suit me best and got that one. Job done.
And last night I spent the entire evening pondering 3 different brands of recovery shoes to try & help my post-run tight calf muscles.....After hours of realising I was just going round in circles I just picked the ones I'd looked at from the very beginning.

Just go for it (from a fellow ditherer).


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 9:28 am
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Posted : 04/08/2026 9:46 am
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Posted by: oldfart

@b33k34 A Crux with a zip you say ? AI has just told me it's called an appropriate name , apparently it's the Fusion which if I stick the letters Con in front is where I am right now ! 🙄🙄🙄

my mistake. The fusion is the zip. Big improvement, worth the extra. 

 


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 10:14 am
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🤣 Stumpy1 I'm so with you.. and you are completely right too.


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 10:47 am
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I haven't still been dithering just been for a swim, I can guarantee as soon as I buy one Camelbak will get back to me and send me a new filler cap 🙄


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 11:09 am
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Posted by: oldfart

I relegated Evoc to 3rd because I didn't think I could hang one from a Camelbak loop ? I may be wrong?

My cheap but awesome Utobest Amazon special is an Evoc clone and I attach it to the loop in my Dakine pack with a re-usuable zip tie:

image.png

 

 


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 11:09 am
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As Camelbak won't/can't play ball with a replacement filler cap I've ordered a Hydrapak Contour as it's compatible with both my Evoc and Camelbak hoops and clips , waits for comments wouldn't have bought one of those 🙄


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 5:27 pm
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Posted by: oldfart

As Camelbak won't/can't play ball with a replacement filler cap I've ordered a Hydrapak Contour as it's compatible with both my Evoc and Camelbak hoops and clips , waits for comments wouldn't have bought one of those 🙄

Sounds like a good call to me. Hydrapak reservoirs work well ime, good anti-bac treatment, okay bite valve and easy to clean. 

 


 
Posted : 04/08/2026 5:47 pm