[Closed] Camelbak reservoirs the best out there?

i've got a CamelBak bladder and although it's not bad, it isn't as user friendly as the Deuter bladders.

Deuter are easier to open when filling and can be cleaned properly and hung to dry without any fancy equipment.

I prefer Platypus myself

seen dueter, playtipus's and other previously and always found the camelbak to alway be the best IME. You can some time find the smaller 1.5Ltr one cheaper in a pack unit (no pockets just a backback with the bladder in it), rather than on it's own.

I treat bladders pretty poorly - as in I leave the water in for ages.
Camelbacks mould up the quickest ime. I like Platypus but I'm currently using Source and although I don't like the valve it's a much better bladder than the others I've tried. You can separate the hose too which can be handy for quick refils.

How long ago was the hydrapak? I know there was problems with some leaking, but the one in my Nomad is ace, shame the same can't be said of the valve. The opening is miles better on the hydrapak, can turn it inside out for cleaning/drying.

cheers guys. Yeah the Hydrapak one I had was at least 5 years ago I'd say.

No problems with my Hydrapac , they changed the closure on them to one that works.

Been in the market for a new (big) bag myself recently

Looked at
New version of Camelbak HAWG (what I been using for last 5 years)
Camelbak Don
Dakine Apex
Osprey - the 18L one - can't remember what it's called

Ruled out Camelbak - new ones do look nice but they still haven't sorted weak zips out - seems to be the cause of many Camlebaks going to an early grave. Perhaps they've reached a point where they're "resting on their laurels"??

Ruled out Osprey - Loved all the features. The easy in-out bladder looks good ...but rip stop fabric??? Good for lightweightyness - ace for eg fell running gear...not so good for something you're gonna be landing on every now and then at speed near rocks. The other thing that put me off the Osprey is ...I could be wrong but I think their manufacturing is being provided by North Face - who ain't exactly known for quality any more and have no UK warranty base (It's in Belgium). Go compare a TNF hydration pack with an Osprey one if you ain't convinced. From (partners) experience, the TNF hydration packs are not very good.

Opted for the Dakine Apex - which is a really really nice bag. And it's really comfy to wear - more so than I expected. It also looks like it's bombproof in terms of material, zips and stitching. Number of pockets and internal layout is really well thought out. When you first put it on, the back bit feels strange but within a few minutes just seems to mould to your back.

Unfortunately Dakine use Hydrapak bladders - which I don't find anywhere near as good as Camelbak bladders. From what I hear, they're a lot better than older Hydrapaks....but.... The very latest HydraPak bladders (2010 - some models) have now had the 90 degree bite valve replaced with a truly awful 135 degree bite valve which is really useful for getting water to..... your ear. God knows what they were thinking with this redesign 🙄 It also has a really low flow rate compared to previous Hydrapak bladder bite valve (which was already lower than the Camelbak)

You may want to hold on for the new improved 2011 Camelbak bladder. Improvements include easy to undo, 'fingers' to hold the bladder open for drying, internal baffles to stop it going sausage shaped.
Also there's a low slung Wingnut style one coming out too.
Plenty of info out there on them.

Platypus and Nalgene are my faves.

Hate the taste of Camelbacks.

Source make the best bladders, but unfortunately Camelbak make the best bite valves - which is why I use a Source Widepack 3l and a CamelbaK bite valve.

Source http://www.source-hydration.co.uk/acatalog/Military_Series.html

I treat bladders pretty poorly - as in I leave the water in for ages.
Camelbacks mould up the quickest ime.

Any water left in an enclosed airless space will turn stagnant after a while.

Stagnant water can be dangerous for drinking because it provides a better incubator than running water for many kinds of bacteria and parasites. I think people have died of nasty stomach eating bacteria due to drinking out of stagnant bladders.

The Source bladder I use is good because I can open it right up and hang it up after I use it, which means air gets to the whole things, and the water can evaporate.

We sell Source bladders in our shop they are the best in my opinion. The bite valve was an issue but the latest 2010 models all have new bite valves which don't leak and can be turned off.

Source make the best bladders, but unfortunately Camelbak make the best bite valves - which is why I use a Source Widepack 3l and a CamelbaK bite valve.

+1

I have camelpaks and a source bladder. Source is my preferred option. Only draw back to mine is there's a protective cap over the bite valve which comes off too easily, so it dangles about on a bit of string rather than doing it's job

Another vote for Source bladders, definitely better than Camelback and Platypus. If you don't like the valve, swap it for a Camelback one.

Don't know whats the best, but my Camelbak bladder is loads better than my Lezyne Zip Lock bladder, which isn't actually water tight!

northface nalgene/ flight series.

very very good no problems in 4-5 years.

steradent and freezer keeps it all clean, hung from a hook and flushed lots.

Currently using Platypus for Hillwalking, Source (in Deuter bags) and Camelbak for Riding.
Source/Deuter the best - can use them for anything, and if either the Camelbak or Platypus finally give up then Source bag will be re-used.
Source ones velcro nicely into Deuter rucksacks aswell as a small extra feature.
But mainly they fill sooooooo easily, in any conditions, be it from a river at minus temps when my wide neck Platypus fills but I can't close it due to the press fit being too cold, and the Camelbak is fiddly cos of the opening and narrow fill Platypus' are a PITA filling from natural sources.

I've decathlon own brand for years. They're cheap and work

Best, I don't know... Camelbak's valve is very good and that's the most important part I reckon. I've got a couple of source "bottles" which are ace though. TBH every quality reservoir I've used has been good enough, can't say as I'd ever put any thought into which to use myself, they all work.

The only plus point for Camelbak is the valve IMO - other than that they make the worst bladders.

Hmm, can't say as I've ever felt any shortcoming in my camelbak bladders, what about them is so bad? And does it overpower them having the best valve?

Well unless they break, you only really have two points of user interaction with a bladder to differentiate them. Given I've mentioned the valve as a plus point, have a guess...

The fill hole? What's wrong with that? It's not amazing but it's simple enough and it works well.

It's heavy, it's not very big, so you can't invert the reservoir to dry, it takes a lot of force to open and close and get a reliable seal - I note that nobody makes a special tool to undo the seal on any other make of bladder.

"I note that nobody makes a special tool to undo the seal on any other make of bladder."

But then again almost nobody bought the tool for Camelbaks. And sure you can hang it up to dry, somehow I manage.

somehow I manage.

The other thing that put me off the Osprey is ...I could be wrong but I think their manufacturing is being provided by North Face - who ain't exactly known for quality any more and have no UK warranty base (It's in Belgium)

Osprey Packs are all made at Osprey's own factory in Vietnam. The owner of OSprey (I forget the name) even moved his own family out there for a few years to set the place up. They put a massive amount in to the community in Vietnam and have some really good people working for them, not only manufacturing but also design etc.
UK Warranty base for Osprey is in Poole. Not Belgium

I likes my Osprey. It's ace.

aracer - Member

somehow I manage.

So you can live with its failings?

Very good. No, I don't think there's a failing here. You say you can't hang it up to dry, I hang it up to dry, perhaps it's user error not a design flaw?

I had a Camelback one that leaked so I bought a Deuter one and although it is a little too big for my Mule, the bladder opening is vastly superior and it hasn't gone at all manky yet.

agree with rocky mountain, my northface 3 litre has no nasty flavours
even from new
very good no problems / no leaks in 3+ years.
[b]steradent[/b](excellent)every 4/5 rides and freezer keeps it all clean
if you leave it for any length of time store it full of cheap diet lemonade
to keep it really tastetastic

We sell the hydrapak 1.5ltr to fit the wingnut hyper 2.5 - it's what I use and I've not had any problems.
I do prefer bladders with wide necks over screw tops though - much easier to clean.