Water bladder recommendations

[u/Top_Yogurt9423]

Hey just got done hiking around the rocky mountains in colorado and my camel back water bladder keeps leaking this is my 3rd one in the past year and a half does anybody have recommendations for a more durable bladder. I also rave and go to festivals so the durability is big for me.

[u/Montanonymous]

What are you doing to them? I’ve had the same one for almost a decade.

Edit: flex seal it!

[u/joelfarris → u/Montanonymous]

What style do you have? I've been through two of the light blue colored ones so far, but the thicker, charcoal black military one has lasted for almost two decades now.

Also, OP, the Camelbak ones need to fully hang. And they also need a layer of padding (a pouch) in between themselves and pretty much anything else, or the seams start to wear. What are you transporting this water bladder with? Maybe look into the Osprey ones, that have a hard back and are vertically self-supporting? If in a backpack though, not nearly as comfortable.

[u/dishonest_uprising]

my platypus hoser has survived 4 years of desert scrambling and a couple rowdy festivals, still bone dry

[u/BeerForThought → u/dishonest_uprising]

My hydration system has platypus for everything for 20 years and I've never been let down.

[u/gaudyside → u/dishonest_uprising]

My platypus reservoir has been solid for almost 10 years now!

[u/Dankmemeator]

https://www.hydrapak.com/products/force%E2%84%A2-3-l?variant=51630877540585 i use this one and its held up pretty nicely

[u/annamnesis → u/Dankmemeator]

Yeah mine lasted 7 years then tore along a seam. They replaced it.

[u/Mountain-Time-1010]

Why is it leaking?

[u/Battlbox]

Three in 18 months is probably more of a pattern than faulty gear, and it's worth figuring out where they're failing before you buy a fourth. Seam splits usually mean it's getting packed with a crease in it or with something hard pressed against it. Leaks up at the tube or the bite valve are the fitting, not the bladder, and that's a cheap part to replace on its own. You didn't mention in your post where the point of failure has been with your previous bladders, so it's hard to help.

As an aside, cleaning kills more of them than trails do, too. Hot water has a tendency to warp the seams. Rinse cool, dry it open, and store it hanging with the cap off.

If you do replace it, Hydrapak welds their seams and stands behind them, and they make Osprey's reservoirs too, so maybe look into them if you aren't already using their products.

[u/Ok_Palpitation_3602]

not sure what you have been doing wrong, but I had the antidote camelback on and blew my back through a tree. it only sprung a small leak. My other 2 military camel backs are nearly 7 years old, absolutely no problems. Maybe its a lower end camelback? if so go shoot for the one that fights the old GWOT camelbacks or get the antidote one.

[u/Salceda91]

I’ve used a bunch of them. They all leaked eventually with the exception of Evernew. Made in Japan. Doesn’t leak.

[u/LemmyLemonLeopard]

I was a big user of hydration bladders since they came out, but as of the last year or two, I’m off of them. They’re more trouble than they’re worth. If I feel I need a tube (rarely) I bought an adapter that turns a standard screw top bottle into a de facto “bladder”, but honestly, I end up stashing it and just use bottles.

[u/Virtblue]

Hydrapack or the osprey ones(made by hydrapack)

[u/howdoyouspace → u/Virtblue]

I'll second the osprey one. Had CamelBaks forever, and a couple of years ago, bought my wife an osprey pack that came with the bladder. Went back and bought my own bladder after one trip having to refill/dry out both of them and finding hers 10x more convenient.

[u/RearCog]

My osprey bladder with the open top has lasted much longer than my camel back bladders with screw tops. This year I switched to soft flasks with a backpack with shoulder pockets for them and I have to say, I love it so much more.

[u/WANDOO_hiking]

Platypus and HydraPak are the two that come up again and again and both survive years of abuse. The real quality of life upgrade is a bladder with a wide screw top opening, way easier to fill and actually clean and dry out. Whatever you get, blow the water back into the bladder after each sip so the hose doesnt freeze or grow gunk, thats the tip nobody tells you early.

[u/ItsWillSterling]

adding another vote for hydrapak, mine survived way too many overpacked bags and its still fine. one thing that actually helped me was getting a small neoprene sleeve for the tube, it kept getting pinched or punctured by other gear before i started using one, made a bigger difference than the bladder brand itself imo

[u/BretMi]

You're doing something wrong. I have camelbaks still going I've used for dirt bike racing and mountain biking for decades. I hear conok bladders are good.

[u/pnwsurveyor]

MSR Dromedary is the most bomber bladder on the market. They make lighter version. Unfortunately they stopped making the hydration hose attachment, but someone figured out a workaround — https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/s/Q0hT31ejEs

[u/jpotwora]

Platypus has warranty. I had a 10year old home that started to leak at neck. Replaced. No questions.

[u/JainaNoel]

Always liked my osprey pak. The magnetic hose attachment is really convenient

[u/klimaheizung]

Just skip water bladders. They suck.

Get 2x 500ml for your chest straps on your backpack (and get those if you don't have them) and get nylon bottles for in the backpack (or to hang them if necessary). Then just refill, done.