Best Water bladder?

[xcutter]

What is your favorite water bladder and why?

What size do you carry?

What would fit good in a Kuiu Icon 5200?

Thanks in advance for everyone's comments.

 

[doverpack12]

I like Camelbak 3 liter. Its the first one I used and I still prefer them. Have tried MSR and nothing wrong with them but the hose connection to the bag scares me. Tried Platypus Big Zip and there is nothing wrong with it I just prefer the camelbak. I have mine set up with a quick connect, hose sleeve and mouthpiece cover.

Any of them will fit great in the 5200. The internal bladder pocket is just the right size for 3 liter bladders. If you run a 4 liter MSR the pocket may be a little small but the internal load compression straps would hold it nicely until you drank enough to shove it in the bladder pocket.

 

[jtw]

I ran a 3 liter camelbak for the past 5 years or so. I recently switched to a 2 liter since I live in western Washington and water sources are abundant. I know carry the 2l and a waterfilter that ways a lot less than an extra liter of water.

Why camelbak? Because it's what I know. Never tried anything else but never found a reason to.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I'm a Camelbak guy also. I have a few 3L antidote bladders with the quick disconnect on them. Worked perfect with my Hiker Pro this past season. Couldn't say if it's the best but worked great for me.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've been using the same 3L Military Camelbak for the past 10 years without any issues. All the newer ones look cheap, I don't like the bright colors, and the last one I looked at had a 90 degree turn at the bite valve which I didn't care for.

 

[MuleyFever]

Get the one on sale. I have I think 4 or 5 different kinds and use them all and they all work just the same. Put water in it and suck it out the tube. It may be more of preference on the valve. My wife doesn't like the bite valves and I don't like the turn ones. I would get a 3L and maybe a 6L. I use a 3L for 1 or 2 day hunts and a 6L for longer trips where water may not be easy to get.

 

[SHTF]

http://www.geigerrig.com/ Because its indestructable and I dont have to suck!!! =)

 

[WOOD5045]

All of my 3L Camelback bladders have developed a dark funk inside (mold?) and I only run water, and hang them dry when done. Not sure what/why this is but I have switched to source WXP 3L bladders and couldn't be happier. Source bladders have a smoother interior surface and supposedly won't get funky inside. I've used them for two years and so far so good on the inside staying clean.

They also have two different valves (bite or twist) and the ability to refill the bladder without removing the bladder from the pack. I dig this feature. The link below show the WXP bladder and refill adapter. Good luck.

http://sourcetacticalgear.com/reservoirs/91-wxp-3l-hydration-upgrade-kit.html

 

[Derek0525]

I use the MSR it has a abrasion resistant fabric yes it is heavier but I have punctured a hole in another bladder before. I have used this one for about 5 years and even carried it through the brush on the outside of my pack with no problems. One suggestion I would make if you use a water filter is to buy the Katadyn or Camelback connectors and splice them into your drink tube for easier filling. Here is how mine is set up

 

[dotman]

I use the MSR dromedary in a 4L. I have had other leak or get a hole in them and after using the MSR I won't use anything else.

 

[LaHunter]

I run the Icon Pro 5200 and use the Camelback MilSpec 3 liter bladder (long). I have been hanging it inside an Exo bladder holder, hanging inside the pack, against the frame. Just ordered / received the Kuiu zip up accessory bag that attaches inside the bag. I will be using this set up in the future. Also, I run my drink hose through the "O" in the word Icon Pro on the top of the bag for a more direct route for the hose, rather than run it out the side ports. I just burned a small hole in the fabric in the center of the "O" and the stitching of the "O" keeps it from ripping. The insulated tube is a tight fit and it has worked well for me.

Good Luck

 

[Rizzy]

They all suck when their empty!
The 4L MSR is what I like best, the 6L wouldn't be bad either. My first MSR burst the first time I took it out, they replaced it and the new one is still holding. Get the quick connects from US Plastics and put them inline like Derek shows.

 

[elkmule123]

All of my 3L Camelback bladders have developed a dark funk inside (mold?) and I only run water, and hang them dry when done. Not sure what/why this is but I have switched to source WXP 3L bladders and couldn't be happier. Source bladders have a smoother interior surface and supposedly won't get funky inside. I've used them for two years and so far so good on the inside staying clean.

They also have two different valves (bite or twist) and the ability to refill the bladder without removing the bladder from the pack. I dig this feature. The link below show the WXP bladder and refill adapter. Good luck.

http://sourcetacticalgear.com/reservoirs/91-wxp-3l-hydration-upgrade-kit.html

I've switched from camelbak to the source bladders as well. Besides the "dark funk" it also doesn't seem to get that bladder taste in the water like the camelbak bladders do. I also picked up this http://sourcetacticalgear.com/hydration-accessories/90-uta-storm-upgrade-kit.html and this https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-fast-fill-hydration-pack-adapters/ so I don't have to pull the bladder out of my backpack to refill in the field. I originally ordered the UTA from source directly (comes from isreal) but I found a company that carries the UTA here in the states and ordered it for a buddy the like the system I set up.

 

[KHNC]

Cant believe nobody has mentioned Source. I use a 3L Source. Lifetime warranty and super durable. Lasted thru 5 GORUCK challenges, 1 Green Beret Challenge and many hunting trips the last 2 years.



Edit- I see someone has mentioned Source.

 

[tperkins]

Source bladders are by far my favorite. They are the only bladders that haven't blown up on me. I've lost track of the number of Camelbaks I've killed over the years. I use the Source WLPS 3L with an in-line Sawyer Squeeze Mini. Has worked flawlessly for me. They also seem to get less funky than others. I unintentionally left a full Source bladder in the bottom of a tuff box for over a year. Dumped out the water expecting a foul mess. Nope. Didn't even smell bad.

 

[HOT ROD]

Source bladder here to. Had it for years. Works great...

 

[5MilesBack]

I don't know what you guys are doing with your Camelbak's to develop a "dark funk" inside, but 10 years with my current 3L and it's clean inside and I never taste any funky water taste out of it. But I also shake it out with a light bleach solution every year as well. But I'd do that with any bladder.

Katadyn also has an adapter kit that will attach directly to where the bite valve connects to and you can fill it up anytime without removing the bladder. Works great.

 

[Dos Perros]

Platypus

 

[Lawnboi]

Msr dromedary or drom lite. With a hose.

A few reasons I like it better, you can use it as a classic bladder, or you can use it without the hose. Makes camp life a lot easier, not squeezing water out of a hose constantly.

It's tough, the regular dorm bags are about as bullet proof as a bladder can get, 1000d cordura I believe. The dorm lites are tough as well. Iv put a hole in every other bladder iv tried, but not an msr.

Taste is like any current bladder out there.

Iv used a lot of different bladders, platy, camelbak, source, and currently have an osprey in my bike pack. But I only use msr for backpacking, or any other use that may be hard on the bladder.

I have a 6l and a 2l. I use the six and a nalgene most times. You not have to fill it all, but it sure is nice when water is scarce or your loading up for the night.

Can't tell you if it fits in that pack or not.

Another positive is ease of drying.

I have a horror story of one, almost ruined hunt. Limited water sources and a camelbak and two platy bladders with holes in them left me screwed. Good thing I had an msr drom lite, it saved the trip, 2 liters at a time

 

[oldgoat]

I've always used camelback, but this year we started using the nalgene bottle to hydrate from and I refilled it on the trail from my camelback and dromedary in camp. Way better way to hydrate in my opinion! I'll keep using camelback when bird hunting so I can water my dog but I think I'm going to buy a dromedary lite to carry in my pack to refill my nalgene.