Semi-rigid Center Baffle: Provides low-profile support and simplifies the cleaning and drying process. Hydration bladders have either a snap cap closure or a wide slide closure at the top. Both closure types allow easy refilling. However, the opening of the hydration bladder should be also wide enough to put your hand inside for easy and thorough cleaning. In this review we only listed hydration bladders that are equipped with relatively wide closures for easy cleaning. Mouthpiece:

The battle of water bottle vs hydration bladder shows no signs of abating, so it's worth taking a moment to think about the considerations around hydration. Accessing the water is easy since the bladder features a 3-in-1 top. You can even share it! The manufacturer sells various accessories that can be used with the MSR DromLite. You can turn it into a bottle, shower, handwashing station, and more. This may be the best choice for you if you are looking for a highly customizable water reservoir. Hydration bladders vary in size, shape, and performance. To help you find the right fit for you, I’ve put together a list of the 10 hydration bladders on the market. 1. Source Outdoor Widepac 3L Bladder Regarding versatility, the Geigerrig Pressurized Hydration Engine water bladder is hard to beat. It features a bulb that you can use to turn the hydration bladder into a solar shower. It comes in handy when you need to clean your dirty equipment.It’s important to empty and dry your reservoir when it’s not in use. Some have handy hang loops that make drying easier. To dry out your reservoir, blow air into the mouthpiece to empty the tube of water, then hang the bladder upside down with the tube inside to prop the reservoir open. In our freezer tests, the HydraPak HydraSleeve kept the main body of the bladder from freezing, even after leaving it in there for 24 hours. While there was a lot of ice inside, it wasn't completely frozen. Advantages of a hydration bladder are the ability to store large capacities of water, or any other runners' drink, and have it readily accessible thanks to the drinking tube. This allows you to sup a little, often, which is the best approach when hiking. Should I get a 2L or a 3L hydration bladder? First of all, hydration is pivotal to performance regardless of what kind of outdoor activity you plan to enjoy. Dehydration will not only slow you down and make you feel rubbish but it can eventually lead to some pretty dangerous consequences. Pure Platy Experience: All materials are certified taste-free, BPA-free, BPS-free, and phthalate-free.

Regarding filling options, the source Tactical WXP water bladder is one of the most versatile hydration bladders. It comes with a screw-top option and a flip-top opening. This model is great for both once-a-year hikers and avid outdoor enthusiasts. The bite valve is super easy to unclip. WXP hoses are easy to detach, and they are compatible with other brands. Since you can fill your bladder just partway, getting a 3 L version is a more cost-effective choice. Larger bladders are usually more versatile as well. Bladder Hole Opening The MSR Hydration Bladder is an inexpensive hydration bladder with an above-average liquid capacity (4 L; 135 oz). It also comes in a smaller version (2 L; 68 oz) and a bigger one as well (6 L; 200 oz). Despite its impressive capacity, the MSR DromLite is lighter than some 3 L models on my list. But do know that this is just a bladder, not a hydration system. It doesn’t come with a bite valve or a hose.

Top 12 Product Ratings

Hydration bladders are in general slightly heavier than (disposable) water bottles as they are made of tougher and more durable materials (usually polyethylene or other plastic). However, a hydration bladder should be, like all other hiking gear, lightweight. In this review we only listed hydration bladders that unloaded weigh less than 9 ounces (250 grams) for the 3 liters version. Durability: Platypus’s premium reservoir has loads of features that make filling it, drinking out of it and also cleaning and drying it user-friendly. The newest Big Zip EVO has twice the flow rate of past hydration reservoirs. The plastic slide that seals the reservoir goes on from either side and doesn’t leak and a handle on the front of the reservoir provides a dry place to grip when filling. Silver ions embedded in the polyurethane reservoir kill mold and bacteria before they can grow, keeping the reservoir taste-free. You can flip it inside out for easy care. When it comes to maintenance, the HydroPak may indeed be one of the best hydration bladders. The Big Zip Evo has all the things you want from a bladder. It is made from taste-free and BPA-free plastics and a rigid centrebaffle that allows for easy cleaning, drying and offers low profile support. To protect the bladder from bacteria and mould the Big Evo has embedded Silver-ion that protects clean water. The slide-top design makes it easy to use. It allows you to turn the bladder inside out, making cleaning easy. You can fill it from a tap or outdoor source without any effort because the opening is large enough.