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The bladder in my Camelbak has failed and a new one at about £30 is a significant fraction of the cost of a new hydration pack. So unless anyone knows of a cheaper source of bladders it’s new pack time. Had a few Camelbaks in the past but wondering if there is anything else out there that is good. Osprey Siskin might meet my needs
I'm an osprey convert after years of using camelback. Fit seems far better and generally just well made/thought out. Plus they use 'normal' shaped reservoirs so if one springs a leak you can replace easy enough rather than find you can't get one in whatever weird ergo shape camelback decided was best...
Osprey all day.
Camelbak are on the boycott list for subsidizing the NRA.
https://www.snewsnet.com/news/breaking-down-vista-outdoor-boycott
I think both are great options. But honestly, I feel that a new bladder is a consumable item and I’d be more surprised if I didn’t need a new one within the life of the pack.
From time to time, you see good offers on reservoirs at sale price. Of hardly used ones (or new even) I the classifieds. A touch of Milton and it would be good as new.
I think if you like your pack well enough, buying a new reservoir is not a bad decision. But a new pack is always appealing. You can’t lose.
The slide zip seal ones are much easier to fill and clean than a Camelbak. My wife has a Platypus bladder and it’s great.
I have an Osprey and being honest I’ve not been over impressed, the bladder didn’t last that long but I viewed it as a consumable so can live with that. But the fit I feel is terrible, it’s it’s too high up for me and just never found it to be that comfortable. I’m broad in build so bye it’s not designed for me.
I’m looking a hip/waist belts for hydration now.
Worth looking at Evoc packs too. Love mine.
Osprey or Evoc make great packs, as for actual bladders I’ve always preferred and used Source ones, specifically their ‘tactical’ range as they seem harder wearing and a lot easier to clean than Camelbak bladders.
Personally using an Evoc CC10l, its perfectly usable and was a good price when I bought it but a friend has recently got himself a USWE Outlander 9 and has been raving about it. Not sure what it cost but reckons it absolutely does not move when riding as it fastens in a similar way to a parachute, came with a 3l bladder and I will probably be looking at 1 when the evoc needs replacing
I have an Osprey and being honest I’ve not been over impressed, the bladder didn’t last that long but I viewed it as a consumable so can live with that.
I used to view them as consumable until Camelbak came out with the blue ones. Since then I have not burst a single one. That must've been over 20 years ago.
I agree with the philosophy that the bladder is a consumable, but at £30 for the bladder and a new Osprey for £45 the new pack is attractive
Just found myself in the same position as the OP and went for a replacement 1.5L CamelBak.
It was the easy option because it went on my birthday list so I only had to quote a listing on eBay but I was pleasantly surprised that the design has improved over the old one with a much better filler cap and the fit is perfect (but that could be down to my body shape).
Worth mentioning the osprey "all mighty guarantee" I got a number of small issues fixed on my viper last year at about 7 years old. It covers hydration packs too, says not for normal wear and year but I suspect they're pretty leniant
Decathlon bladder and keep the pack.