Source Widepac Hydration Bladder | Water Bladder | Reservoir Bladder | Helix Bite Valve | Care Free and Glass Like Technology

I've owned many water bladders, Platypus, Camelbak, and various offbrand bladders. This bladder is better built, more durable, and easier to use than any of the rest. I saw a friend with a similar bladder on a winter camp trip and loved the fold and seal idea but the off brand version my friend had leaked like crazy all the time. The leaking caused ice in their packs and wet clothes it really was terrible. I saw this version and read the reviews and gave it a try. I've taken it on several day hikes, a couple overnight camp trips, and numerous dirt bike rides and still no leaks.I especially like the water valve design, it has a hard plastic cap to keep the mouthpiece clean and unsquashed which also helps prevent leakage. After you remove the cap the valve itself turns with turns the water on to drink from it. I've tested this while riding leaving the cap off and the valve open and it still didn't leak!Cleaning and drying this bag is easy because the opening is very large, I just put a spatula or a pair of tongs in the bag and set it on my dish drying rack with the rest of the dishes.The only thing I see that they could improve on would be to include one the little snap on gator clips so you can clip the mouthpiece to something making it easier to access.

I used Camelbaks for years in the military and had mixed results - some worked fine, alot of them leaked, and accessibility was always a problem. I started using Source bladders my last year in and was impressed by their quality - much easier to clean, and the antimicrobial interiors were clearly superior to the Camelbak ones. So when I got out of the military and started doing civilian outdoors activities it was a no brainer as to what I would use for hydration.These units take all the things I loved about the older (military) generation of Source bladders and added to it in an attractive, streamlined civilian version. It still has the fold and clip opening but dispenses with the nalgene type opening (redundant, and doing away with it saves weight). The interior surfaces are still superior and require virtually no maintenance, while adding no aftertaste to the water. A nice addition is the quick detach port for the drinking tube, which allows you to 1) slip the tube anywhere the mouthpiece normally wouldn't fit, like a small hydro port on a pack, and 2) attach filtration devices directly to the bladder, and 3) it allows easy pouring from the bladder, like into a cup to boil water for meals or coffee.This one has capabilities that equivalent bladders simply can't match at present. Well worth the $$.

This water bladder is the best I have ever bought. The wide opening on top makes filling water easy and also fits ice no problem. It also allows for easy cleaning and drying which was a nightmare with my other bladders. the hose is easily detached from the bladder and comes with a mouthpiece that is awesome. It twists close so that it has no chance of dripping and also comes with an included mouthpiece cover to protect from dust and dirt. Took this on an all day work excursion in temperatures near 100 degrees F and the 3 liters came in real handy. While all the other people working that day ran out of water early, I had more than enough for me and the other people. highly recommended, just make sure your pack has the room for the 3 liter pouch. great product.

I ordered this water bladder for my LL Bean hiking pack and it was just slightly too tall to fit. That was extremely discappointing as the bladder itself seemed to be very high quality. Before I realized it didn't fit I filled it with water and tried the bite valve out. This is one of the nicer bite valve systems I have used. It twists open and closed to keep water from spilling out and has a dust cover to keep the mouthpiece clean, which is a nice addition most bladders do not use.My favorite feature of this bladder is the wide opening that makes filling and cleaning a breeze. You can actually get your hand inside the bladder for cleaning and you can just place it upside down to dry. Excellent design.The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was due to fitment in my pack.

This is a great bag for a dayhike or a bike ride....It is less great for overland hiking....The bladder bag itself is top quality construction. The material is less like a Camelbak and more like a Platypus. The design is cool. It is easy to put ice into this thing and it is very easy to clean. You also never have to worry about getting a screw-cap suction bound...If you are out on an overland hike you will find that this bag is kinda hard to fill with a water-filter hose, so, you will need to carry a nalgene or something to pump your water into, and then empty the Nalgene into the SourcePak.... I do not trust the sliding green clip lock not to move around while it is in my backpack, but that is easily fixed with a piece of paracord or a rubber band...The hose on this pack is a little too short for an expedition style pack and you may need to splice in a length of hose to make it work...The bite valve and cover are good quality. The bite valve has a little twist lock built into it. I don't like this type of locking method as much as the traditional thumb lever, as it forces me to touch the bite valve with my hand. The valve cover is tied to the valve and it is difficult to take on and off.... the simple solution there is to cut the string, tho that means there is a risk of losing it....Overall, for the money I am very happy with this bladder.... I am just not sure it is something I would carry on multi-day hikes...It is definitely designed to be more accomodating in the kitchen than a CamelBak.... it is less functional in the field tho....Still a 5 star purchase at this price. If you need a 3l bladder you'll be happy with this one :)