Best Hydration Bladder For Hiking & Backpacking

The Gregory 3D Hydro isn’t the lightest or most packable bladder on our list by a long way, but it ticks every other important box emphatically. For this reason, it’s our standout winner for Best Hydration Bladder.

The Hydro 3D is made with an extra-burly, puncture-resistant polymer thick and tough enough to deal with regular use and abuse on the trail. While this material makes it heavier (7 oz.) than many competitors, it makes it a highly durable bladder less prone to punctures.

The pliability of the polymer also means the bag has plenty of flex, so it will fit into tight spaces in your pack and won’t poke you in the back while you’re hiking.

We love the 3D Hydro’s oversized, robust screw-top lid. After multiple days on the trail, it didn’t leak a single drop and inspired confidence in us that it would remain leak-free for the long term. The size of the lid also makes it easy to open and close with cold hands which means refilling is a cinch.

The Hydro 3D’s flow rate is second only to the Platypus Big Zip Evo. Of the two, however, the Hydro wins greater approval on account of its more reliable closure and valve locking mechanism, and a few next-level features, like its full-length handle and handy bite valve magnet.

The Platypus Big Zip is one of the priciest water reservoirs on our list, but its awesome features, fantastic flow rate, and burly design make it well worth the added expense.

The Big Zip EVO has a large opening at the top with a secure slide-lock closure that makes it easy to fill, clean, and empty. The hydration hose has a quick-connect mechanism along with a shutoff valve that helps stop leaks and drips from the mouthpiece. It also features a larger holder along the top of the bladder that allows you to carry it or hang it up easily.

The Big Zip’s thick materials make it one of the more durable bladders out there. While there are plenty of burly models available, one standout feature in the Big Zip is the use of embedded silver ions, which help to prevent mold and bacteria.

Despite using thicker materials, the Big Zip’s low-profile design allows it to fit inside most backpacks and keeps it flat when you’re on the move.

For those who prioritize convenience and portability, there are few hydration bladders out there that can lay a glove on the Hydrapak Shape-Shift.

With many bladders, once you’ve supped the contents halfway down, the remaining contents are apt to slush around. This not only feels kinda weird but could, in some cases, also throw you off balance, especially when moving fast.

Not so with the Hydrapak Shape-Shift! This tidy little reservoir uses an adjustable baffle that helps ensure it maintains a low profile when filled with less than the full 3 liters and also increases stability during high-impact activities.

Other endearing features on the Shape-Shift include a printed fluid-ounce count on the side that helps you make sure you’re drinking enough water, a slim profile that lets it fit snugly inside even smaller packs, and freeze-resistant materials that prevent blockages in cool temps.

This hydration bladder also boasts a wide-mouth, flip-top opening that makes it easy to clean and dry, has an auto shut-off valve to prevent leaks, and uses a “plug-n-play” system that simplifies refilling and in-line filtering.

Although a fraction more difficult to use due to the lack of a handle, otherwise it’s a winner!

The CamelBak Crux is not only one of the least expensive hydration reservoirs on our list, but it’s also one of the easiest to fill, most reliable, and least likely to leak as a result of punctures or tears.

As with all things CamelBak, the Crux oozes quality in every component. From the fast-flow, “big bite” valve and twist-open closure cap to the burly, confidence-inspiring materials, CamelBak has gone the extra mile to make this hydration bladder a truly high-performing, trail-ready piece of kit.

This system also uses an intelligent, lumbar-style design. Unlike rectangular hydration pack bladders, this design means the weight of the water is shifted to your lower back, thereby giving you more stability on the trail and helping to improve balance.

Other lovable features included in the Crux are a large haul handle that makes it easy to refill, a self-sealing, drip-resistant valve, and a mightily handy on/off lever that lets you seal the drinking tube with one hand.

While the Crux can’t, like other hydration bladders in our review, be folded inside out for easy cleaning, it uses HydroGuard technology that prevents the growth of bacteria in both the reservoir and tube. So, even if you’re a little lax with post-hike cleaning, you won’t have to worry about your H20 becoming a breeding place for tummy-troubling microbes.

MSR’s Dromlite bags have been around for a while now, and in that time they’ve earned a stellar rep with many an ultralight backpacker. The reason for this is simple: they’re lightweight, highly packable, ultra-reliable, and tough as nails (almost…).

The Dromlite is one of the most compact bladders on our list, folding down to the size of the cap when not in use. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have room for a few fancy features.

These bags have a unique, 3-in-1 cap that allows you to choose between a wide mouth, a smaller flip-open spout, or a medium spout. They also have a nicely sized, durable plastic handle that makes it very easy to refill.

The main downsides to the Dromlite are that the tubing is sold separately and the opening is smaller than average, meaning you’ll need to get your toothbrush out to get the corners clean.

While these drawbacks make the Dromlite less convenient than other options on our list, it’s still a good pick if you’re short on pack space and/or are happy to pay extra for a hose.

If zip-top closures are your “bag,” the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir is a great option.

The Osprey Hydraulics is one of the lightest reservoirs on our list but packs a wealth of features that also make it among the most convenient and user-friendly.

It has a handy carry handle for easy refilling, built-in hose guides to prevent tangles, a HydroStatic backer plate that lets you shove it easily into a full pack whilst keeping the reservoir flat, and a slide-seal closure for easy refilling.

With the reservoir, you’ll also get an easy, quick-disconnect tube, and a sternum strap with a magnet that attaches to the bite valve to prevent it from swinging around while you hike.

The wide opening makes this model easier to clean and fill. The hose and bite valve also come apart, which makes cleaning and drying a piece of cake.

The Hydraulics is available in two or three-liter sizes.

The Deuter Streamer is one of the most popular water reservoirs on the market – and it’s easy to see why.

The Streamer is very fairly priced, lightweight, not bulky, and well-designed. It’s made with thinner materials than the Gregory 3D Hydro and the Platypus Big Zip EVO, but it’s tough enough to deal with regular use and abuse.

The Streamer uses a push-fit cap and twist-activated water-stop lock that keeps the mouthpiece drip-free. The wide-mouth clip-top opening makes it easy to refill, though the bag can’t be turned inside out for thorough cleaning and drying.

One feature, in particular, makes the Steamer worth a place on our list, namely a layer of “Grunge Guard” material inside that inhibits the growth of bacteria inside the bladder and helps to keep your water funky-flavor-free.

Here you have a tidy, versatile little piece of kit that does it all. It’s lightweight, packable, leakproof, and uses dual chambers that allow you to use it as either a pressurized or unpressurized system.

(If you’ve never heard of them before, pressurized hydration systems save you the hassle of sucking your H2O through the tube by feeding it down there using air pressure.)

Many factors have earned the Geigerrig a place on our list. The most notable, however, are its sleek, space-saving design and overall versatility.

The streamlined design allows you to carry this hydration reservoir in hiking, backpacking, and running packs with ease, while the dual-chamber, pressurized system makes it easier to drink from both while you’re on the move and around camp.

The Geigerrig also boasts a wide-mouthed opening that makes refilling a cinch. And the slide-top closure also makes it less prone to leakage than the screw-top varieties used in many other models.

We also liked that you can flip this bladder inside out for easy cleaning, can disassemble and reassemble it in seconds, and its dishwasher-safe design. All of these features might seem like trifles, but they go a long way in boosting the bag’s overall convenience.

This one’s a little heavier than some of the other products we’ve reviewed, granted. But those extra few ounces translate to added ruggedness, puncture resistance, and durability, all of which combine to make this one of the most trail-worthy H20 carriers out there.

The Geigerrig comes in 1.5-liter, 2-liter, and 3-liter sizes, has a lifetime guarantee, and can be transformed into a filtration system by using an Aquamira Frontier Filter system.

The Platypus Hoser hydration pouch is a lightweight and compact option that offers outstanding value for money.

This backpack water bladder is available in four sizes (1-3liters) and uses a simple, frill-free design that makes it a little more user-friendly than some of its peers.

We loved the Platypus’ high flow rate and streamlined build, and the fact that it fits snugly into 4 different-sized backpacks comfortably. We weren’t so impressed by the locking mechanism on the bite valve, however, and found a few dribbles on our shirt when we were hiking rougher sections of the trail.

All told, this is a good option if you’re looking for a low-cost H20 transporter and tend to hike mellower trails. If you’re a trail runner or hike testier trails that will shake the bladder around, however, there are better options out there.

Aquatic Way might not be a big-name brand, but in this offering they’ve put out a product that performs very nearly as well as those from the market’s more recognizable names.

The Aquatic Way is made with durable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, features a very large screw top opening with a twist cover for a secure fit, and has a soft, antimicrobial silicone bite valve. It also has an easy-to-operate shutoff valve to help prevent leaks. The hydration tube detaches via a quick lock for quick and easy refilling, cleaning, and drying.

The large opening allows you to quickly and easily clean this bladder with a brush, and you can leave it open to air dry once you’ve finished cleaning. You can also disconnect and reconnect the tubing with one click when it’s time to clean the entire system.

The Salomon Soft hydration pack bladder is a great pick if convenience tops your list of priorities.

The Salomon Soft is lightweight, has a very slim profile, and as the name suggests, is very pliable, so it won’t dig into your back when using a lightweight pack.

This is a simple bag, but it boasts a lot of nice features. You can quickly and easily monitor your water volume using the printed fill scale along the side. A wide mouth with a zip-lock seal provides an easy and secure fit, and it comes with an easy one-handed lock and unlock feature to help prevent drips and leaks. The bite valve is also soft and provides a steady water flow.

The tubing features a quick-connect mechanism so you can take it apart to clean it quickly and easily, while you can flip the bag itself inside out to scrub it and allow it to air dry

The Soft fits into all Salomon Skin packs and is available in 1.5-liter and 2-liter sizes.