CamelBak Hydration Pack Review: Hydrate Or Die

The CamelBak hydration pack is a necessary piece of tactical equipment if you’re going to stay hydrated and fit for the fight. While traditionally soldiers would carry a bottle of water on their tac-vest or in their backpack, a CamelBak hydration system allows you to carry up to 3L of water comfortably on your back. CamelBak has been providing top quality tactical gear for the military for over 30 years! They specialize in both cargo packs (which have built-in hydration systems) and hydration packs.

CamelBak has been around for years, and if you’ve ever seen military films with soldiers having a hose over their shoulder to drink from, then it was probably a CamelBak hydration system. Recently, footage released by the Israeli Defence Force shows members of the Shayetet 13 Special Operations Unit using the CamelBak hydration pack. There are many different companies out there that sell hydration systems, but CamelBak is the go-to hydration system for the military community.

I’ve used hydration systems in my time serving in the Armed Forces and it was so beneficial! The ability to quickly grab the mouth piece and take a sip to quench your thirst is far better and simpler than having to grab a heavy bottle on your hip or in your pack to take a gulp. Work smarter, not harder.

Specs

Hydration Capacity: 3L/100oz
Pack Weight: 1.4 pounds
Material: 500D Cordura
Colors: Black, Coyote, Multicam
Fully Insulated Reservoir
Adjustable Sternum Strap
Grommet Drainage Holes

Cost

At the time of this article, the CamelBak ThermoBak® 3L 100oz Mil Spec Crux costs around $100 – $111, depending on the camouflage pattern. Black being the cheapest, and multicam being the more expensive.

First Impression

I really enjoyed getting my hands on the CamelBak hydration pack, because I knew how much of an advantage it was to having water carried on my back (up to 3L!) oppose to lugging around a massive bottle, either taking up space on my tacvest or uncomfortably in my backpack/rucksack.

Is a hydration pack necessary?

Yes! I would say a hydration system is one of the most important pieces of kit you can have (other than ammo). Having the ability to carry up to 3L of water comfortably on your back is a HUGE tactical advantage. It may not be as flashy or cool as your weapon system, or the sight optics, or the sick new flashlight on the end of your rifle. But having clean drinkable water with you on long patrols or while carrying heavy kit is crucial to stay in the fight.

You do not want to be dehydrated after hours of being on foot and then get into a firefight while being lightheaded in an already high stress environment. And if you become a casualty to dehydration, then your buddies have to drag your heavy butt out of there, which is removing them from the fight as well! Save yourself the trouble, and get a CamelBak hydration system.

Why should I get a hydration system over just using a water bottle/canteen?

First, if you store your canteen in your tac-vest carrier, then that’s another spot taken that could be used for more ammo or an IFAK. Second, if you’re used to carrying a bottle or canteen in your backpack or rucksack, you know how inconvenient this is for two reasons. One, it’s annoying to have to take off your backpack or rucksack to get a drink, and two, having the water swish around shifting weight in your pack is annoying!

By having a CamelBak hydration system, you’re carrying the water centered on your back which is fantastic for weight distribution. Also, as you take sips and water is emptied from the hydration pack, it’s not being filled with air. So the water will remain squeezed in the pack at the bottom so you wont have water moving all over the place. Another advantage, as I’ve stated already, is the water hose is right there so you can quickly take small sips as you’re trekking along. No need to stop or slow down.

Quality & Workmanship

CamelBak only offers the best quality and workmanship with their products, and back it up with their Lifetime Warranty. All the stitch-work is done extremely well. I’ve never had any manufacturing issues with the CamelBak, and even after using it, it hasn’t come apart. The CamelBak was the go-to hydration system for multiple military forces in times of war, and those military forces demanded a product that could take anything thrown at it.

Bladder

The bladder system that CamelBak uses is incredibly durable and can carry a ton of water. Keep in mind that if you pack this thing to the brim, it’ll likely bulge and not be too comfortable on your back. What I do is fill it to where it’s has a bit of room left at the top, I’ll squeeze the air out, and then seal it shut. This prevents there being air trapped inside and less swishing around.

There’s a lot of options for sizing for bladders and the amount of liquid you want to carry. My opinion, it’s always better to have the option of carrying as much as possible, so the 3L / 100oz is a great choice.

Straps

The straps are padded enough to prevent discomfort on your shoulders. They loosen enough to be able to go on top of your tac-vest or plate carrier, also. The sternum strap is great for keeping the shoulder straps nice and high on your trap muscles so it doesn’t slide off your shoulders.

Hose & Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece is designed to not leak on you. In order to take a drink, you have to bite on the mouthpiece and then suck the water from the pack. Great design so that you don’t lose water. How awful would that be to have a bunch of water for a long ruck march only to find out it was leaking on you! The hose has a protective cover around it too, which is excellent to prevent damage to the hose.

Functionality

The CamelBak hydration bladder is extremely functional in almost any situation you find yourself in. It’s not just useful when serving in the military, but it’s a fantastic piece of kit to have for many different scenarios.

The CamelBak hydration system is great for going on hikes, bike rides, walking the dog on a hot day, or long road trips you can have it hang on the back of your car seat.

Conclusion

The CamelBak hydration system is one of the most important pieces of kit you can buy. Not only can you use it (and need it) for military service, but it can be utilized in a plethora of scenarios.

The US Military, Canadian Forces, and other military organizations have been using the CamelBak for years, even decades, and there’s a reason for it. Don’t cheap out and buy a less expensive, less quality hydration pack. Buy it once and keep hydrated!

Thanks for reading this review and supporting the blog! I hope it’s been helpful to you in some way.

The views expressed in this article are the personal views of myself and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of National Defence.