Review of CamelBak 70-Ounce UnBottle (Coyote/Graphite)

CamelBak 70-Ounce UnBottle (Coyote/Graphite)
By: CamelBak Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 2
More Information

Looks study and works ok, but clips don't work

On: 2008-05-20

First of all, Its my first time using a Hydration Pack.

The Clips that were supposed to be used to clip to existing bags are difficult to understand.

Ive read reviews about it saying the clips dont really work. But being an Engineering student I thought "if the producer said it will work then it should, one just need to read the instructions more carefully...."

Well, turns out I am wrong in this case. no instruction was provided regarding how the bag clips should work and after trying several things on it, I declared that the clips are either quite poorly designed or required additional purchases to work on your bag.

It fits on the side pouch of my bag in an awkward way due to its large size.

so unless you plan on leaving this waterbag inside of your existing bag(which works pretty well, mind you). you should get a stand alone hydration pack instead.

-NJ

Tough, but very bulky

On: 2007-08-24

This is a very strong 2-liter water bladder that fits inside an outer pouch (what you see in the picture). This is definitely "leak-proof." The bladder itself is stronger and thicker than other bladders Ive used, and once it is inside the outer pouch, I dont see any way of it getting punctured. I am fairly confident I could fill this up and toss it onto the rocks from 50 feet and it would be okay. So it should hold up to branches and thorns that you brush up against. The reservoir comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

The description says it attaches to the outside of your pack. I guess it does using those clips if you purchase a couple straps, but I could not figure out anything to attach it to on my overnight pack or how that would work. There were no instructions explaining how the "slick clips" worked. I just stuffed mine into my pack. The handle at the top is very convenient for hanging it on a tree though, and I would say is one of the best features of this product. This bladder will definitely not fit in a packs reservoir pocket, as one description told me. Even the smallest 2-liter Unbottle is fairly enormous. It will take up a lot of room, so if you need to bring a lot of water, it is best to go with several smaller bladders like the Platypus Bottle 2+L (80 ounces).

The outer pouch does seem to insulate the bladder fairly well, and keep your water cool, which is going to be a requirement if this is clipped to the outside of your pack in the direct sun. The bladder has a huge opening on it, which makes it very convenient for filling up. The hose has a lock on it, although I never had problems with it leaking so I have never used it. If you stuff this in a pack however, it might be nice in case something shifts and presses down on the bite valve.

Lastly, if youve never used a bladder or water container with a drinking tube before, you dont know what youre missing. It is so convenient to run the hose through your pack so you can just bite down on the valve and get water. I keep water bottles in my packs side pockets, but it is a pain to use them when I can just stick the hose in my mouth and bite down. You also drink more often with a tube so you stay better hydrated. My only gripe is that the Unbottle doesnt come with a clip to attach the tube to your shirt, that way it is right in front of you when you need it.

Overall, if this bladder is all the water you need, and you are able to figure out how to attach it to your pack, I would definitely recommend it. But it is very bulky and takes up space, so if you are planning an overnight trip and need to bring along several containers of water, I would only bring one 2 or 3 liter UnBottle with you.