CamelBak Crux Hydration Bladder Evaluation

Backside Line

The Camelbak Crux is user-friendly, inexpensive, and doesn’t style like rubber; what extra might you need in a hydration bladder? Amongst all of the bladders we examined, the Crux delivers the most effective consuming expertise. Water flows simply via the chew valve, and it tastes superior to almost all the opposite bladders with hose programs. 

It’s not probably the most light-weight or packable possibility; its cumbersome plastic deal with makes it simple to fill however tough to fold and retailer when not in use. It additionally lacks structural options like a inflexible again plate. For probably the most half, we didn’t miss these points whereas mountain climbing with the Crux. 

The Camelbak Crux is a superb selection for backpackers and hikers in search of a useful product who dislike the rubbery style typically present in hydration bladders. Moreover, it is likely one of the most inexpensive full hydration programs, offering nice worth to your cash. For day hikers who take pleasure in sipping whereas they stroll, take a look at our favourite hydration bladders with hoses.

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different fashionable gear guides:

How We Examined

The Camelbak Crux stored us hydrated throughout huge hikes and brief walks within the Southern California desert this winter. We hiked with it up the primary 4,000 ft of the enduring Cactus to Clouds path close to Palm Springs. We additionally took it on shorter hikes and climbing days in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. The climate was principally delicate, with temperatures starting from 40 to 75 levels.

Weight & Packability

The Crux shouldn’t be the lightest or most packable bladder out there. The CamelBak web site states that the 2-liter dimension weighs 7 ounces. We measured it at roughly 7.8 ounces, which locations it on the heavier finish of full hydration programs that embrace a hose. 

The massive plastic deal with makes the Crux simple to fill from a sink or a stream, nevertheless it provides important bulk. We measured it at 9.75” by 5.5” by 2.5” in its minimal packed dimension. For backpackers flying to their ultimate vacation spot, a extra svelte possibility just like the HydraPak Contour or the Platypus Hoser is perhaps a better option.

Ease of Use

Our favourite options of the Camelbak Crux are its excessive move price and its nice style. The water flows simply from the chew valve with minimal effort, and it doesn’t have that rubbery taste discovered in lots of different hydration programs. In our move price take a look at, the Crux achieved the very best move of any bladder, filling 1.25 cups in ten seconds when the chew valve was pinched. 

The chew valve features a shutoff swap to forestall leaks, which we discovered to be fairly safe. The massive plastic deal with makes filling simpler, although it sacrifices some packability, as we talked about earlier. There are restricted inside baffles to forestall water from sloshing round, so runners or these partaking in high-impact actions could want a distinct mannequin.

Ease of Cleansing

Whereas the Crux can’t be turned inside out for cleansing and drying, the twist cap opening is massive sufficient to accommodate most arms. Among the many bladders we examined with twist caps, this one featured the biggest opening, permitting us to wash the within of the bladder simply. 

Since it may well’t be turned inside out, the Crux was one of many slower bladders to dry, like the opposite twist cap fashions. It took greater than seven hours to utterly dry when hung up outdoors within the desert. That is partly as a result of the bladder is tough to totally empty; water tends to pool close to the twist cap.

Style

As talked about above, the Crux tasted higher than most different hydration bladders. After thorough cleansing, it retained solely a barely noticeable plastic style. The one merchandise that tasted higher have been the Platypus Hoser and Platy. A few of the costlier bladders, together with the Osprey Hydraulics and Gregory 3D Hydro, tasted significantly worse than the Crux.

Sturdiness

Some client opinions we learn previous to testing talked about leaks via the threads of the twist cap. To this point, we haven’t skilled that, which can be as a result of person error slightly than product points. After many weeks of mountain climbing and stuffing the Crux into a completely packed backpack, we didn’t discover any leaks. 

Ought to You Purchase the Camelbak Crux?

The Camelbak Crux is a basic selection for hikers and backpackers on the lookout for an ideal hydration expertise. Whereas it doesn’t provide all of the bells and whistles of the marginally costlier Osprey Hydraulics or Gregory 3D Hydro, we didn’t actually miss these options throughout our testing.

Most significantly, it doesn’t style like plastic, one thing that few of the fashions we examined managed to attain.

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Think about?

The Camelbak Crux falls in the midst of the highway on the subject of options and weight. Discover lighter, extra minimalist choices in addition to bladders with extra construction on our listing of this season’s greatest hydration bladders. 

Hydrapak Contour Evaluation: If you happen to’re a runner or an ultralight backpacker on the lookout for a extra packable possibility, the Hydrapak Contour could be just right for you. With no cumbersome twist cap, the Contour rolls right into a smaller bundle that matches higher in airplane baggage. It’s a number of ounces lighter than the Crux, and it additionally options inside baffles to forestall water from sloshing. For these causes, path runners could want the Contour over the Crux. 

Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Evaluation: In a single day backpackers on the lookout for a seamless expertise could recognize the added options and considerate design of the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir. With a inflexible again plate, it’s simpler to load and unload from a completely packed in a single day pack. The hose fast disconnect is situated on the highest of the bladder, which suggests you received’t should fish via your gear to reconnect the hose after a refill. The sternum strap magnet holds the hose securely in place throughout a hike or run. These further options make it a bit costlier than the Crux, however they might be value it to some.