The price makes this an excellent first option. Even given the price there’s nothing wrong with the bladder except it does balloon up considerably, which is the main reason it has been marked down. This will only affect some rucksacks, however. The cap has the same drawbacks as the Osprey bladder: It is trickier to clean and to dry – but for £6 there’s a cleaning kit with a drying rack. The bite valve is simple and effective, and offers a really good flow. It’s locked with a simple mechanism and there’s a dust cap too. The hose can’t be detached when water is in it, but I’ve never found this a major problem. There are three size options too. It’s simple, but works well and for a tenner, you can’t go wrong – hence the four stars.
First published: July 2013
