CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack Assessment

Backside Line

The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 is a light-weight, easy, water resistant, minimalist, and unisex hydration pack that provides a smaller-volume pack for shorter day adventures. Whereas it lacks girls’s-specific options, equivalent to a thicker, extra supportive hipbelt and extra sturdy development, it comes at an affordable worth for its gentle weight. We wouldn’t need to carry heavy hundreds on this pack because of the lack of assist options, like an improved hipbelt, that may higher distribute the load. Nonetheless, for shorter adventures with a smaller pack, we doubtless will solely be carrying naked necessities, water, and maybe an additional layer.

We love the CamelBak hydration system for the big opening (making cleansing and air drying straightforward) and the shorter tube that connects down our shoulder as a substitute of attaching to our chest strap with a magnet. We discover that magnetic attachments typically fail, leaving the hydration tube dangling and getting in the best way of our arms.

We totally examined the Cloud Walker side-by-side with different fashions in our lineup whereas climbing in regional parks in California’s Sonoma County. We examined its breathability and luxury in hotter temperatures, and mimicked rainfall by pouring water over the pack for over 30 seconds. And we in contrast totally different hydration methods from different top-tier manufacturers, equivalent to Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter.

General, we discover this pack to be a superb worth for somebody in search of a small, easy hydration system for shorter adventures. Solely these needing a girls’s-specific match, a extra supportive hipbelt, and a greater diversity of pockets could need to proceed reviewing our gear information to the most effective hydration packs.

How We Examined

We took the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack on trails throughout the Sonoma County regional park system, in Northern California, and examined it side-by-side towards different high-performing packs in our lineup. With the nice and cozy spring climate, we have been capable of successfully check the pack’s breathability and its means to wick away sweat. 

We mimicked rain by pouring water over the hydration pack for over 30 seconds to see how water resistant and quick-drying this pack could be in inclement climate on the path. We additionally analyzed the pack’s development for sturdiness, ease of use of the hydration system, and kit group.

The tester and author of this assessment, Emily Parnay, has hiked a whole lot of trails over time and is an skilled at testing the most effective gear for the path. Together with her eager eye, she totally analyzed the Cloud Walker 18 and in contrast it to different high fashions in the marketplace.

Consolation & Match

The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is a quite simple, minimalist, and light-weight hydration pack that sacrifices some consolation options. Whereas we love the sunshine, breathable materials for climbing in heat California climate, the hipbelt and chest strap felt a bit flimsy and missing in assist. Since CamelBak designed this pack with a smaller quantity and to hold much less water and kit, a beefier hipbelt just isn’t essentially required, however extra consolation could be most popular. With that being stated, we do recognize the padded shoulders and again panel, which provide an excellent stability of cushion and breathability and are quick-drying when moist.

Since this can be a unisex pack, the match wasn’t as ideally suited for a girls’s physique — the shoulder straps’ form felt a bit clunky, and the size of the pack felt lengthy for its quantity. Nonetheless, relying in your physique sort, this might nonetheless be a snug choice to take to the path in a pinch.

Hydration System

The CamelBak hydration system is a tried-and-true leakproof design, and the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack positively advantages from that. We love the easy deal with and huge opening, which make the bladder simpler to wash and air-dry after use. Nonetheless, with the side-opening lid, it will possibly take some maneuvering to take away all of the leftover water from the bladder. This may be an inconvenience, however we do desire the type of this bladder to that of the Osprey’s because of the ease of cleansing.

Nonetheless, we do want this method included a fast attachment that connects the tube to the highest of the bladder, making emptying and refilling a breeze. As a substitute, the tube is hooked up on the backside of the bladder; this can be a minor inconvenience however could possibly be improved in future designs. 

We do recognize that the tube is shorter and rests on the good peak on our shoulder. Throughout our 3-mile hike, the tube stayed in place your entire time. We haven’t had the most effective luck with tubes that magnetically connect with a pack’s chest strap, as they typically fail, so we love that CamelBak has an efficient option to safe the tube and mouthpiece.

Compartments

As a minimalist light-weight pack, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is about so simple as it will get. For these with out a lot gear to arrange, this pack is a superb choice. It comes with water bottle holders on the edges, a fundamental compartment with a hydration bladder sleeve, and a small zippered pocket within the entrance. Whereas the entrance pouch can maintain snacks, keys, and different smaller objects, the primary compartment can simply match an additional jacket for the path, however not a lot else.

For shorter day hikes, we discovered this quantity to suit simply what we would have liked. Nonetheless, if embarking on a protracted journey with the necessity for a full meal, hotter layers, rain gear, and different additional objects, you could be quick on house within the Cloud Walker. To not point out, if carrying an excessive amount of, this pack gained’t be as comfy because of the much less sturdy hipbelt design.

Waterproofing

Whereas the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack just isn’t waterproof and doesn’t include a rain cowl, it performs exceptionally effectively at resisting water. After pouring a full hydration bladder of water over the pack, we discovered that moisture beaded simply off the fabric and didn’t take up into the pack shortly. 

Even when water bought on the padded shoulder straps and again panel, it dried shortly on the path, which we liked. Many different packs that we examined took longer to dry when water soaked by these options. We might positively advocate this pack for its water resistant properties.

Sturdiness

In comparison with different packs in our lineup, equivalent to these made by Osprey and Gregory, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack feels slightly bit thinner and flimsier. This material doesn’t appear as abrasion-resistant, so we advocate being additional cautious about snagging on bushes and branches alongside the path. The hipbelt and chest straps are additionally smaller and don’t provide practically as a lot assist, although for the decrease quantity pack measurement, this might not be the most important concern. The zippers on this pack are additionally much less sturdy, and the pulls are manufactured from small strings fairly than thicker plastic.

Nonetheless, all stated and carried out, we didn’t discover any fast put on and tear throughout our area testing. When contemplating the Cloud Walker’s weight, smaller quantity, and minimalist nature, the trade-offs in sturdiness should still be price it for you, particularly for those who’re in search of a extra budget-friendly pack that also provides nice all-around efficiency.

Weight

At 17.6 ounces, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is among the lighter hydration packs in our lineup. We love the way it provides a barely-there really feel after we pack solely the naked necessities for day hikes. Though the lighter weight comes on the sacrifice of much less sturdiness, fewer compartments, and lowered consolation options, it’s nonetheless a superb pack to contemplate for these in search of a easy, minimalist hydration pack. We additionally recognize this pack’s water resistance, which helps stop it from absorbing moisture and rising its weight whereas climbing in inclement climate.

Ought to You Purchase the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack?

The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is the right decide for these in search of a easy, minimal, light-weight, and small-volume hydration pack at an affordable worth. It’s best used for shorter day hikes and for carrying small, light-weight necessities, because the pack lacks the assist options to adequately carry heavier hundreds.

Hikers who need a extra specialised match (equivalent to a girls’s design), enhanced consolation options, particularly within the hipbelt, extra gear group, and extra quantity will need to proceed perusing our gear information for the most effective hydration packs. The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 is an effective worth for individuals who don’t thoughts the sacrifices that include a lighter pack, equivalent to lowered sturdiness and restricted options.

What Different Hydration Packs Ought to You Take into account?

To match the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack to different top-tier choices in the marketplace, try our full gear information to the most effective hydration packs. Or, check out full opinions of a few of our different favourite hydration packs under.

Teton Oasis 18L Assessment: That is one other 18-liter funds pack that’s much more inexpensive than the Cloud Walker 18. It has just a few extra compartments and a rain cowl, however the hydration bladder wasn’t as burly.

Gregory Swift 16/Inertia 18 Assessment: The Gregory Swift and Inertia are equally sized packs, however with gender-specific designs that girls particularly could desire over the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18.

CamelBak M.U.L.E. 12 Hydration Pack Assessment: It is a a lot smaller, extra compact pack that’s even lighter and extra minimalist than the Cloud Walker, and it even comes with a barely bigger hydration bladder.