CamelBak Crux Hydration Bladder Assessment

Backside Line

The Camelbak Crux is user-friendly, reasonably priced, 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 ingesting expertise. Water flows simply by means of the chunk valve, and it tastes superior to almost all the opposite bladders with hose methods. 

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

The Camelbak Crux is a wonderful selection for backpackers and hikers in search of a practical product who dislike the rubbery style typically present in hydration bladders. Moreover, it is among the most reasonably priced full hydration methods, offering nice worth in your cash. For day hikers who get pleasure from sipping whereas they stroll, try our favourite hydration bladders with hoses.

And for more information, try a few of our different common gear guides:

How We Examined

The Camelbak Crux stored us hydrated throughout huge hikes and quick walks within the Southern California desert this winter. We hiked with it up the primary 4,000 toes 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 gentle, with temperatures starting from 40 to 75 levels.

Weight & Packability

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

The massive plastic deal with makes the Crux simple to fill from a sink or a stream, but it surely provides vital bulk. We measured it at 9.75” by 5.5” by 2.5” in its minimal packed measurement. For backpackers flying to their closing vacation spot, a extra svelte possibility just like the HydraPak Contour or the Platypus Hoser may be a better option.

Ease of Use

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

The chunk 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 participating in high-impact actions might want a special 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 fingers. Among the many bladders we examined with twist caps, this one featured the most important opening, permitting us to wash the within of the bladder simply. 

Since it might’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 exterior within the desert. That is partly as a result of the bladder is troublesome 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 had been the Platypus Hoser and Platy. A few of the dearer bladders, together with the Osprey Hydraulics and Gregory 3D Hydro, tasted significantly worse than the Crux.

Sturdiness

Some shopper evaluations we learn previous to testing talked about leaks by means of the threads of the twist cap. To this point, we haven’t skilled that, which can be because of consumer error fairly than product points. After many weeks of 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 traditional selection for hikers and backpackers in search of an ideal hydration expertise. Whereas it doesn’t supply all of the bells and whistles of the marginally dearer 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 Contemplate?

The Camelbak Crux falls in the midst of the street relating to 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 Assessment: For those who’re a runner or an ultralight backpacker in search of a extra packable possibility, the Hydrapak Contour might give you the results you want. With no cumbersome twist cap, the Contour rolls right into a smaller package deal that matches higher in airplane baggage. It’s just a few ounces lighter than the Crux, and it additionally options inside baffles to forestall water from sloshing. For these causes, path runners might want the Contour over the Crux. 

Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Assessment: In a single day backpackers in search of a seamless expertise might admire 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 need to fish by means of 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 dearer than the Crux, however they could be value it to some.