MSR Dromedary

The major benefit of a bag like this, over a camelback or lexan bottles, is not so much to replace both with one but to utilize the versatility/capacity of a large water container that can also doubles as bladder. You can leave the camelback at home and keep the benefits of a bladder. They are collapsible and only take up as much room as the volume of water they hold, so if space it tight, they are pretty versatile. I bought this after wearing out two Nalgene 3L Wide-Mouth Canteens, and have been satisfied with the durability on the trail & compatibility with my water purifier. I use the 6L Dromedary Bag in my pack (about 1/3 full) and fill it as needed when hiking. Then, when you get to camp, you can fill up the bladder and have enough water for dinner and breakfast from one trip to fill it. The lining inside is nice and prevents bladder taste.
I had problems with the MSR Hydration Kit hose line becoming kinked in my pack, so I opted to assemble my own with a camelback bite valve/tube (which is more rigid to prevent kinking) and a Nalgene lid adapter (cause I already had one). I think that another good alternative is using the MSR spigot Cap with a Camelbak bite valve and hose - if it will stay together securely. Then it may be easier to use for washing cooking/dishes in camp. The nylon cord around the parameter is great for hanging up. A bag like this is not going to replace all your water holding needs - I still take a hard Nalgene bottle or mug, to mix drinks in, but the large capacity allows me to carry a smaller .5L to save space, instead of two or three 1L bottles. For me, it just works better.

Didn't use this one 2L but bought it after using 6L one. This one is a bit smaller to be used for backpacking. Looked in to lighter red version, but this one is the best. Yes, it may be a bit heavy but with a oz or two comes lots of flexibility. Adding to it valve cap and you can use it hanging from the tree. When not in use takes a little space and can be lashed to backpack in many different ways. Update 07/14/09. Used both 6 and 2 liters for a canyon trip and yet again proven to be really usefull. 6 L used as a camp water holder ether suspended from the rope or on top of the table. This one was outfited with MSR spigot. One bag was enough for all of the Dinner, Tea, and the rest of the needs for 5 people for the evening. Smaller 2 L was for extra water during hiking and was directly placed in backpack. Never leaked or gave any discomfort. After using it for about 2 years no sign of damage or any visible wear. Great product and while not cheap totally reliable and usable.

The MSR Dromedary Bag is a workhorse in the backcountry. I still have the first one I purchased almost 10 years ago, and it is as good as new despite the abuse it has taken on countless backpacking trips. I typically strap it to the outside of my pack - easy to do with the attached nylon webbing that is threaded through the grommets of the bag. The bag has been impervious to sharp branches and rocks and is easy to clean. The "3-way" spout/opening is very convenient. It can be used for drinking, washing, or easy filling. My favorite feature is that the largest possible opening of the bag is the same size as the MSR water filter so that you can attach the Waterworks and filter water directly into the bag, never losing a drop! This is a great hydration bladder.

MSR has a new hydration attachment which is an improvement over the older one. Be careful though. Despite the "360 degree" rotation of the tube, if you don't orient the hydration tube correctly before you tighten it down, there is still a tendency for it to loosen up and spill out.

I own both the 6 & 10 Liter bags and I can't rave enough about the construction, packability (space savings), functionality and the interchangeable accessories of this MSR series. I found myself using these bags over my previously loved hard-sided water bottles and camelback for carrying H2O which will all now be set out for the yard sale. Because I love to cook on the trail, and because I left my hard-sided H2O bottles at home, my camelbacks wide-mouth cap wouldn't allow me to pick up my pack, remove the cap, and accurately pour water from the camelback without pouring too much and/or spilling the precious commodity.
MSR solved this for me! I now carry the attachment drinking hose along with the 3-in-1 cap and I can swap the two when ready to pour water for cooking without removing the dromedary bag from my pack. I have more pack space available and carry a lighter pack.
I now carry MSR's Dromedary bags exclusively and found nothing else on the market that compares equally.

I just returned from a 10-day road trip to Utah's Canyonlands on my BMW 1200GS motorcycle. I bought two 4-liter MRS Dromedary bags to carry water into the back country on my bike (4 liters = approx 1 gallon). One gallon is the bare minimum that you want to have for a day in the desert, and believe me, we used our water, getting a refill out of the Green River with a compatible MSR water filter (which required continuous scrubbing due to the heavy silt in the Green).

The MSR Dromedary bags, lashed to the tail section of my bike, performed their job perfectly. And they took a beating too. Riding over miles of sand and rock challenged the strength of these bags, particularly from an abrasive standpoint. They held up, and held my water, and are ready for another trip. I recommend this product as it beats carrying a large container due to it's carrying flexibility.

MSR has made a great hydration bag that is tough, durable, and well designed. The large opening allows for easy filling and the cap and nipple dispenser seem to be durable (no leaks so far). I also like the grommet and lashing cord system that allows me to tie this bag to the outside of my pack when carrying a lot of gear. At 6 liters it’s a big bag but it fits easiy into the hydration sleeve of my Kelty Redwing 3100. If I don’t want to carry so much water I simply add what I need and roll up the unused part of the bag to save space. One nit pick: the cap and tube connector protrude at least 2 inches from the bag’s surface and interfere somewhat with loading other things in my pack. Overall I rate this product highly and recommend it to anyone who needs a large volume hydration bag.

I have almost all the sizes available of the MSR Dromedary Bags. They are my favorite hydration bags! They hold up to almost anything. I have stepped on them with crampons and dogs run all over them constantly. I have never torn a whole in any of these super rugged bags (I have tried with everything that would possibly occur out in the field other than stabbing it with a knife or throwing it in a fire). I have no complaints about the bags however if you are looking for something lightweight or not as bulky this may not be the bag for you. They take up a little more space than most hydration bags due to the lid system so if you are looking for something small to toss in your day pack you might want to try another product. I give these an A+

I bought for a desert canyons backpack trip. I was glad I did. It rained so the water available was murky for filtering one day. I'd suggest rinsing it a few times to clean out the initial material taste. I laid it flat across the top of my back to keep it from sloshing and the pack evenly weighted. Once in camp, set it on a slightly angled rock and it pours right out. There are three flow adjustments- a small nozzle in the camp (super slow & precise), a heavy faucet flow if you take the nozzle off and a dump it all out fast flow if you remove the main filling spout. The smallest nozzle is the easiest to use but you need patience.

I got the 10l.... and it's big. I might get a smaller one to go with it. I can't find anything that really compares to these... the slight addition in weight from other bags seems worth it for the extra durability and functionality (mainly from the grommets and webbing). I wish the opening were more camelbak size than nalgene though. I can fit my hand into my other reservoirs to thoroughly dry them, but not on these... so if I try to do a towel swab, it might get lost in the abyss. the lid is really functional, giving you squirt, pour, and dump options... I think I'll rig a shower for it next summer... seems like it would work well.