MSR Hydration Kit - For use with any MSR Bag

I'm not on outdoor enthusiast, I am however a disabled person with limited use of my hands. Having my Camel Pack and the Hydration Kit I ordered has been a life saver for me. This product has allowed me the freedom to take a drink whenever I want, wherever I am without having to depend on anyone helping me. I hang the pack on the back of my wheelchair and away I go. It has definitely increased my level of independence.

I do a lot of hiking for work and use it everyday, I had some concerns that it might get caught on branches and cause problems, I work in very dense vegetation and am often pulling myself through. I have been very pleased that it has held up through all the abuse I put it through.

One thing you have to realize is that you are transforming a dromedary bag into a hydration system. Because of this, the drinking tube's connection on the bag's screw-on lid is not as streamlined as say a camelbak or other hydration bag where the drinking tube is mounted on the bag itself. However, in my opinion, what some may see as a drawback (relative bulkiness of the connection) I see as a benefit. It is very easy to clean, disinfect, and dry the tubing because it is removable from the dromedary bag. As with any "bite-to-open" valve system the tubing will leak if your backpack or other gear is set on the valve, however, MSR's valve has a very, very user friendly mechanism of closing the valve. You simply twist the head of the valve 90 degrees and just like a plumbing ball cock stop valve it stops the flow of water. A good portion of the time that I use this gear is in low-light / night time operations and the valve is equipped with a raised "arrow-like" indicator that is easy to feel and know when the valve is open or closed. I leave this bag filled, in my pack, at the ready in vehicles and in structures and it has NEVER leaked, even when lying under other equipment--that is when I remember to turn the valve off! Therefore, I see any leaks as "user-error"--not equipment malfunction! I have been using MSR dromedary bags for years and only recently had to replace a 4 liter bag that was destroyed by a "penetrating projectile." These new bags have a feature that I absolutely love, a small "lipped" handle at the opening making it very easy to fill the bag to it's max level without easily dropping the bag. I highly recommend this system to anyone--especially when large volume hydration bags are needed (say greater than 4 liters).

I bought this MSR hydration system over the Camel Back version partly because I was so impressed with a friend's MSR tent. I have to say that I loath this hydration system. When used with a backpack it does provide a drink of water just like you would expect. However, anytime it is not being used, such as when your pack is in a vehicle or laying on the ground at camp, it leaks very easily. There is an "off mode" available, but you can't tell if its off or on just by looking at it. When its on, be prepared to have as much as 3 liters of water seep into whatever environment your unattended pack is in. It is absolutely infuriating and especially inconvenient in cold weather. Buy the Camel Back version that does not spew water when you don't want it to.