Meet the reviewer
Camelbak Crux Reservoir 1.5L: first impressions
When you're spending long days on the trail, at any temperature, you want easy access to water and this hydration bladder keeps you going for hours. The Camelbak Crux Reservoir has been around for a while, but the new update is 20 percent bigger and comes with a handle, which makes it even easier to fill.
When you're packing for a long hike, you can easily fill this bladder up under the tap thanks to its wide mouth and easy screw lid. Once it's full, a handy hook makes it easy for any backpack to accommodate, and you can lock the tub shut so it doesn't leak until you're ready to drink.
• List price: $39 / £35
• Sizes: 1.5L, 2L, 3L
• Weight: 8.8 oz / 250 g
• Insulated: No
• Detachable hose: Yes
• Best use: Hiking, biking, trail running
Once you hit the trail, the tube is easy to drink from and carries only a mild plastic taste, which we've grown to expect from most hydration bladders (read our article on how to get rid of the plastic taste from your hydration bladder). The durable construction is up to the demands of hiking and scrambling.
After your hike, the bladder doesn't turn inside which does mean it requires a little extra attention to dry it, but the hose detaches and the wide mouth makes it easy to wipe out and keep clean. Compared to other reservoirs, this one comes in at a good price, is versatile for different activities and offers great quality and performance.
Camelbak Crux Reservoir 1.5L: in the field
During my years living in Colorado, my Camelbak was a staple of all my outdoor adventures, making sure I stayed hydrated at high altitude. Alas, it didn't make it across the pond with me and I've been making do with a water bottle for the past few years. Recently, however, I got my hands on the new-and-improved Crux and I've been using it for various hikes across Scotland, the Lake District and in Gran Canaria.
Here’s how it performed:
Ease of use
I love how easy this hydration reservoir is to use, from filling it up to drinking. The wide mouth makes filling and emptying it really easy, and the lid screws on tightly without any hassle, plus I've used it in a few different backpacks and it seems to work with all of them, even my small running backpack.
Sometimes you find yourself sucking away and getting nowhere due to a kink in the tube but this hose just delivers a great flow of water whenever I need a sip. The bite valve works great and I really like the locking device as I've been known to end up with a puddle in my car without one.
Ease of maintenance
Not only do I want my hydration bladder to provide easy access to water, I need it to be easy to care for so it doesn't end up moldy and mildewy, and let's face it, I'm lazy. So, the wide mouth makes it really easy to reach inside and scrub as well as dry it with a paper towel, and that's a good thing because it doesn't turn inside out for drying. Also, the hose also detaches, so it's easy to clean the places where gunk tends to build up.
Weight and packability
This isn't the lightest hydration reservoir out there, and that's down to the robust construction. It's heavier than my water bottle, but it also holds a lot more water and is easier to fit into my backpack.
If you want to pack it away for the season, or for travel, the detachable hose also means it can be stowed neatly without placing undue strain on the hose. The bladder can't be rolled up like some other models due to the screw lid, but it's easy to pack flat.
Durability
So far, this is obviously made of tough stuff and I haven't noticed any wear or tear, kinks in the hose or experienced any leaks. Like most gear, however, only time and use will tell, so for now I'll say that it's of high quality (and the various attachment points are easy to operate, which cuts down on straining the equipment) and I'll update this if it starts to disintegrate.
Camelbak Crux Reservoir 1.5L: the bottom line
This is a top quality, high-performing hydration bladder that comes at an excellent price and can be used by hikers, bikers and runners. If you can't stand the taste of plastic, check out the Platypus Big Zip EVO which we rated best overall in our guide to the best hydration bladders, and guarantees no taste.
