Review of CamelBak 100-Ounce UnBottle

CamelBak 100-Ounce UnBottle
By: Camelbak Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 20
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Excellent Product

On: 2010-03-05

I had a Camelbak Unbottle previously, that my dog ate.... I bought this one to replace the old one. I notice that they have changed the cover. This is an excellent product, as all Camelbaks are. I recommend this for someone who needs it.
I make multistate motorcycle trips and use it for that and when I geocache. Fill it with ice and water and you have cool water all day. I especially like the 100 oz size.

Wouldn't leave home without it

On: 2009-11-24

Spent 5 days in the Australian Outback, and the temperature index sometimes reached 124 degrees Fahrenheit. This little rascal holds about 3L water and you are constantly being reminded to "drink-drink-drink" to prevent dehydration. How GREAT to not only have my hands free but also not have to worry about a bulky water bottle either. And our Outback guide had one as well!!! Now THATS a product endorsement!

Must have for day-hikers.

On: 2009-10-15

I prefer this CamelBak to a lot of their other models because I can stick it inside my backback & therefore carry a lot of other stuff as well. Some of the other CamelBaks are built into existing backpacks, but I find that they have less storage space - unless they are the giant overnight-type backpacks. With this model, I can carry it along with an extra sweater, sunblock, lunch, and a windbreaker in my little-school-kid-sized $20 backpack.

Now Im just a day-time hiker, so this model is perfect for me. Ive used it in Rocky Mountain National Park - on a 20 mile 6000ft to 12,300ft hike and altitude didnt effect it. Ive used it in August to hike through Joshua Tree (stupid time to go, I know). It was certainly more comfortable to use in +100 degree heat & more easily accessable than an equally sized bottle of water would have been. Ive even carried this up Half Dome in Yosemite, and let me tell you that when you are clinging to those cables, not having to worry about sloshing water bottles throwing off your balance is a VERY GOOD THING. This product rocks.

Lotsa Water

On: 2009-09-24

I was able to carry plenty of water on my Smokey Mountain hike. I could have just bought the resevoir since I took it out of the insulated sleeve and put it in the sleeve in my back pack. I am not sure how I would be able to hook the sleeve to the outside of my pack anyway. The full bottle weighs six pounds or so. Be careful that the o-ring is fully seated when you close the resevoir or you may end up with a wet backpack and an empty bottle. Once I figured that one out the hard way, it was good to go.

Good alternative to buying a full hydration pack...

On: 2009-09-14

I already own a decent day pack, and was looking for a hydration solution (water bottles are nice, but cumbersome to carry and require stopping to remove from side pockets to drink). My pack doesnt really have a good compartment for a bladder, and I was concerned that an unprotected bladder could get damaged by other items in the bag.

The UnBottle (I purchased the 3 liter version, but there is a smaller 2 liter version as well) is an insulated bag with a bladder insert - its relatively light when empty and is easy to fill. The large opening seals nicely (a bit tough to open, but this is a good thing, as it avoids leakage). The opening also sports a plastic ring with a handle to facilitate filling - holding it by the handle allows the bladder to open as the water enters. The bag insulates pretty well - it kept water at a reasonably cool temperature even in high heat (90s) or in a hot car. The one drawback is that the drinking hose is not insulated - the tube can be snugged into the insulated bottle, but some part has to be exposed if you want to drink - that water gets hot fairly quickly. The bite valve with the lock is a useful feature, though - much less chance of leakage.

The size is as described - its a bit longer than the bladder inside (as it has to be), and weighs 7-8 pounds when full - but thats mostly water weight (water bottles would be heavier and bulkier for the same amount of hydration). The UnBottle packs pretty easily - it can be folded to fit in a pack when empty, but its really much easier to carry on the outside (full or not).

The UnBottle (has "snap clips" that allow it to be affixed to an existing bag (using whatever protrusions/straps are available on the bag) - although they are a bit widely spaced apart for my current bag (I have to scrunch the UnBottle a tiny bit to affix them). I was originally concerned that the plastic snap clips wouldnt be very durable, but theyve lasted a summer field season without wear. The snaps can be hard to close, but thats a good thing (again) - the clips are secure and not likely to pop open accidentally. Theyre sturdy but flexible enough to be slid around straps or rings on the outer part of a pack.

The bottle also has a single carry strap, which is really not long enough to do much with (its maybe 8 inches total length), but has snap closure so you can hook it around other items (I can hang it around one post of an adjustable headrest while driving, but its not long enough to go around both). I usually use this to stabilize the bottle on the back of my pack - the strap goes around the top handle of the pack and keeps the bottle from leaning too far back. Its not long enough to sling over a shoulder, though, so its not a good primary carrying solution. (Im thinking I need to get a second strap to extend this one for short non-pack hikes).

Im very happy with my purchase, with only two minor disappointments - the uninsulated hose means you get few swallows of rather hot water before the cooler water from the bottle gets to you, and the "carry strap" on the top is too short to be really useful.

no straps

On: 2009-08-16

Maybe it is my bad for not reading the spec carefully. But anyway, this thing does not come with straps. So if you need to buy straps separately if you plan to use it while you ride your bike.

Mild Chemical Taste

On: 2009-08-05

Pros:
Incredibly handy hydration
High quality materials and workmanship

Cons:
Mild chemical (plastic) taste
Fabric cover attached to bladder not removable
No bite valve cover

I got one of these to put in my older backpack which didnt have a hydration pocket. I put it closest to my back and I opened a seam to get the hose to the front. Unless your going to attach this outside the pack, all the fabric and buckles are unnecessary added weight.

I have two Camelbak bladders, both have a mild chemical taste which Id as soon live without. I emailed Camelbak, they replied in an hour (Wow) with a canned cleaning message, but the taste was day one to two years later. Turns out a teaspoon of lemon juice will kill the plastic taste w/o adding a lemon taste.

I consider this to be very well made, but I wish Camelbak had included the bite valve cover as a standard feature. Otherwise, the valve drags in the dirt each time I take my pack off.

Cant imagine using a water bottle ever again.

lots of water on the trail

On: 2009-05-23

I was tired of carrying waterbottles that bounced off of my pack. I know its important to carry plenty of water on hikes and camping weekends. This 100 oz. Camelbak pack was the perfect solution. It clips directly to my backpack so I dont have to carry it and there is 3 liters of water for me. Also, the price offerd by Amazons various vendors was a great bargain. Locally, this item was well over $60 plus tax. I purchased this item for half price and had it delivered in 3 days. I am very happy and the Camelbak is a great convenience.

First Camelbak, may never need another!

On: 2009-05-08

I recently got into backpacking and spent the first few trips carrying water bottles. The majority of my friends all had Camelbaks and would tease me every time I had to stop and dig out my water bottle. I decided to join the club and am so glad I did! I found it very easy to strap the unbottle onto the outside of both my large pack and daypack. It holds plenty of water and the case is very durable. What a difference it makes to be able to take a drink without stopping!

CamelBak 100, great product

On: 2009-03-24

My son (14 year old) loves it, even uses it around the house! Hes a scout so it works a lot better than the packs you can stuff in your backpack (they leak!). Excellent product, highly recommend.

drink up

On: 2009-03-09

Work great. Camelback has always had the edge in the market. The insulated cover is a MUST for very cold or hot temps. I took it on an overnight in a 95F summer hike and the water was still cold way into the evening on day 1.

Good Product. Does exactly what it's suppose to do

On: 2009-01-23

what can you say bad about this product?? its a simple design and it does exactly what the description says it does....

Built to last forever

On: 2009-01-09

This hydration pack is a little heavy but its worth the extra weight because its build to last. I think I could throw this out of my car at 50 MPH and it would survive. What else could pass that test?

Another great product from Camelbak

On: 2009-01-08

I originally bought the BetterBottle from Camelbak for my husband for work. He travels a lot and would always bring a screw top water bottle with him. I thought this was dangerous especially on the super hilly and curvy roads that he travels on. The bottle worked great, but he would have to fill it up constantly. So I set out to buy him a bigger bottle. I then found the Unbottle. He loves it! He attaches it to the back of his seat and runs the hose around the seat and hooks it on the seat belt. He then can take sips whenever he needs too. Plus when he leaves it in the car on a hot day, it has not tasted like plastic when he goes back to it. Great purchase!

Great Product

On: 2008-11-23

after having an accident, Im now required to stay in my bed. I am forced to rely on family members for everything including getting a drink for me. And now that I have this bottle, it hangs on my bed post and now I can get a drink for myself anytime I want. This bottle is the perfect size to last all night, and is tough enough to be banged around and not leak. It neither adds nor detracts from the taste of whatever you put in it. I know this is not the use it was intended for, but it works perfectly for me. I would recommend it to anybody who asks. Thank you Amazon, very much.

Works very well

On: 2008-09-03

Product has a small amount of insulation which helps keep water cool. Used it on a backpacking trip and got great use out of it. There are several loops available to secure it to a pack with straps. Straw functioned well. Had no complaints.

Great product

On: 2008-07-20

I gave my husband this item as a birthday gift. He loved it! What a great buy! I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

Functional but...

On: 2008-07-08

Bottle withstood Philmont expedition but mouthpiece needed replacement after short use. If you pack extend trips be sure to buy and carry extra mouthpieces. Bottle and sleeve do not leak, but must be filled vertically. The sleeve attachment points are a problem. They are not on horizontal center of gravity and do not match any std. attachment points of packs or slings. If you have a hydration-ready pack, a simple, un-sleeved bottle may do the job.

excellent

On: 2008-05-28

This is a great camelback. Its the second one Ive purchased. I will never buy a different brand when it comes to portable beverage containers. Camelback makes the best!

Tough, but very bulky

On: 2007-08-24

This is a very strong 3-liter water bladder that fits inside an outer pouch (what you see in the picture). This is definitely "leak-proof." The bladder itself is stronger and thicker than other bladders Ive used, and once it is inside the outer pouch, I dont see any way of it getting punctured. I am fairly confident I could fill this up and toss it onto the rocks from 50 feet and it would be okay. So it should hold up to branches and thorns that you brush up against. The reservoir comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

The description says it attaches to the outside of your pack. I guess it does using those clips if you purchase a couple straps, but I could not figure out anything to attach it to on my overnight pack or how that would work. There were no instructions explaining how the "slick clips" worked. I just stuffed mine into my pack. The handle at the top is very convenient for hanging it on a tree though, and I would say is one of the best features of this product. This bladder will definitely not fit in a packs reservoir pocket, as one description told me. Even the smallest 2-liter Unbottle is fairly enormous. It will take up a lot of room, so if you need to bring a lot of water, it is best to go with several smaller bladders like the Platypus Bottle 2+L (80 ounces).

The outer pouch does seem to insulate the bladder fairly well, and keep your water cool, which is going to be a requirement if this is clipped to the outside of your pack in the direct sun. The bladder has a huge opening on it, which makes it very convenient for filling up. The hose has a lock on it, although I never had problems with it leaking so I have never used it. If you stuff this in a pack however, it might be nice in case something shifts and presses down on the bite valve.

Lastly, if youve never used a bladder or water container with a drinking tube before, you dont know what youre missing. It is so convenient to run the hose through your pack so you can just bite down on the valve and get water. I keep water bottles in my packs side pockets, but it is a pain to use them when I can just stick the hose in my mouth and bite down. You also drink more often with a tube so you stay better hydrated. My only gripe is that the Unbottle doesnt come with a clip to attach the tube to your shirt, that way it is right in front of you when you need it.

Overall, if this bladder is all the water you need, and you are able to figure out how to attach it to your pack, I would definitely recommend it. But it is very bulky and takes up space, so if you are planning an overnight trip and need to bring along several containers of water, I would only bring one 2 or 3 liter UnBottle with you.

Tough, but bulky

On: 2007-08-24

For clarification, this product is the Camelbak 2007 Unbottle 3L 100oz. Hike Hydration Pack. It holds 100 oz of fluid.

This is a very strong water bladder that fits inside an outer pouch (what you see in the picture). This is definitely "leak-proof." The bladder itself is stronger and thicker than other bladders Ive used, and once it is inside the outer pouch, I dont see any way of it getting punctured. I am fairly confident I could fill this up and toss it onto the rocks from 50 feet and it would be okay. So it should hold up to branches and thorns that you brush up against. The reservoir comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

The description says it attaches to the outside of your pack. I guess it does using those clips if you purchase a couple straps, but I could not figure out anything to attach it to on my overnight pack or how that would work. There were no instructions explaining how the "slick clips" worked. I just stuffed mine into my pack. The handle at the top is very convenient for hanging it on a tree though, and I would say is one of the best features of this product. This bladder will definitely not fit in a packs reservoir pocket, as one description told me. Even the smallest 2-liter Unbottle is fairly enormous. It will take up a lot of room, so if you need to bring a lot of water, it is best to go with several smaller bladders like the Platypus Bottle 2+L (80 ounces).

The outer pouch does seem to insulate the bladder fairly well, and keep your water cool, which is going to be a requirement if this is clipped to the outside of your pack in the direct sun. The bladder has a huge opening on it, which makes it very convenient for filling up. The hose has a lock on it, although I never had problems with it leaking so I have never used it. If you stuff this in a pack however, it might be nice in case something shifts and presses down on the bite valve.

Lastly, if youve never used a bladder or water container with a drinking tube before, you dont know what youre missing. It is so convenient to run the hose through your pack so you can just bite down on the valve and get water. I keep water bottles in my packs side pockets, but it is a pain to use them when I can just stick the hose in my mouth and bite down. You also drink more often with a tube so you stay better hydrated. My only gripe is that the Unbottle doesnt come with a clip to attach the tube to your shirt, that way it is right in front of you when you need it.

Overall, if this bladder is all the water you need, and you are able to figure out how to attach it to your pack, I would definitely recommend it. But it is very bulky and takes up space, so if you are planning an overnight trip and need to bring along several containers of water, I would only bring one 2 or 3 liter UnBottle with you.

An older model of the CamelBak Unbottle

On: 2007-08-24

This is an older model of the Camelbak 2007 Unbottle 3L 100oz. Hike Hydration Pack. The difference is that the outer pouch is a littler smaller and looks a little more dated.

This is a very strong 3 liter water bladder that fits inside an outer pouch (what you see in the picture). This is definitely "leak-proof." The bladder itself is stronger and thicker than other bladders Ive used, and once it is inside the outer pouch, I dont see any way of it getting punctured. I am fairly confident I could fill this up and toss it onto the rocks from 50 feet and it would be okay. So it should hold up to branches and thorns that you brush up against. The reservoir comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

The description says it attaches to the outside of your pack. I guess it does using those clips if you purchase a couple straps, but I could not figure out anything to attach it to on my overnight pack or how that would work. There were no instructions explaining how the "slick clips" worked. I just stuffed mine into my pack. The handle at the top is very convenient for hanging it on a tree though, and I would say is one of the best features of this product. This bladder will definitely not fit in a packs reservoir pocket, as one description told me. Even the smallest 2-liter Unbottle is fairly enormous. It will take up a lot of room, so if you need to bring a lot of water, it is best to go with several smaller bladders like the Platypus Bottle 2+L (80 ounces).

The outer pouch does seem to insulate the bladder fairly well, and keep your water cool, which is going to be a requirement if this is clipped to the outside of your pack in the direct sun. The bladder has a huge opening on it, which makes it very convenient for filling up. The hose has a lock on it, although I never had problems with it leaking so I have never used it. If you stuff this in a pack however, it might be nice in case something shifts and presses down on the bite valve.

Lastly, if youve never used a bladder or water container with a drinking tube before, you dont know what youre missing. It is so convenient to run the hose through your pack so you can just bite down on the valve and get water. I keep water bottles in my packs side pockets, but it is a pain to use them when I can just stick the hose in my mouth and bite down. You also drink more often with a tube so you stay better hydrated. My only gripe is that the Unbottle doesnt come with a clip to attach the tube to your shirt, that way it is right in front of you when you need it.

Overall, if this bladder is all the water you need, and you are able to figure out how to attach it to your pack, I would definitely recommend it. But it is very bulky and takes up space, so if you are planning an overnight trip and need to bring along several containers of water, I would only bring one 2 or 3 liter UnBottle with you.