Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > MSR CloudLiner > Bob Sanders > Field Report

Field Report: MSR Cloudliner Hydration Bag

Date: 8-17-06

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Bob Sanders
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 190 lb (81.6 kg)
Email: sherpabob(at)mac(dot)com
City: Boulder, Colorado USA

Backpacking Background: I went on my first backpacking trip as a Boy Scout at the age of 16. Over the years I have hiked the Wonderland Trail in Washington and section hiked parts of the Florida Trail and the Appalachian Trail. In 2003 during a seven week period I hiked 740 mi (1191 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail. Best vacation I ever took. I continue to backpack and hike year round in the Colorado mountains. I have evolved from a heavyweight backpacker to a lightweight backpacker. My three day summer solo adventures (using a hammock) have me hovering around a 12 lb (6.8 kg) base weight.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Manufacturer: MSR
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer Website: www.msrcorp.com
Size: 3 Liter (101 oz)
Listed Weight: 6.2 oz (176 g)
Measured Weight: 6.2 oz (176 g)
Color: White
MSRP: US $26.95

Manufacturer's Specs (from website): CloudLiner™ Hydration Bags - Our taste-free, lightweight version of the Hydromedary™ Hydration Bag. The CloudLiner boasts a new high-flow/no-leak bite valve, a low-profile easy-fill/carry handle, and three streamlined shapes that fit most packs, while its puncture-resistant material solves the all-too-common bladder-bursting problem.

• Taste-Free and Durable: Reservoir is completely taste-free and puncture-resistant; drinking tube is also taste-free.
• High Flow/No Leaks: New bite valve dramatically increases flow rate, while new shutoff valve prevents leaks.
• Easy to Fill/Carry: New handle makes filling and carrying bags easier than ever.
• Upgrades Most Packs: Three new streamlined shapes fit most hydration packs and backpacks.

For a complete description see my initial impressions report.

FIELD REPORT

Test Locations and Criteria: The MSR Cloudliner is being tested in a variety of locations throughout the Colorado Front Range and central Rocky Mountains. Late spring and summer weather conditions during the testing period can range from 100° F (38° C) to 60° F (15° C) during the day and from 65° F (18° C) to 40° F (4° C) at night. Summer time in Colorado can be hot and the humidity is almost always low, except when it's raining. I am outside quite a bit during this time of year and always bring a day pack and water. While backpacking I use it inside a Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack.

Over the past two months I have used this hydration bladder quite a bit. I've used it on weekly day hikes in the mountains and during two overnight backpacking trips.

Convenience: In the past I normally use simple water bottles to carry my water in. When I wanted a drink I would usually stop for a break, retrieve the bottle, drink my fill, resecure the bottle and move on. By using a hydration bladder I find that I drink much more frequently. Just small sips every 10 minutes or so. My feeling is that this approach keeps my body better hydrated. I don't find that I am drinking more water, just more often.

The bladder fits nicely in the internal hydration sleeve of my Pack. I try not to fill the bladder too full so it slides into the sleeve easily. If I fill the bladder too full it gets more rounded in shape and is a very snug fit. The tube is plenty long and hangs over my left shoulder and is clipped to my shoulder strap. This makes access very convenient.

Filling - I have found that the bladder is easiest to fill from a tap or faucet. Just turn the lip of the red handle, located beneath the threaded opening, downwards toward the bottom of the bag. Hook your fingers under the lip, holding the opening somewhat level and let the bag hang loosely underneath. As the bag fills it does get a bit heavy balanced only on three fingers. Supporting the bag underneath with my other hand makes it easier and more stable.

Filling the bag from any other source is much more challenging. From a deep running water source, deeper than say 12" (30 cm), like a creek, hold the red handle with your fingers and face the opening into the running water. As the bag fills it will sink. When it is completely full lift it out of the creek. With a shallow water source it is a two step process. I find it is easier to hold the handle with one hand and fill the bag with my other hand using a separate container. If I am filling the bag using a filter, I need to find something to hang the bag from, like a small branch or a rock. That way I can use both hands to pump the filter. The easiest filter solution is to use an MSR brand water filter which screws directly onto the bladder opening.

Durability - The bladder has held up extremely well. There have been no leaks of any kind. Other than a few scratches on the black cap it looks brand new.

There are 2 small holes on either side at the top that can be used to secure the bladder inside a hydration sleeve or hang the bladder. On one overnighter I hung the bladder from a tree and attempted to use the tube and bite-valve to access water while in camp. While it is doable it is way too slow for practical use. It is much faster to just lift the bag by the handle, open the cap and use your second hand to lift the bottom of the bag to pour the water. The tube does sort of just hang there and get in the way. And if you are sitting on the ground the bite-valve ends up in the dirt. I have found that if I loop the tube into 2 small circles before I pick up the bottom of the bladder it stays secure and out of the dirt.

Cleaning - At the end of each trip I just rinse it out with clean water and hang the bag upside down and let it air out. Because the bladder material is very soft and pliable it has a tendency to flatten out and stick to itself on the inside. Sometimes it takes several days for the bladder to completely dry. There are some after-market hangers available that fit inside and hold the bladder open so it dries quicker. I may have to look into one of those at a later date. The manual indicates you can use a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to one liter of water to sanitize the bladder but I have not needed to do that yet.

Taste - I use Aqua Mira to disinfect my water. So far it has not discolored the bladder. The bladder and drinking tube have proven themselves taste-free.

Bite Valve - The bite valve took a little time to get use to. You sort of bite down on the flared end of the valve and gently suck a mouthful of water. All the while keeping your lips sealed around the red tube of the valve so none of the water leaks out. After a couple of tries you get a feel for how hard to bite. Too little bite, not enough water flow. Too much bite and you compress the slit too much and reduce flow. The perfect bite is somewhere in between and the flow is just perfect. About half a bite. The valve also has an on-off feature. You twist the red collar one quarter turn and align a small fin with the drinking tube. So far I have left the valve in the on position 99% of the time. I would turn it to the off position as a safety measure to insure no leakage if the bladder was being used as secondary water storage.

Likes - So far I really like this bladder. It seems very durable and there have been no leaks. The valve delivers plenty of water and the bladder helps me stay better hydrated.

Dislikes - This is minor but the bladder is difficult to fill when using any brand of filter other than MSR. The bladder is heavier than my 2 standard 2 qt (1.9 L) Gatorade water bottles.

I would like to thank both BackpackerGearTest and MSR for the opportunity to test this hydration bladder.

Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > MSR CloudLiner > Bob Sanders > Field Report