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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > MSR CloudLiner > Bob Sanders > Long Term ReportLong Term Report: MSR Cloudliner Hydration BagDate: 10-10-06
PERSONAL INFORMATIONName: Bob Sanders 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 DESCRIPTIONManufacturer: MSR 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 bag-bursting problem. • Taste-Free and Durable: Reservoir is completely taste-free and puncture-resistant; drinking tube is also taste-free. For a complete description see my initial impressions report. LONG TERM REPORTTest Locations and Criteria: The MSR Cloudliner has been tested in a variety of locations throughout the Colorado Front Range and central Rocky Mountains. Late summer and early fall weather conditions have ranged from 90° F (32° C) to 50° F (10° C) during the day and from 65° F (18° C) to 40° F (4° C) at night. This time of year there is very little rain. While backpacking I have used it inside a Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack. Over the past two months I have used this hydration bag quite a bit. I've used it on weekly day hikes in the mountains and during two additional overnight backpacking trips. As reported in my Field Report this hydration bag has been a joy to use. Convenience - I have always been pretty old-school when it came to hydration. I would carry a couple of simple water bottles in the side pockets of my pack and I was all set. But I have to admit that the Cloudliner has made keeping hydrated much more convenient. The drinking tube hangs off my left shoulder strap and I just drink when I need to. I find that I don't drink more, just more often. I am glad that I opted to test the 3 liter size. The difference in weight between the 2 and 3 liter is only .5 oz (14 g). So for an additional .5 oz (14 g) I get a 50% increase in volume. On short days I may only fill it half way and on long stretches or if I am transferring extra water back to base camp I fill it up all the way and make less trips. This make the Cloudliner very versatile for me. Filling - Filling the bag in the field is always a challenge. But like all pieces of gear I find shortcuts to what works best or I stop using the gear. During the testing filling the bag was pretty straightforward. It's very easy to fill from a pouring water source (like a faucet) but more of a challenge from a deep water source (like a lake or deep stream). It took me a short while to figure out the best approach to filling from a shallow source. I hold the black handle level in my left hand with the bag hanging underneath and using my cooking pot I scoop water with my other hand and pour it into the bag. More time consuming but easy and I don't spill too much. Since I disinfect my water in the bag using Aqua Mira this has been a simple solution. It's always best to have the Aqua Mira pre-mixed and ready to go before filling so you don't have to put the bag down. I have only tried to fill the Cloudliner once while using a filter. I own an MSR brand water filter so the task was very simple. You screw the bottom of the filter into the large bag opening. Hold the filter in one hand and pump with the other. Very simple. I can see how using a different brand of filter would be more of a challenge. Durability - The bag has held up extremely well. There have been no leaks of any kind. It is hard to tell if the bag is scratched up. The white exterior is already kind of frosted so unless it's a serious scratch you can't tell. Now the black cap is beginning to show lots of scratches. This doesn't bother me and kind of gives it that well used look. The scratches have no affect on performance. Cleaning - After each trip I continue to just rinse it out and hang it upside down until it dries. The bag still has no odors and I have not had to disinfect it with bleach. On the other hand the bite valve began to get a bit of a funky odor and I took it off the drinking tube and soaked it in one tablespoon of bleach in one liter of water. After a thorough rinsing it came out smelling like new. I think that because I disinfect my water in the bag it has helped keep the mold and mildew at bay. But because my mouth comes in contact with the bite valve it needs special attention. Taste - I use Aqua Mira to disinfect my water. It has not discolored the bag and continues to remain taste free. Bite Valve - The bite valve continues to deliver plenty of water and has not leaked. Likes - So far I really like this bag. It seems very durable and there have been no leaks. The valve delivers plenty of water and the bag helps me stay better hydrated. I will definitely continue to use the Cloudliner on day hikes and short trips. But the jury is still out if I will use it on longer trips. I like to go as light as possible and right now the Cloudliner is about twice as heavy as my standard lightweight water bottles. Dislikes - None for me except the weight. I would like to thank both BackpackerGearTest and MSR for the opportunity to test this hydration bag. Read more reviews of MSR gear Read more gear reviews by Bob Sanders Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > MSR CloudLiner > Bob Sanders > Long Term Report | |||
