CamelBak Crux Overview | CleverHiker

Backside Line

The Camelbak Crux is user-friendly, reasonably priced, and doesn’t style like rubber; what extra might you need in a hydration bladder? Amongst all of the bladders we examined, the Crux delivers one of the best consuming expertise. Water flows simply by way of the chew valve, and it tastes superior to just about all the opposite bladders with hose methods. 

It’s not essentially the most light-weight or packable choice; its cumbersome plastic deal with makes it simple to fill however troublesome to fold and retailer when not in use. It additionally lacks structural options like a inflexible again plate. For essentially the most half, we didn’t miss these features whereas mountaineering with the Crux. 

The Camelbak Crux is a superb selection for backpackers and hikers looking for a purposeful product who dislike the rubbery style typically present in hydration bladders. Moreover, it is among the most reasonably priced full hydration methods, offering nice worth on your cash. For day hikers who take pleasure in sipping whereas they stroll, take a look at our favourite hydration bladders with hoses.

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different fashionable gear guides:

How We Examined

The Camelbak Crux saved us hydrated throughout massive hikes and quick walks within the Southern California desert this winter. We hiked with it up the primary 4,000 toes of the long-lasting Cactus to Clouds path close to Palm Springs. We additionally took it on shorter hikes and climbing days in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. The climate was principally gentle, with temperatures starting from 40 to 75 levels.

Weight & Packability

The Crux will not be the lightest or most packable bladder accessible. The CamelBak web site states that the 2-liter measurement weighs 7 ounces. We measured it at roughly 7.8 ounces, which locations it on the heavier finish of full hydration methods that embody a hose. 

The big plastic deal with makes the Crux simple to fill from a sink or a stream, however it provides important bulk. We measured it at 9.75” by 5.5” by 2.5” in its minimal packed measurement. For backpackers flying to their closing vacation spot, a extra svelte choice just like the HydraPak Contour or the Platypus Hoser is perhaps a better option.

Ease of Use

Our favourite options of the Camelbak Crux are its excessive circulation price and its nice style. The water flows simply from the chew valve with minimal effort, and it doesn’t have that rubbery taste discovered in lots of different hydration methods. In our circulation price take a look at, the Crux achieved the very best circulation of any bladder, filling 1.25 cups in ten seconds when the chew valve was pinched. 

The chew valve features a shutoff change to stop leaks, which we discovered to be fairly safe. The big plastic deal with makes filling simpler, although it sacrifices some packability, as we talked about earlier. There are restricted inside baffles to stop water from sloshing round, so runners or these participating in high-impact actions might want a special mannequin.

Ease of Cleansing

Whereas the Crux can’t be turned inside out for cleansing and drying, the twist cap opening is massive sufficient to accommodate most palms. Among the many bladders we examined with twist caps, this one featured the biggest opening, permitting us to clean the within of the bladder simply. 

Since it might’t be turned inside out, the Crux was one of many slower bladders to dry, like the opposite twist cap fashions. It took greater than seven hours to fully dry when hung up outdoors within the desert. That is partly as a result of the bladder is troublesome to completely empty; water tends to pool close to the twist cap.

Style

As talked about above, the Crux tasted higher than most different hydration bladders. After thorough cleansing, it retained solely a barely noticeable plastic style. The one merchandise that tasted higher had been the Platypus Hoser and Platy. Among the dearer bladders, together with the Osprey Hydraulics and Gregory 3D Hydro, tasted significantly worse than the Crux.

Sturdiness

Some shopper evaluations we learn previous to testing talked about leaks by way of the threads of the twist cap. To date, we haven’t skilled that, which can be on account of person error reasonably than product points. After many weeks of mountaineering and stuffing the Crux into a completely packed backpack, we didn’t discover any leaks. 

Ought to You Purchase the Camelbak Crux?

The Camelbak Crux is a traditional selection for hikers and backpackers on the lookout for an important hydration expertise. Whereas it doesn’t supply all of the bells and whistles of the marginally dearer Osprey Hydraulics or Gregory 3D Hydro, we didn’t actually miss these options throughout our testing.

Most significantly, it doesn’t style like plastic, one thing that few of the fashions we examined managed to attain.

What Different Hydration Bladders Ought to You Take into account?

The Camelbak Crux falls in the course of the highway on the subject of options and weight. Discover lighter, extra minimalist choices in addition to bladders with extra construction on our record of this season’s finest hydration bladders. 

Hydrapak Contour Overview: In case you’re a runner or an ultralight backpacker on the lookout for a extra packable choice, the Hydrapak Contour might give you the results you want. With out a cumbersome twist cap, the Contour rolls right into a smaller bundle that matches higher in airplane baggage. It’s a number of ounces lighter than the Crux, and it additionally options inside baffles to stop water from sloshing. For these causes, path runners might want the Contour over the Crux. 

Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir Overview: In a single day backpackers on the lookout for a seamless expertise might respect the added options and considerate design of the Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir. With a inflexible again plate, it’s simpler to load and unload from a completely packed in a single day pack. The hose fast disconnect is situated on the highest of the bladder, which suggests you gained’t must fish by way of your gear to reconnect the hose after a refill. The sternum strap magnet holds the hose securely in place throughout a hike or run. These further options make it a bit dearer than the Crux, however they could be value it to some.