Why it's on the list
The bladder is the point. A pack is how it stays on you from noon art to a 2 a.m. ride home. We choose this one because the reservoir is already in it, the belt carries the weight, and there is a pocket for goggles. If a pack you trust already takes a bladder, buy the reservoir alone and leave this on the shelf.
How we use it
Fill it at camp. Dust loves the bite valve, so keep the cover shut. Three liters is a few hard hours in the sun, not a full day. Rinse the bladder with a splash of vinegar water before you pack it home or it will smell like a science project until next year.
Heads up
Confirm the listing includes the reservoir. A pack shell without the bladder is a different product, and it does not solve the problem. The one we opened is black, 100 ounces, reservoir included, sold by Amazon.
