This bladder held up to several hours of airsoft gameplay, which included me (225lbs) rolling over it several times, and being shot point-blank by a newbie with automatic on. I wore it within the 'YAKEDA Tactical CS Field Vest Outdoor Ultra-light Breathable Combat Training Vest For Adults 600D Encryption Polyester-VT-1063' (boy that's a long title). Why the -1 star? It was the color I ordered. I ordered the cyote, but it came with what I can only imagine is the foliage (more tan vs grey/black). Had I ordered that color, I would have given it a 5-star. If they decide to send me a cyote (or black) I'll update this rating. Otherwise, still a great buy.

My previous issues with hydration reservoirs:

I usually like to keep things for some time before reviewing. Having been issued various types of competitors better known hydration reservoirs and using them year round in different places there were a few things I found lacking. The other brand always seemed to give water a rubber/plastic taste no matter what and cleaning the other brand was always a chore as some of the reservoirs had a small filler neck and you had to either buy a bottle brush and then finagle the reservoir upside down and open to dry or use way more water than needed to get any soap out. I tried the fizzy denture cleaning tablet method but that added another layer of strange taste, even after rinsing. Some of the other brand's models come with a large neck/cap which is more useful but the plastic/rubber construction make effectively opening and closing an almost herculean effort. Not to mention it was easy to cross thread the filler cap on my issue reservoirs and then they leak, on me, and my stuff, at the worst time.

The product at hand:

Enter Source Tactical. The reservoir arrived well packaged. The big selling point for me is the top that opens up for cleaning/drying. I also like the string connecter between the filler cap and neck. I have had the flat plastic connecters on other brands wear out and break from use, making the cap easy to get lost. The mechanism is sturdy and easy to use. I have yet to accidentally cross thread it. I initially had my doubts about the plastic used to make up the body of the reservoir. I had wondered if would leak through the seam but so far that is not the case. As always, your gear will only work as well as you treat it. The taste is significantly better than the other reservoirs I have used. On the scale of potable to palatable, your mileage may vary. I have used this on a few treks over the summer and while it won't replace my everyday Nalgene bottle, it has earned place in my essential outdoor backpacking gear list. I will not be getting another one of the competitor's reservoirs.

Couple this with the ocean of affordable surplus hydration carriers on the market and you can have a nice setup.

-Fox

I've owned a smaller source bladder for years (I think it's a 1.75 liter) and it's performed flawlessly. I've replaced the hose a couple times, but apart from that my only issue has been with the size. Coupled with a one liter bottle, that one was great for day hikes up to about five or six miles. When my friend invited me to hike to and climb Half Dome in Yosemite, however, I knew I'd need more capacity to complete the 17-plus mile hike.

When looking to purchase a 3 liter bladder, admittedly Source was already my preferred brand. I've owned and like Camelbak bladders, but have found the features and level of hygiene of the Source products to be superior.

This Tactical WXP bladder is awesome! It's got great capacity but its shape and shallowness front-to-back allows it to fit perfectly in all but my smallest pack. The army green color looks cool and it's transparent enough that I can still see the water level with a quick glance into my pack. The bag can be filled three ways: by connecting the hose to a gravity filter or other source, by unscrewing the wide twist cap on the front or (my preferred method) by sliding the top clip off and unfolding the top of the bag open. This last method also affords a wide opening that makes cleaning the bladder a breeze as even a fairly large hand can reach in with a sponge or towel. There are also cool connectors at both ends of the hose that should make it easy to disconnect and swap out or to change the mouthpiece. My favorite feature of Source bladders is probably the lining on the interior of the bladder. The bladder has what they call a glass-like surface that purportedly resists contaminants like bacteria or other organisms. I can't attest to the validity of that claim apart from stating that I've never seen mold in either of my Source bladders and the water from both has always tasted good--even after sitting for days--and with no plastic taste.

The only two negatives I could cite about this bladder are actually features the company touts as benefits. The first is the insulation on the drinking tube. I live in Phoenix so theoretically this would be (and often is) a benefit -- who wouldn't want his cool water to stay that way? Through experience I've found, however, if mold is going to grow in one of these bladders, it's now most likely to grow in the tube (as mentioned above, the plastic in the bladder itself seems to deter growth there). I'd rather risk a few hot sips of water than not be able to see if my drinking hose is nasty. I must point out the hose does look pretty neat, though ... like a real piece of gear as opposed to just a cheap plastic tube. The second negative is a bit more subjective. The mouthpiece is this hard plastic version that can be twisted to lock either opened or closed. You have to twist it to the unlocked position and side it out to drink. It's not difficult but it seems more complicated than simply biting to drink. There's no bite mechanism built in. I like that it can be locked closed but I think I just prefer the now more commonplace, softer bite valves.

All in all, I think this is an excellent bladder. Even my negatives may be desirable features to most and for those like me who don't prefer the insulated hose or the different valve, they are easily swapped out with alternatives (I've long ago purchased a 25' length of drinking quality replacement hose from a hardware store so I can easily swap out the tube when necessary ... maybe every couple of years). Honestly, if this pack came with the bite valve, that'd probably be enough to bump it to the the full five star rating.

I used this hydration reservoir on a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon earlier this month. The hose broke off from the connection to the reservoir as I was putting it in my backpack after filling getting all of my gear wet and leaving me without a water supply at the bottom of the canyon in 120 degree heat. Fortunately, my wife had a reservoir that we could share on our hike back up. I contacted Source Tactical to exercise the warranty but they have been unresponsive despite many inquiries. Buyer beware. If you buy this it could fail on you in the middle of your activity and the company doesn't seem to stand by their warranty.

What an amazing bladder! Just got this today in the 3L model and I love it. I've owned and used many other bladders over the past years (namely the "Camelbak" stuff) and I've really had no complaints with them... But this product by "Source" is a step-up IMHO. The material that the bladder is constructed of feels extremely heavy duty and durable. The wide opening at the top is perfect for cleaning, drying and adding ice (I've already had it filled up and drained out a few times to check for leaks.) Also, the clasp/handle that secures the top opening is solid and easy to manipulate. The small spout is just right for filling up on the go, while the bladder is in it's carrier. I don't particularly care for the bite-valve, but I wasn't planning on using it anyways... which leads me to the best part about this bladder. The QMT (Quick Mate Technology) that "Source" utilizes is the SAME SIZE as the "Camelbak" QLT (Quick Link Technology) Therefore, I was able to disconnect the stock "Source" drinking tube from it's bladder and then connect my "Camelbak" drinking tubes (which I have customized for my specific uses.) This way I can still use the "Camelbak" mouth-piece/bite-valve that I prefer. Again, this thing feels super tough, like it could take some serious punishment. I expect that it will last me for quite some time, as long as it is maintained properly. I actually plan on purchasing a second one, just to have as a spare... (Yea, that's how bad-ass this thing is!!) I don't think there's too much more to say, other than I highly recommend this system! Thanks again to "Source" for a quality product!