Source hydration systems come with an impressive specification including an anti-microbial treatment impregnated into the PVC bladder, but how well do they work on the hill?
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Source H2O Hydration Sytem
Tested
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Price: £17.00
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Weight: 227 grammes (pair size
43)
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Features:
Two-litre capacity , PVC, polyurethane-free Novell bladder
with antimicrobial impregnation, hnaging / carrying handle,
easy-refill handle, large filler cap, weave-covered tubing,
double-thick, clear bladder, Hands-free Z-valve with cover,
tube clip. Also available as three-litre version.
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Good bladder with minimal taint and microbe growrth.
Some odd touches.
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The Concept Hydration systems are relatively new to the
outdoors with Platypus and Camelbak probably the best-known brands in
the area. Souce is another alternative, snapping at the heels of the
big boys with an Israeli-made hydration range that packs an
impressive specification.
The H2O is a beefed-up system with a double-thick, confidence
inspiring bladder and all manner of tough nylon reinforcements to
make sure it lasts. Like other hydration bladders, it's designed to
sit in your pack's hydration pocket and allow hands-free, on the move
hydration, simple really.
Features As hydration bladders go, the H2O has a fair few
features going on. The bladder is double-thickness PVC and, along
with the tube, impregnated with an antimicrobial element to inhibit
the growth of mould and smells. The whole thing is uses Nylon fabric
to protect the edges of the bladder and to provide a handle for
carrying and clipping into packs where appropriate and the tube is
covered with a woven fabric, though we're not sure why, unless it's
just a cosmetic measure.
In Action We've been using the H2O for a couple of months now,
both with water and energy drinks and it's been pretty decent so far.
Overall build quality feels good with a tough bladder material and
useful handles for both hanging and filling.
The PVC bladder works well too, holding noticeably less taint from
energy drinks than, say, a Camelbak, and so far, despite some
deliberate neglect, there's been no sign of mould either. Probably
just as well since while the woven cover over the tube looks nice, it
means you can't spot any pink or grey growths in your hydration
pathway...
Arguably the most crucial part of any hydration system is the bite
valve and the Source one works very well. It''s not quite as free
flowing as the benchmark Camelbak version, but unlike some
competitors, we never felt we were trying to suck ice cream through a
straw... We have heard reports of leaking valves with prolonged use,
but so far ours has been fine.
One thing we didn't like, was the clip-on and off valve cover,
which rattled around if you were running or biking and was a pig to
replace one-handed. In the end we simply cut it off and ran the risk
of accidental leaks in transit. A Camelbak-style shut-off valve would
be a neater solution, though when in place, the cap does keep the
bite valve free of mud and other nasties.
The large-ish cap and handle makes filling straightforward, though
a larger one still would make cleaning even easier by allowing you to
get your hand right inside. We did find that care was needed when
tightening the cap - if you don't wind it right down, the bladder
will leak easily.
Minimal taint, minimal mould and tough contruction combined with a
free-flowing bite-valve thatr's also easy to dismantle for cleaning
makes for an impressive hydration alternative that we've been using a
lot.
We could happily lose the woven tube cover, add a shut-off
mechanism to the valve and go for a bigger filler cap, but even as
things stand, the Source H2O works well enough to score high points.
Even if the valve does leak eventually, the bladder is good enough to
justify retro-fitting a Camelbak valve for further use. And, if it's
as tough as it feels, there should be a lot of that.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:
Israeli-made alternative hydration system, with great
build, taint resistance and an anti-microbial treatment that
mininmises mould growth even with neglect. The bite valve
works well too, though the slide off cap is a bit pants.
Good option.
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