CamelBak Omega HydroTanium Hydration Reservoir - 2006 BCS

I started out with CamelBak reservoirs years ago. This one is a classic and is a no frills model that simply gets the job done. It does taste like plastic the first couple of times you use it.

I have switched to Osprey lately and they are a quality bladder too.

If you have the room in your pack, go for the 100oz..why? It will bairly add any weight(unless full), you can always decide on how much water you want to bring. And its the same price as the 72oz. Seems like a no brainer. Opening the cap can be a pain, but its nothing to cry about.

Ok, Lets all be honest here, these are not the best bladders available. I used these for 11 years before switching to platypus.

They may be slightly more durable than the competition, but I can say with confidence the previous omega bladders that I owned were no more durable than my platypus big zip.

The cap sucks, it tends to leak unless you close it really tightly. Thus, opening the lid later is a struggle.

The bite valve tends to leak, platypus doesn't. The big zip is also lighter.

I was a big fan of Camelbak. I still have my pack, it's been to 3 deserts, many alpine areas, and has thousands of biking and hiking miles on it. Honestly though, now there are lighter, better bladders available. I hope camelbak catches up.

I've been using this for about a year now. I had my doubts at first. But it works really well. I do recommend getting the "Tube Trap" for it though. The only disadvantage is the flavor; but not having to carry a water bottle more than makes up for that in my opinion.

Without a quick release valve it’s a pain in the rump to refill on the go but it sure takes a beatin. I’ll take quality over convenience any day.

What more needs to be said here about these great reservoirs that hasn't been said by the previous 98 reviewers? I'll review it anyway, for a couple reasons. First, to give it the five-star rating it deserves, and bolster its overall rating here at Backcountry. Second, to reiterate the versatility of the 100 oz. size, which to me makes the most sense. If I'm going on a short dayhike, I don't have to fill it, saving weight. If I'm on a hike with limited or no water sources, I can top it off. The cost difference and weight between the sizes is fairly neglible; if you're only buying one, get the 100-ouncer.

Also, as I mentioned in my review of the CamelBak Fourteener, the hydration system is better than any other I've used, specifically the main competitor, Nalgene. The bladders don't leak at the hose connection, the bite valve, or the lid, and the bite valves flow better and are more comfortable to use.

I have noticed that when you buy a pack equipped with this reservoir, you get the Ergo Hydrolock valve included; when you buy a replacement reservoir, you do not. No biggie; they sell for about six bucks, but it's good to know when purchasing. All in all, this is my favorite and go-to hydration system for all my outdoor pursuits...

perfect size for a long day hike, and with a water purifier you are good as long as you can find ground water. The only complaint is i wish the lids were different, they can be tough to get loose. still 5 stars.

I used it for a while it worked for a little while.But every once in while I would have cool sensation running down my back.A leak at the worst time.Gatorade on your rope.I stopped using camelbacks for a bit too many leaks.

I have the 3L version. I would never go with a smaller reservoir; there's no reason why you can't just fill the 3L up halfway if you don't need the full capacity. I have been using the same bladder for everything for about 6 years now and it still looks and functions like it did when I bought it. I have been taking care of it, making sure to wash it out right after I use it, as well as letting it air dry before I pack it away. I had a friend who did not do this and the bladder grew mold after being stuffed away full of water for several months. Moral of the story: don't be lazy and you will have a great hydration reservoir for a very long time.

Water tastes like water when coming out of this reservoir. However, beer tastes like carbonated plastic when coming out of this reservoir. And the bladder retains traces of that taste for about 5 uses later. Moral of the story: don't be an idiot.

I first purchased a 50 oz. bladder and soon found out that it just wasnt quite enough and forced me to have to carry a nalgene, which Id rather not do since it takes up more space in my pack. Im more a minimalist so the upgrade to the 72 oz (for only a couple extra bux) was well worth it. The first one I owned started leaking around where the tube connects to the bladder after only being detatched twice for cleaning. I figure this was simply a manufacturing flaw out of the batch that I recieved (first one purchased last year). I have detatched the tube on my new one several times just to make sure it was not going to give me any problems like the last one and it has held up fine. You got to expect at least one bad product from every assembly line. However, these bladders are the greatest. I have put water in these bladders with a little ice and left them sitting out directly in the Louisiana scorching sun for hours on end while fishing and my water stayed cold. It stays cold in every environment Ive used it in. The water tastes great, leaves no odd or plastic taste, and makes carrying enough hydration around a breeze. As stated, Id definitely go with a 72 oz over the smaller ones cuz you dont have to fill it all the way if you dont want to carry the extra weight of the water you wont use on short trips, runs, etc. I can't say enough great things about these bladders, not even after having a faulty one.

ok, so I'm an ol school bushwacker from Louisiana who always thought these things just didn't look as kewl as a good ol canteen out on the trail. also I have heard people complaining about bladders busting on them and soaking their gear. I always thought that was a sad story and poor excuse for 'looking cool' in the outdoors. Well, I decided last year to plan a hike thru the AT in 2010 and started gearing up. After checking out a video @ Backpacker.com where a guy runs a filled camelback over with a SUV I figured this might be worth a try. I was glad I made the purchase of this bladder and could care less how ridiculous I may look to my friends with it's tube running out of and dangling from my pack. Heh, my friends call it my colasthomy bag, but I think they're just jealous cuz I'm the only one with water every bit as kewl as it was when I filled it even after its been set directly in the sun. No joke, this thing can not only take a beating, but even placed in the direct sun of a 100+ day in smoldering Louisiana my water stayed very cool (aside from the obvious amount that stays trapped in the tube if you don't blow it back into the bladder after sipping). And to top it all off, to my amazement was how much like water my water really tasted coming out of this thing. No funky plastic taste or nothing...even tastes better coming out of the bladder than out of the tap...like it's an improvement. I could NEVER see going back to using canteens again...I can't now imagine an outdoors adventure without my camelback. From extensive reviews I have read I doubt I would ever purchase a bladder from anyone but camelback. Some people complain about the opening being hard to open up...I dunno bout that....I mean it even has a grip for unscrewing that enormous hole that I love...I think some people just need summin to complain about...

If you're curious or have had a bad experience with another brand of bladder hydration then I suggest you give this one a try; you'll love it!!

also, the hydrolock and cleaning kits are very convenient if you have one of these. I didn't notice any issues with leaking before I installed the hydrolock, but at the same time I didn't have the bladder long before I installed the hydrolock so...

Bought the 72 oz. version and fits like a glove in my Kelty Coyote 47500. I shall not dehydrate!

Big mouth is easy to fill. Cap ring has a tab which allows you to hold it level under the faucet or hose. No problem filling with ice cubes for those long hot Texas days on the trail.

I've been using CamelBaks since I first saw them many years ago. Whether in one of my packs, or strapped onto my tac vest for playing airsoft, they've never let me down. My personal preference is for the 100oz.

The Omega's wide mouth filler cap was the greatest upgrade CamelBak could have done. The narrower cap of the earlier version did not make cleaning very easy.

Do yourself a big favor, get the cleaning kit. Also, hit a homebrew supply shop and get a bottle brush for cleaning every little inch along the seams. If you don't stay on top of keeping them clean, that wonderful black biological sludge that grows in the crevices along the seams can leave you feeling like a king on the throne for hours...

Its simple, 100oz of water in your pack, easily accessible - what could be better! Definitely go with the 100oz. bladder. I'd rather have a little water left over at the end of the day rather than be thirsty at lunch time! I have had no trouble fitting this into any hydration system compatible pac. Its durable and the new wide-mouth opening is a huge improvement over older models. Its easy to fill and easily to close securely. Keep the Nalgenes for around the house, office, campus and use the CamelBak bladder for your trips, adventures, expeditions.

so far no problem with this pack. i have in it the Hawg NV pack. probably the most convenient thing about this is how easy it is to fill up with the little handle under the lid. the only downside to it that you have to screw the lid on pretty tight for it to close. it thought the lid would be so waterproof that all you really have to do is lightly twist, but you really need to tighten it down or else it will leak in your pack

Five star rating from 103 other reviewers. Not much I can add. If you are hesitant on size, remember you don't always have to fill it full.

Add an insulated hose and an on/off valve and you are good to go. An on/off valve also helps prevent minor spilling when threading the bite valve through the backpack while packing before a hike(noticed my carpet was pretty wet, had the backpack resting on the bite valve opening it up)

I've had it for more years than I can remember...maybe 6 or 7. I've only used it for water and its been great. No weird tastes, no problems with the hose/valve. Would highly recommend the 100 oz - you can always but 70 ozs of water in it if you need less!

I love the CamelBak Octane XCT Hydration Pack. It is extremely light and great to run with. I am very disappointed with the 70 oz. Omega HydroTanium Hydration Reservoir however.

I have only taken it on four runs (20 mile, 19.5 mile, 14 mile) and yesterday my 23 mile run was cut short to 10.5 miles when the bladder started leaking as I began my run and I realized that I would not have enough water to continue. (Extremely frustrating!)

Upon examination at home, when I filled up the reservoir there were small holes in the seam at the top of the reservoir above the Omega mouth opening. While running with the water sloshing around somehow I was able to lose roughly 30 oz. within the first few miles (my back and legs were soaked).

I have the CamelBak Hydration Pack Cleaning Kit. After every use I clean and rinse the reservoir and allow it to air dry on the reservoir dryer. The CamelBak Hydration system is excellent and I absolutely love running with it. I have not been hard on the reservoir and am very frustrated that after only the fourth use it failed me.

The trail marathon I am registered for is in four weeks. This is my only water source for 4+ hours of running. I need to have gear that will not fail me come race day. Do I need to order a Military grade OMEGA® Water Beast™ Reservoir in order to be able to depend on my water source for my race?

I dont use a resevoir any more. But when I did, I used a 100oz. No complaints, worked as advertised. In cold wx blow the water back out of the tube to prevent freezing.

I have tried two different bladder brands before this, and both made the water taste horrendous, even after cleaning and lemon-juicing. The Camelbak does not have this problem. It is virtually tasteless, the way water is supposed to taste.

I believe I have the previous version, but I believe my review is still valid with this newer version. First of all, the bladder itself is bomber. No leaks, takes a beating, and the lid closes reassuringly tight. There are a few flaws; the black plastic that makes up the handle & hook mechanism is pretty weak. At below freezing temperatures, my hook snapped off while attempting to attach to my backpack's hydration sleeve hook (the one designed for that purpose). In addition, the plastic connector between the lid and the handle (to hold the lid when open) broke after far fewer uses than I would have predicted. It feels similar to the one on my Nalgene bottles, but those last through years of hanging, throwing, and abuse. The one on the reservoir literally does nothing except hold the lid. It shouldn't break at all.

The bladder itself is phenomenal though. Still receives four stars; just treat the handle area gently.

I have the 3L version, and i take it on every hike and backpack. 5 years and no signs of wear. It is so great to be able to drink on the go. The biggest advantage of a bladder over a bottle is that it fits in the sleeve of your pack right up against the frame. The advantage is that water is the heaviest thing that you carry, and you want the heaviest items closest to your back. This reduces the torque on your pack and creates a more balanced load. Therefore, your pack will feel lighter. If you are even considering getting this item, get it. It is one of the least expensive pieces of gear that I own, yet easily one of the most important.

Bought this as a replacement for a bladder that developed a hole. The first time I used it the thing that struck me is the taste of the water, it was perfect. In addition the large mouth makes cleaning very easy as well as allowing you to add ice to the reservoir.

This in my experience is the best Reservoir out their. It is simple and effective. I have had experience with many other brands and have had/seen many problems with leaks, rubber taisting water, faulty lids, etc. and have never had or seen any problems with this product. The insulated tube (sold seperately) is also a very worth while investment. No more warm water the first couple gulps!

I love this bladder. My pack has a perfect sleeve for it and the durability along with the ease of cleaning makes this resevoir my favorite on any trail.

Good durable reservoir that eliminates the need for carrying a bulky heavy nalgene or other water bottle. Can be used for a variety of things from a hydration system to a shower unit and broken down to use for a splint. Make sure to keep it clean and have fun!

Works great, easy to use, and did not get musty.

Works great, easy to use, and did not get musty.

Works great, easy to use, and did not get musty.

2 problems
I'm on my 3rd nipple/rubber bite valve. They keep getting torn rock climbing. I have a locking valve on mine which is essential as I keep ripping the things in the 1+ year I've had it.
Also the cover is an absolute pain to remove. It takes a lot of strength and patience especially on cold mornings to open it up.
Other than that, yeah it works.

This bad boy does everything as advertised. It's so nice to be able to throw 100 oz (I definitely recommend going with the 100 oz for backpacking) of good ole' dihydrogen monoxide in your pack and have a sip without having to take off your pack and reach for your water bottle that costs about the same as this pack and holds 1/4 the liquid. Very reasonably priced for such a high quality piece of gear.

Been using camelbaks of different sizes for years. Haven't had one break on me yet. Even after the water within froze solid. Will keep buying them.

Over all this is by far one of the greatest reservoirs on the market today. Its durable and holds a lot of liquid.

Pros: Durable easy to use, Doesn't cost a lot, Holds plenty of liquid, High flow.

cons: Strait bite valve is a little awkward to use i would recommend getting the "L" shaped one.

I use the 100oz bladder for any outdoor activity, most recently on a thru-hike of the Long Trail in VT. Most people use only the 70oz because it is a bit lighter and water sources are usually consistent. However, I kept with my 100oz because of several reason: 1. I could fill up with water in the evening, cook, clean, and have water for the morning, leaving 1.5L left for the trail, not needing to refill again in the morning. 2. If water sources were scarce, I could carry the extra water to bypass the less than pleasant standing water sources. 3. 100oz is big enough to rig up as a shower system with the hydrolock valve and have a nice shower every couple days.

Overall this thing performed beautifully. Always able to have a sip whenever I wanted. Great for consuming Clif Shot Blocks or GU while moving down the trail. Easy to use with a water filter or AquaMira drops (used both on the trip). Only problem I ran into is when leaning forward, putting pressure on the bladder stuffed between my back and the gear in my pack, it would SLOWLY begin to drip. Remedied by using the hydrolock valve. Not really a problem at all, but it was something I did notice.

The CamelBak is a pretty cool reservoir for pretty much any activity that I do. You can grab different accessories for it for different conditions, and if you get the 100oz. you have all the water you will need for a day or 2 on the trail. The lid on mine is really hard to open, and I know that lots of people have this same problem, but I just think of it as this: If I have troubles opening it, water has troubles getting out of it. I have dropped it, stepped on it completely full, and done numerous other abuses to it, and I still have it in almost perfect condition. Super easy to clean, except my hands don't fit in it like some peoples do. The thing that I feel would give it 5 stars is if CamelBak included a Hydrolock with the bladder, because it has a bit of a problem leaking out of the mouthpiece at times, drenching the front of you.

I finally caved and bought my first camelbak about a yr ago. I like it overall but two negatives: it does give the water a funky plasticy taste and this doesn't go away- it's not horrible and I can deal with it. The hangar clip broke the second or third time I used it- the plastic is too thin for the weight of 3L of water. To "fix" it I just drilled a hole in the remaining plastic and used a wire tie which works fine. And of course they're not usable in colder temps as the hose will freeze up.

I've taken it on 5 trips for a total of 30 days on trail and about 40 refills. There are two problems with it.
Ive got the Omega with a insulated straw for snowboarding, however ive yet to take it snowboarding because even while hiking a short 16 mile day, im constantly nervous that I will arrive at my camp with a popped bladder, however it is still unpopped. The other problem is the nipple/bite valve is sooo easily broken. Its a pain. Ive got the locking valve and with out it, I would have immidietly bought a different one. The nipples are $6 and ive gone through 3 already, but i like chewing on it.

PS- do not put anything besides water, especially a fruit flavored drink, or coffee becuase for the rest of the time you own it, it will taste like watered down fruit punch or coffee... Gross

I absolutely love being able to carry 3 liters of h20 at one time; God knows it was a lifesaver when I went on a 22-mile hike in one day. I refilled once at high enough altitude to not have to filter the fresh mountain water, and the refill lasted the remaining 10-12 miles of all downhill.

The only thing I would change is having the drinking hose come standard with an "on/off" valve, like Nalgene brands do. Occasionally I felt a few droplets of water down my leg when hiking.

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with the name or the price of this product.

I have the 100 oz. bladder and it is supreme. You can fit it in any pack just by not filling it all the way and it is completely indestructible. I have used it on all day backcountry ascents and descents, and alpine climbs mid-summer in the Colorado altitude and heat. Perfect hydration option.

I bought this as a replacement for my husband's other reservoir which just worn out.

I love my camel bak. It works great and hasn't leaked yet. The bite valve is awesome and never leaks. Go with the 100oz. and you will not be disapointed.

Good reservoir that doesn't leak and is easy to fill and clean. The lid can be tough to screw on and off, but it's secure and won't leak, which I much prefer.

Weight isn't an issue, since I always just fill it to the level I need.

Great asset for long treks. Holds a lot of water, so fill it up!

Antimicrobial and a lifetime warranty. You've got compatible packs etc., so why not?

The reservoir is a fairly simple device and therefore is fairly difficult to mess up but regardless, its just what it says it is. Put water in, get water out of the pump without leaking or dripping and when its within a backpack it actually stays fairly cold by itself. The wide mouth also makes it easy to fill it with ice.
Great product.

I had it complety full of water and I dropped it from about three feet, when I picked it up I carefully examined it. It was in perfect condition. I highly recomend this to any one who is hiking with a full pack. It is very durable.

Huge opening makes cleaning super simple, but my tip is to just keep it in the freezer when you are not using it as this prevents bacteria and fungal growth pretty darn well in my experience. No complaints. It's never leaked or failed me in anyway. No more bottles, hydration on the go!

Got this to replace my original small mouth reservoir.

Super easy to fill and clean with the much larger mouth/opening.

liked it at first, until i found wet spots from little pin holes around the top. beside that the lid is pretty tough to open. i would suggest that if you want an easy to fill bladder that rocks get a platy. big zip.

CamelBak reservoirs are superb. Yes, there are others that are good (for example, Platypus, of which we own three) and even as good. But for my money, I'm sticking with the standard. I've been using them for a dozen+ years without any issues. The 100 ouncer (3 liters) is our favorite for hiking and backpacking. Good quality, lots of wonderful accessories (such as the Hydrolock--I prefer the non-Ergo version) and a lifetime warranty. What more can a hiker want? Perhaps more days off from the grind at work to reach those summits on hot days.

This is a well made and tough reservoir. I love the wide opening for filling. It's good to have a large bladder even if you don't fill it all the way up.

I have used many others,but the camelbak omega h.t.is the best out there, this is my 2 one, the first is still working just fine,but for my new pack I wanted the 100 ounce.

I have lost numerous bite valves due to them being ripped off especially the ("shut-off-able" 90 deg one) for obvious reasons. I like the 90 though so I micro zipp-tied it on. haven't lost one since. wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a spare bite valve, the whole hydro pouch becomes pretty much useless if you loose a mouthpiece. PS the 100oz is a must.

I use my 3L for backcountry skiing inside my pack. I blow back on the tube every time so it doesn't freeze. When I get home, I dry it out by hanging it from the tube/bladder attachment crotch so that the mouthpiece hangs at the bottom of the vertical tube. It dries in a hurry this way; I hang it from a coat hanger.

Once it's dry I put it in the freezer until I need it again. My girlfriend says I'm stupid and that since we live in Colorado it'll be dry enough to avoid excessive bacterial growth without freezing it . . . but I plan on using this thing for the rest of my life, which will hopefully be several more decades of skiing and mountaineering and good stuff like that. She might be right though.

No complaints thus far, 10+ days of skiing Berthoud Pass. Tastes like water. I won't be putting anything else in it because I know better. If it breaks I'm going to be taking advantage of the warranty.

I own one of these and an MSR bladder they seem the exact same. a quality bladder is a quality bladder. I am not a huge fan of the on off switch/ have not found a good reason for it yet.

Nice and durable, no spilling and easy to clean...all you want in a reservoir. If you plan to use it in the winter it would be a good idea to get an insulator for the hose or be sure and get all the water out, it will freeze and potenitally break the nozzel

Filled it up and never managed to empty it in one day during my recent trip to Las Lenas Argentina to ski despite vigorous skiing, some hiking, and long traverses with poles on the way out from the backside. Didn't notice the weight difference between it and my 72oz. reservoir. Replaced the standard tube with the insulated type with bite valve cover. Carried it with the tube zipped into my North Face backpack's shoulder strap and never had it freeze despite some howling cold winds and subzero temps.

I have had several camelbak's and was a fan, but my last trip (70-mile UL Solo) has taught me to hate camelbak and become a Platy fan from now on. In my three day trek, the hose pulled away from the bladder 4 times letting 3 liters of water fill the bottom of my pack soaking all of my gear. i could not see how this would happen 4 times, i did nothing different in packing than i always have done in the past- even when the tube was attached, if slight pressure was put on the bladder, water still leaked from the bottom. Maybe this is due to overuse of the bladder but i have never once ever had a drop of water come out of my platy. think twice before purchasing this- it will make your life miserable.

This was my first hydration bladder and I have to say I really like it. The opening is really big so it's super easy to fill without making a mess and it's easy to wash out and dry. With the tube trap and hydrolock the bitevalve stayed in one place and didn't drip at all. Very convenient hydration for my hiking trips.

Well worth the price, I haven been using it for two years on numerous hikes. 100oz is alot of water and its pretty easy to clean. I would get an ergolock just to be extra safe so no water leaks

I've been using Camelbak reservoirs for years. I have the 100oz in my H.A.W.G. pack and have a 70oz that I used in my old day pack. I only use water in mine, as I'm not good about cleaning them after a long ride or hike. Never had a problem with funkyness. Mine always seem to stay together good, but I've had a friend accidentally disconnect the hose on a full one while on the ski hill, didn't make for a very fun day for him. So check your connections often. I don't like the bite valves without the Hydrolock accessory as mine always seem to leak when in a packed bag, biking with a full pack puts alot of pressure on the reservoir and it squeezes the water out at a trickle. Haven't used other types of bite valves on other brands so I'm not sure if they are any better. Otherwise this is a great product.

I'm happy with the 70 oz size, anything larger would be ok, but this a good replacement. It is great for longer runs of 10+ miles. It is also good for the little ones, my 2 year old daughter can drink from it with no problems. It was worth every penny.

I have the 100 oz / 3 L verson and I love it. It works in all of my packs and the versatility makes life a lot easier. It's durable, it hasn't leaked, it's easy to fill, and there isn't an after-taste. The tube is long enough so you can improvise your set up if need be and there is a clip on the top near the refill cap so you can hang it upright in your pack. Water only comes out when you bite down on the valve and if you are worried about germs, it is treated with an anti-microbial coating. I would recommend buying the 100 oz. version because you don't always have to completely fill it up is space is limited.

I have found just cleaning the bladder with warm water and an antimicrobial dish soap and then letting it dry works great. I am a scout leader and have used for several years with no problems. I like the lock. When you throw your gear into the back of a truck or van with gear from15 other scouts somethings your bite value get smushed between packs and without the lock you arrive for your hike minus water and then have a large water spot to clean up.

This is bladder is great. The 100oz nicely into my day pack when full and stays cool without any insulation. My only complaint is that it is difficult to open.

great size wasn't too heavy when filled all the way up and lasted the whole day.

I purchased the 100ml bladder for a trip I took to Peru and it keep me hydrated all day. Never ran out of water. Was hiking full days and was so thankful to have purchased the largest one.