Gregory Backpack

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend the extra money to get a fancy hydration pack, but I am so incredibly happy with this purchase. I did not know how amazing the handle Would be until the first time I used it, but holy cow it makes filling the thing up so much easier than any other brand. The hose connects and disconnects easily, it hangs to dry easily, and it never leaks, not even a drop.

Bought this to fit my Gregory hiking pack. Not exactly necessary as other brands are compatible with the Gregory pack's hook. Eh, not my favorite bladder but not my least favorite either. It's kind of an odd shape, the bladder itself, which can make it awkward to fill. The plastic handle helps but I still often spill water during refills. I like that the hose is extra long. I recommend purchasing the bite valve cover to prevent your water from tasting like dirt. I wouldn't turn it down if offered another one of these bladders, but when it's time for a new one, I will probably go with Cascade Designs or Hydroflask.

No opening in mouthpiece to draw water. I have another Gregory 2L bladder from a few years back -- it's still working like it should. But they changed the design and not for the better.

I love the quality of the product and it holds a lot of water which is great if you go on a long trip. However, my bike rides are at the most 2 hours and just filling this up half-way is enough water for me so the size of the bladder is not appropriate for a rider like me. I also found this bladder really hard to clean, even with smaller brushes it's not easy. I would just clean it the best I could and throw it in freezer so bacteria doesn't form. This is a good bladder and if you need the size, then get it and keep it in the freezer after a ride. But for me, I would rather buy a smaller and less expensive bladder that is easier to clean.