- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 110
A while back, I received the Source Tactical 3L Hydration System (OD), and I think it's about time that I let other people know about a great product.
According to their website, "Source Vagabond Systems (http://www.source-vagabond.com/) is a unique Israeli company that creates, produces and markets innovative outdoor gear for the people that belong outdoors. All our products are produced in-house in our factory located south of Haifa, Israel."
Their website has a section for military products (http://www.source-military.com/), and they have supplied some of their products to military forces from Israel, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and the U.S. (Army and Marines). They also have NBC Hydration products for both US and NATO NBC systems (including Canada's C4 gas mask).
The big selling point with Source hydration products are their "Glass-Like" liner and Grunge-Guard antimicrobial technology that eliminates the issues with taste, and cleaning (their website claims you can go for "days, weeks and even months ... with no special care required").
I personally find the Source system to have a MUCH better taste than my CamelBak, and to test their claim of not having to clean the bladder, I left my bladder partially full and laying around my apartment for 4 weeks, then took a drink - still tasted great (a little warm, but still tasted "clear and clean"). After taking this "test drink", I emptied the bladder and thoroughly checked it out to see if I could detect any smell or "little nasties" - nothing.
When, and if, you decide to clean out the bladder, it's incredibly easy due to their bladder design which incorporates a "user-friendly slide closure [allowing] wide opening access for easy fill, clean, drain or ice insertion" and provides an air-tight seal; all you need to do is slide off the clip, dump out any water, and stick your hand inside to wipe out the bladder.
The "Hi-Flow Storm-Valve" is not a bite-type system like CamelBak's - it's more like drinking from a straw, and the locking features prevents drips and leaks. I found this system takes a little getting used to - I kept having to use one hand to actually lock the thing (maybe those people who can tie knots in cherry stems with their tongues would be more adept at this). That said, the valve easily dissassembles for cleaning.
The Tactical 3L Hydration System has quick-release shoulder straps and an adjustable sternum strap, as well as zippered openings at both the top and side of the pack. Its external fill port is very similar to that of the CamelBak.
The bladders are fairly cheap, and are available at CPGear and One Shot Tactical - "cheap" NOT cheaply made.
All in all, a very well-built, and well-designed system. Service was very good, and delivery (from Israel) was very fast (less than a week). Interested parties can contact Steve hardesty (steveh@cimasports.com) as he is the North American rep for Source Vagabond Systems (he's based in Boulder, CO).
---
As for why I ended up going with a product designed and manufactured in Israel, and not Canada
- it was the ONLY quality hydration system that I could find ANYWHERE in Olive Drab (I could have had some of the larger CamelBak hydration/cargo packs, but I was looking for a stand-alone hydration system). As a final point of interest, as I mentioned in another review, this system fits perfectly in the CPGear Tac-Vest Hydration Harness.
According to their website, "Source Vagabond Systems (http://www.source-vagabond.com/) is a unique Israeli company that creates, produces and markets innovative outdoor gear for the people that belong outdoors. All our products are produced in-house in our factory located south of Haifa, Israel."
Their website has a section for military products (http://www.source-military.com/), and they have supplied some of their products to military forces from Israel, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and the U.S. (Army and Marines). They also have NBC Hydration products for both US and NATO NBC systems (including Canada's C4 gas mask).
The big selling point with Source hydration products are their "Glass-Like" liner and Grunge-Guard antimicrobial technology that eliminates the issues with taste, and cleaning (their website claims you can go for "days, weeks and even months ... with no special care required").
I personally find the Source system to have a MUCH better taste than my CamelBak, and to test their claim of not having to clean the bladder, I left my bladder partially full and laying around my apartment for 4 weeks, then took a drink - still tasted great (a little warm, but still tasted "clear and clean"). After taking this "test drink", I emptied the bladder and thoroughly checked it out to see if I could detect any smell or "little nasties" - nothing.
When, and if, you decide to clean out the bladder, it's incredibly easy due to their bladder design which incorporates a "user-friendly slide closure [allowing] wide opening access for easy fill, clean, drain or ice insertion" and provides an air-tight seal; all you need to do is slide off the clip, dump out any water, and stick your hand inside to wipe out the bladder.
The "Hi-Flow Storm-Valve" is not a bite-type system like CamelBak's - it's more like drinking from a straw, and the locking features prevents drips and leaks. I found this system takes a little getting used to - I kept having to use one hand to actually lock the thing (maybe those people who can tie knots in cherry stems with their tongues would be more adept at this). That said, the valve easily dissassembles for cleaning.
The Tactical 3L Hydration System has quick-release shoulder straps and an adjustable sternum strap, as well as zippered openings at both the top and side of the pack. Its external fill port is very similar to that of the CamelBak.
The bladders are fairly cheap, and are available at CPGear and One Shot Tactical - "cheap" NOT cheaply made.
All in all, a very well-built, and well-designed system. Service was very good, and delivery (from Israel) was very fast (less than a week). Interested parties can contact Steve hardesty (steveh@cimasports.com) as he is the North American rep for Source Vagabond Systems (he's based in Boulder, CO).
---
As for why I ended up going with a product designed and manufactured in Israel, and not Canada
- it was the ONLY quality hydration system that I could find ANYWHERE in Olive Drab (I could have had some of the larger CamelBak hydration/cargo packs, but I was looking for a stand-alone hydration system). As a final point of interest, as I mentioned in another review, this system fits perfectly in the CPGear Tac-Vest Hydration Harness.
Other than that, is there any sort of insulation (like the stuff sold on CP gear) that actually works and would prevent freezing while up here?
