Backside Line
The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 is a light-weight, easy, water resistant, minimalist, and unisex hydration pack that provides a smaller-volume pack for shorter day adventures. Whereas it lacks ladies’s-specific options, resembling a thicker, extra supportive hipbelt and extra sturdy development, it comes at an inexpensive value for its gentle weight. We wouldn’t wish to carry heavy hundreds on this pack as a result of lack of help options, like an improved hipbelt, that might higher distribute the burden. Nevertheless, for shorter adventures with a smaller pack, we doubtless will solely be carrying naked necessities, water, and maybe an additional layer.
We love the CamelBak hydration system for the big opening (making cleansing and air drying straightforward) and the shorter tube that connects down our shoulder as a substitute of attaching to our chest strap with a magnet. We discover that magnetic attachments usually fail, leaving the hydration tube dangling and getting in the way in which of our arms.
We completely examined the Cloud Walker side-by-side with different fashions in our lineup whereas mountaineering in regional parks in California’s Sonoma County. We examined its breathability and luxury in hotter temperatures, and mimicked rainfall by pouring water over the pack for over 30 seconds. And we in contrast totally different hydration methods from different top-tier manufacturers, resembling Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter.
General, we discover this pack to be a superb worth for somebody on the lookout for a small, easy hydration system for shorter adventures. Solely these needing a ladies’s-specific match, a extra supportive hipbelt, and a greater variety of pockets could wish to proceed reviewing our gear information to the perfect hydration packs.
How We Examined
We took the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack on trails throughout the Sonoma County regional park system, in Northern California, and examined it side-by-side in opposition to different high-performing packs in our lineup. With the nice and cozy spring climate, we had been in a position to successfully take a look at the pack’s breathability and its capability to wick away sweat.
We mimicked rain by pouring water over the hydration pack for over 30 seconds to see how water resistant and quick-drying this pack can be in inclement climate on the path. We additionally analyzed the pack’s development for sturdiness, ease of use of the hydration system, and kit group.
The tester and author of this evaluation, Emily Parnay, has hiked lots of of trails over time and is an skilled at testing the perfect gear for the path. Along with her eager eye, she completely analyzed the Cloud Walker 18 and in contrast it to different high fashions available on the market.
Fast Specs
CamelBak Cloud Walker 18
Greatest Mid-Measurement Hydration Pack
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.4/5.0
Value:
$99
Capability:
18L
Weight:
1 lb. 1.6 oz.
Execs
- A superb, light-weight and minimalistic mountaineering day pack
- Good weather-resistance and dries rapidly
- Comfy shoulders and padded again panel
- Giant opening on the hydration bladder
- Hydration tube shops on the shoulder moderately than chest strap magnet
Cons
- Unisex pack, so the match is not as dialed, significantly for girls
- Hipbelt would not provide a ton of help
- Much less organizational and pocket selection
- Design of the bladder makes dumping out all water tough
Consolation & Match
The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is a quite simple, minimalist, and light-weight hydration pack that sacrifices some consolation options. Whereas we love the sunshine, breathable materials for mountaineering in heat California climate, the hipbelt and chest strap felt a bit flimsy and missing in help. Since CamelBak designed this pack with a smaller quantity and to hold much less water and kit, a beefier hipbelt isn’t essentially required, however further consolation can be most popular. With that being mentioned, we do recognize the padded shoulders and again panel, which supply a terrific steadiness of cushion and breathability and are quick-drying when moist.
Since this can be a unisex pack, the match wasn’t as preferrred for a ladies’s physique — the shoulder straps’ form felt a bit clunky, and the size of the pack felt lengthy for its quantity. Nevertheless, relying in your physique kind, this might nonetheless be a cushty choice to take to the path in a pinch.
Hydration System
The CamelBak hydration system is a tried-and-true leakproof design, and the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack positively advantages from that. We love the easy deal with and extensive opening, which make the bladder simpler to scrub and air-dry after use. Nevertheless, with the side-opening lid, it might take some maneuvering to take away all of the leftover water from the bladder. This may be an inconvenience, however we do favor the model of this bladder to that of the Osprey’s as a result of ease of cleansing.
Nevertheless, we do want this technique included a fast attachment that connects the tube to the highest of the bladder, making emptying and refilling a breeze. As an alternative, the tube is connected on the backside of the bladder; this can be a minor inconvenience however may very well be improved in future designs.
We do recognize that the tube is shorter and rests on the excellent peak on our shoulder. Throughout our 3-mile hike, the tube stayed in place the complete time. We haven’t had the perfect luck with tubes that magnetically hook up with a pack’s chest strap, as they usually fail, so we love that CamelBak has an efficient method to safe the tube and mouthpiece.
Compartments
As a minimalist light-weight pack, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is about so simple as it will get. For these with out a lot gear to arrange, this pack is a good possibility. It comes with water bottle holders on the perimeters, a essential compartment with a hydration bladder sleeve, and a small zippered pocket within the entrance. Whereas the entrance pouch can maintain snacks, keys, and different smaller objects, the principle compartment can simply match an additional jacket for the path, however not a lot else.
For shorter day hikes, we discovered this quantity to suit simply what we would have liked. Nevertheless, if embarking on a protracted journey with the necessity for a full meal, hotter layers, rain gear, and different additional objects, you might be brief on house within the Cloud Walker. To not point out, if carrying an excessive amount of, this pack received’t be as comfy as a result of much less sturdy hipbelt design.
Waterproofing
Whereas the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack isn’t waterproof and doesn’t include a rain cowl, it performs exceptionally properly at resisting water. After pouring a full hydration bladder of water over the pack, we discovered that moisture beaded simply off the fabric and didn’t take up into the pack rapidly.
Even when water bought on the padded shoulder straps and again panel, it dried rapidly on the path, which we liked. Many different packs that we examined took longer to dry when water soaked by way of these options. We might positively suggest this pack for its water resistant properties.
Sturdiness
In comparison with different packs in our lineup, resembling these made by Osprey and Gregory, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack feels somewhat bit thinner and flimsier. This material doesn’t appear as abrasion-resistant, so we suggest being additional cautious about snagging on bushes and branches alongside the path. The hipbelt and chest straps are additionally smaller and don’t provide practically as a lot help, although for the decrease quantity pack measurement, this will not be the largest concern. The zippers on this pack are additionally much less sturdy, and the pulls are product of small strings moderately than thicker plastic.
Nevertheless, all mentioned and executed, we didn’t discover any quick put on and tear throughout our area testing. When contemplating the Cloud Walker’s weight, smaller quantity, and minimalist nature, the trade-offs in sturdiness should still be price it for you, particularly should you’re on the lookout for a extra budget-friendly pack that also affords nice all-around efficiency.
Weight
At 17.6 ounces, the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is among the lighter hydration packs in our lineup. We love the way it affords a barely-there really feel once we pack solely the naked necessities for day hikes. Though the lighter weight comes on the sacrifice of much less sturdiness, fewer compartments, and decreased consolation options, it’s nonetheless a superb pack to think about for these on the lookout for a easy, minimalist hydration pack. We additionally recognize this pack’s water resistance, which helps forestall it from absorbing moisture and rising its weight whereas mountaineering in inclement climate.
Ought to You Purchase the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack?
The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack is the right decide for these on the lookout for a easy, minimal, light-weight, and small-volume hydration pack at an inexpensive value. It’s best used for shorter day hikes and for carrying small, light-weight necessities, because the pack lacks the help options to adequately carry heavier hundreds.
Hikers who need a extra specialised match (resembling a ladies’s design), enhanced consolation options, particularly within the hipbelt, extra gear group, and extra quantity will wish to proceed perusing our gear information for the perfect hydration packs. The CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 is an effective worth for many who don’t thoughts the sacrifices that include a lighter pack, resembling decreased sturdiness and restricted options.
What Different Hydration Packs Ought to You Contemplate?
To check the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 Hydration Pack to different top-tier choices available on the market, take a look at our full gear information to the perfect hydration packs. Or, check out full opinions of a few of our different favourite hydration packs under.
Teton Oasis 18L Evaluation: That is one other 18-liter finances pack that’s much more inexpensive than the Cloud Walker 18. It has a couple of extra compartments and a rain cowl, however the hydration bladder wasn’t as burly.
Gregory Swift 16/Inertia 18 Evaluation: The Gregory Swift and Inertia are equally sized packs, however with gender-specific designs that girls particularly could favor over the CamelBak Cloud Walker 18.
CamelBak M.U.L.E. 12 Hydration Pack Evaluation: It is a a lot smaller, extra compact pack that’s even lighter and extra minimalist than the Cloud Walker, and it even comes with a barely bigger hydration bladder.
