 This Product
Hydrapak Shape-Shift Reservoir | |||||
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| Awards |  Best for Lightweight Adventures |  Best Overall Hydration Bladder |  Best Bang for the Buck | ||
| Price | $40 List $36.00 at Amazon | $44.95 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $37.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $37 List $29.56 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Ready for any on-the-go athlete looking for a lightweight hydration system | Featuring a large handle and quality construction, this bladder is designed to take a beating on any backcountry excursion | This stands out for its high flow rate and durable design, but the closure could use a little work | A long-time top model among our testers, we find this versatile bladder useful in all kinds of recreational applications | Simple and high value, this bladder covers your basic hydration needs in a lightweight package |
| Rating Categories | Hydrapak Shape-Shif... | Gregory 3D Hydro | Platypus Big Zip EVO | CamelBak Crux Reser... | Platypus Hoser |
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Care (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Filling (20%) | |||||
| Quality and Durability (15%) | |||||
| Weight and Packability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Hydrapak Shape-Shif... | Gregory 3D Hydro | Platypus Big Zip EVO | CamelBak Crux Reser... | Platypus Hoser |
| Weight of Bladder & Tube (oz) | 5.40 oz (3L) | 7.1 oz (3L) | 6.90 oz (3L) | 8.40 oz (3L) | 4.2 oz (3L) |
| Bladder Capacity Options (liters) | 2L, 3L | 3 L | 1.5L, 2L, 3L | 1.5L, 2L, 3L | 1L, 1.5L, 3L |
| Dishwasher Friendly? | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Plastic Taste | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Bite Valve | Bite valve with shutoff twist valve | Push-button on/off valve | HyFLO Self-sealing Bite Valve | Bite valve with updated shutoff valve | HyFLO bite valve |
| Can bite valve be removed? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hose Connection | Quick release (no swivel) | Mid-tube quick release, but can be changed to the base. | Mid-tube, but can be changed to the base. Quick Release | Quick release hose (no swivel) | Screw-on hose |
| Closure Type | Slide top | Screw top | Zip top | Screw top | Screw top (hose connection) |
Our favorite lightweight hydration bladder saw a few updates that make it a touch fancier and more versatile. Its connections are more durable with a handle that makes filling easier. Its rate of flow is faster than the previous iteration, making it very easy to drink on the go. It's still lightweight with a thin profile and our number one go-to for lightweight performance.
The new bite valve offered in this iteration is advertised to offer “20% more flow” in the 2019 update. Indeed this design offers a faster flow compared to its predecessor. It's easy to hydrate on-to-go, and it is one of the easiest bladders to use because of its simple design.
The bite valve is long and cylindrical, similar to other HydraPak designs. It isn't too large and fits nicely in the mouth, offering a sufficient flow of water.
When testing it against the previous year's model, we noticed we hardly to suck water at all. Water was received readily…which we really appreciate! It has a twist lock that prevents water from leaking out when not in use. That said, we hardly locked it, as the bite valve is well-sealed and offers protection from leakage naturally on its own.
This is a low maintenance bladder that is easy to care for. It can be flipped inside out, is dishwasher safe, is easy to scrub inside. Given its ease of care, we will say you can add sugary mixtures into the bladder if you would like it because it is simple to clean all the individual parts.
The hose connects at the base of the reservoir. After using it, we blew out additional water and unplugged the bite valve for easy air drying. The bite valve can be taken apart and soaked to cleaning easily as well.
The reservoir is pretty legit. Even though the profile is thin, it's simple. The plastic is flexible enough that you can turn it inside out. The center baffle comes apart, making this nice and easy. When we used it, we simply emptied all the water and put a pair of tongs inside to hold it open and air dry.
If you need to sterilize it, you can turn it inside out and scrub it with a brush and soap. If you don't have time for that, simply place it on the top rack of your dishwasher and wash on low heat. Most HydraPak reservoirs (that we know) have this wonderful care ability!
The Shapeshift has a plastic handle that makes filling up this bladder quite nice and easy.
While the handle is quite small, it offers enough room to get the tips of your fingers underneath it. The filling is not one-handed as the opening still closes on itself, and you need a second hand to hold it open under a spout.
On the go, we found it easy to dunk this bladder into a pond or river and fill it up completely. The spout makes it easy to pour water out, but shallow sources that don't run are a little more difficult to collect from. All in all, we found it pretty easy to fill from most sources, and the new handle promotes a better way to hold onto the bladder while on the go.
The ShapeShift is constructed of a durable polymer that is somewhat puncture-resistant, but is quite flexible. The new tube connector offers a much easier connection that seems far more durable than the previous design. In our testing period, we did not experience any issues with leaking or punctures, even after throwing it around in a climbing pack as both a hydration bladder and a storage vessel.
We owned the previous version for a few years, and it wasn't until after 100's of days on the trail that it started to leak at the seams. While we hope this design is more durable, it does look similar in construction. Overall, it's pretty darn durable for its ultralight construction. We have trusted this bladder while fastpacking 100's of miles in Europe and running ultradistance marathons. We've used it on backpacking and climbing trips, dumping all of our stuff into a bag, knowing that the HydraPak could take the abuse.
This bladder is lightweight and offers a slim profile that is easy to pack away into all hydration backpack systems. The 3L version weighs 5.40 oz with both the tube and bladder.
There have been heavier components added to make the hydration system more functional and easier to use than its predecessor. Previously, it weighed 4.80 oz. While it's not as lightweight as it used to be, it's still one of the lightest out there. The profile of the bladder is slim in width and depth, making it long and skinny. It fits nicely into even the most narrow bladder sleeves on any hydration pack. The interior baffle helps to hold the shape of the bladder. When it's not put together (it looks like a thick ziplock inside), it can hold 3L. When it is put together, the profile becomes even thinner, with a water capacity of 2.5L.
A reason that we really love this bladder is that it fits well with most running vests and hiking packs. Others are too wide to fit nicely into more narrow sleeves, making it a great option to articulate well with lightweight packs used for many lightweight adventures. Of the bladders out there, the performance is the best for the weight.
The price is right for the performance. We've tested this bladder for many years, and the latest update for almost a year now. While we love its lightweight design, it's important to note that the quick connect on this bladder has failed on us. We've had to replace it almost every two years after heavy use (it's our favorite to use for running, and we run a lot!). Just note that this may not be the same value as other contenders.
