StoAway

The CamelBak StoAway is an insulated hydration reservoir: a CamelBak Crux bladder zipped inside a 10 mm closed-cell foam jacket, with an insulated drink tube and a cover over the bite valve. Drop it into a daypack, a ski touring pack or the bag you ride to work with, and that pack is now a hydration system. It comes in 2 L and 3 L sizes.

Who it's for

Anyone whose favourite pack has no hydration sleeve, or who wants their water kept away from the weather. On a hot day walk in the Gold Coast hinterland the foam jacket shields the bladder from the sun beating on your pack; on a cold morning in the Snowy Mountains the same jacket, the insulated tube and the valve cover are what stand between you and a drink you can actually use. CamelBak calls it an all-season hydration system, and that is the job it does.

Capacity and fit

• 2L: 37 x 23 x 10 cm, 140 g
• 3L: 45 x 23 x 10.5 cm, 160 g

The 2 L suits half-day walks, commuting and resort skiing; the 3 L is the one for full days on the track or in the backcountry, when the next tap is a long way off. A large adjustable carry loop lets you hang the StoAway from the hook inside a pack or carry it by hand to the tap, and attachment points help hold it in place once it is in.

Drinking and refilling

Inside is CamelBak's Crux reservoir, which has an ergonomic handle that makes it easier to hold steady under a tap or in a creek while it fills. The insulated tube runs from the reservoir to the bite valve, and the valve cover keeps dust, sunscreen and grit off the mouthpiece between sips.

Cleaning and mould

Mould is what ends most bladders, and it starts with a reservoir put away damp. Rinse the Crux reservoir after every trip, prop it open to dry completely, and blow the water out of the tube. If it is going to sit unused for a few weeks, store it dry with the cap off. The foam jacket comes off the reservoir, so both can dry properly.