Camelbak Fusion Hydration Bladder Review

I love hydration packs. I like the feeling of being somewhat self-sufficient with my belongings stowed inside, prepared for wind, weather, and other eventualities; and I need the knowledge in the back of my mind that I'm carrying a backup to the sometimes unreliable bottle.
I also love hydration bladders. As a sub-170-cm dwarf, I would otherwise have to make do with a meager 0.5 liters of fluid capacity on many bikes. Being the gourmet that I am, I appreciate the possibility of liquid variety - water in the bladder, juices in the bottle. The camel in me is reminded to drink by the tube or the valve. And the fact that this can be done with both hands on the handlebars is something I've come to appreciate at least since the moment when, while attempting to insert an uncooperative, low-mounted bottle, I suddenly hit a pothole and then flew unpleasantly over the handlebars.

What I don't like, however, are reservoirs whose seals get so vacuum-sealed by pressure and temperature differences that I absolutely cannot open the screw cap. And bags that I can't clean well or even dry due to a lack of a reasonably sized opening.
Both points of criticism have been applicable to Camelbak's Crux reservoirs until now. And both issues were promised to be eliminated with the Fusion hydration bladders introduced in spring 2022.
So I quickly ordered the new water containers with two and three liters capacity, and happily pimped out my L.O.B.O and M.U.L.E. Evo 12!

The new drinking system, available in two sizes (2L/3L), is according to the manufacturer 100% BPA-, BPS-, and BPF-free and 30% lighter than the well-known Crux reservoir.
It is not opened and closed with a screw cap like the classic, but with a Tru Zip zipper. This is robust and - of course - waterproof and extends across the full width of the bladder, which greatly facilitates filling, emptying, and cleaning.
A molded back panel makes separating walls obsolete and, due to the stability it provides even when empty, also aids in cleaning and drying. This plate is not a back protector, although it looks quite similar. But in the event of an unfortunate fall, any additional layer of material probably helps better than none at all...

The beginning and end of the drinking hose offer tried and tested features: at the front, the Quick Link system for easy detachment, at the back, the BigBite bite valve for as much water flow per sip as possible, which can be completely stopped if necessary with an on/off lever.
The Hydroguard technology, as with all other Camelbak drinking systems, minimizes the formation of bacteria in the hose and bladder. In addition, the new bags are compatible with the Lifestraw filter set.
The transparent Fusion hydration bladders are delivered with a clearly visible tenth-liter scale, including a plastic hook aka "universal hanger," which fits all hydration bladder-compatible Camelbak backpacks or their holding loops. The 2L version costs €54.99 RRP, the 3L variant is five euros more.

In den oben recht schmal zulaufenden L.O.B.O. mit seinen 9 Litern Gesamtvolumen lässt sich die kleinere Fusion-Blase nicht ganz problemlos einführen, weil ihr oberer Rand fast zu breit ausfällt. Mit ein bisschen Fummeln und unter den Haupt-RV fudeln geht’s dann jeweils doch, geschmeidig ist aber anders.
Beim ungleich größeren M.U.L.E. Evo 12, der für den Test das 3L-Pendant aufnahm, ist hingegen bis obenhin ausreichend Platz. Einer Sicherung per Halteschlaufe bedürfen eigentlich beide Kombinationen nicht, aber da es den Universalaufhänger nun mal gibt, habe ich ihn auch – trotz etwas knapper Abmessungen – verwendet.
Nachdem der Brustgurt des L.O.B.O. magnetisch schließt, gehörte initial (und denkbar unkompliziert) auch dessen Tube Trap-Trinkschlauchhalter auf den Fusion-Schlauch ummontiert. Beim M.U.L.E. mit seiner konventionellen Schnalle war dieser Schritt nicht nötig.

Eine großzügig dimensionierte Lasche erleichtert jeweils das Bewegen des tatsächlich komplett wasserdichten Tru Zips. Während sich der Reißverschluss am größeren Testmodell relativ einfach hin- und herschieben lässt, geht jener am kleineren deutlich schwergängiger auf und zu. Aber grundsätzlich kein Vergleich zu den oft mit hochrotem Kopf und schmerzenden Fingern durchgeführten Verrenkungen, zu denen mich ein Crux-Reservoir mit angesaugten Dichtungen mitunter nötigte. Danke für diese deutliche Verbesserung, Camelbak!
Der Klemmgriff auf der Beutel-Rückseite und die Tatsache, dass sich der Schlitz mittels sanften seitlichen Drucks recht einfach „aufdrücken“ lässt, gestatteten nach einiger Übung auch einhändiges Befüllen der Fusion-Systeme. Insgesamt habe ich mir den Vorteil beim Rein- und Rausleeren aber markanter vorgestellt.
Fürs Reinigen allerdings sind die breiten Öffnungen eine wahre Macht, weil man mit der Hand einfach hineingreifen und in jede Ecke gelangen kann. Außerdem ist ein Beutel ohne Trennsteg prinzipiell einfacher zu putzen als das 2-Kammern-System des Crux-Reservoirs.

Otherwise, everything works at the usual high Camelbak level with the new containers: A decent amount of water flows through the valve per sip, so you don't have to suck on the hose for half an eternity to quench your thirst. And, almost more importantly: not a single drop leaks or continues to flow unasked, in other words: the thing is leak-proof.
If you want to be absolutely sure, you can flip the on/off lever to prevent unwanted leakage, for example, if you carelessly put down the backpack and it lands right on the valve.
Also, the Quick Link system slips and seals without complaint, allowing you to disconnect the hose from the bag in no time at all, and then, for example, clean it or remove the hydration bladder separately from the backpack.

Conclusion: Camelbak's new Fusion Reservoirs work well, are easy to open, simple to clean, and compatible with many hydration backpacks that accommodate 2- or 3-liter bladders – with minor handling drawbacks for the small, top-round and narrow L.O.B.O.