Review on NEVO Hydration Backpack Bladder Climbing Sports & Fitness by Kevin Taharka

I purchased this hydration pack with 3 liter bladder in mid-April to prepare for a long trip across the US with several visits to national and state parks. Because of the many hikes in hot weather, I needed a reliable source of hydration. Unfortunately this is not the right product. I checked the bladder system at home and everything is fine. However, the bladder did not survive the first test under real conditions. In Canyonlands, Utah, when it was over 100 degrees, two things happened: (1) The intake end was punctured within minutes. It still worked and didn't leak, so I used it all day. (2) At the end of the day, back at the hotel when trying to refill my bladder, I couldn't remove the bladder occlusion. The hard plastic handle/seal doesn't move at all and it looks like it's fused (I don't think it's possible, but actually I can't move it at all, and yes I'm doing it in the right direction.): I'm at the start of a number of hikes without this key component of my hydration system (thankfully I have reserves, although I'll be missing a hydration pack/water bag and it's outside of the return window, so I'm out knowing the vast majority of reviews are positive). (that's why I bought this item!) but based on my experience I can't recommend this product with one star from me.