The Sea to Summit Pack Tap is a soft 6 litre water bladder with a tap. Full, it hangs from the rooftop tent or the back of the car and gives you water with one hand; empty, it folds flat and weighs next to nothing. We hang ours from the rooftop tent on the Prado at camp. I paid $45 for the 6 litre version.
What’s in the box
A black and blue bag with a silver bladder inside, a clear self-shutting valve at the bottom with a black cap, a reinforced grab handle at the top and anchor points around the edges. It holds 6 litres, lies about 33 × 33 cm flat, and weighed 147 g empty on our scale.
What we like
- One-handed, self-shutting valve
- 6 litres for 147 g
- Folds flat when empty
- Anchor points and grab handle
- Bladder in a tough outer shell
What we don’t
- Not safe for use with hot water
- Fill point can be a bit tricky
- Needs a flat surface when full
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Capacity | 6 Lother sizes available |
| Material | 300D polyester outerMylar bladder |
| Colour options | Spicy OrangeSurf the WebBurnt Olive |
| Weight | 147 g |
| Size | 33 × 33 cmflat |
| Features | Self-shutting valveWide fill openingGrab handleAnchor points |
Build quality
The Pack Tap is two parts: a silver Mylar bladder that holds the water, and a tough polyester shell around it that zips shut. The bladder is food safe and doesn’t taint the water, and the shell protects it from being squeezed between gear and rubbed on sharp edges in the back of the car. A reinforced grab handle at the top makes a full bag easy to carry from the tap to camp.
Filling it
To fill it, unscrew the clear valve from its spout, which leaves a wide opening that takes water straight from a jerry can tap. The fill point is still a bit tricky: the bag is soft, so you need to hold it upright or stand it on a flat surface while it fills, then screw the valve back in.
The tap
The valve works with one hand: press the clear button and water runs out in a steady stream, let go and it shuts itself. That’s handy for filling a bottle, washing your hands or getting water for the kettle, with the other hand free. A black cap clips over the valve so it can’t be pressed open in transit. It’s not for hot water, though: keep it for cold or room-temperature water.
Hanging it up
The anchor points let you strap it down in the car on rough roads and hang it up at camp, so gravity does the work. We hang ours from the rooftop tent on the Prado, or from a carabiner on a suction hook on the rear window, at a good height for washing hands and filling bottles. Full, it needs a hook or a flat surface, because the soft bag won’t stand up on its own.
Size and weight
The big win is weight for volume. At 147 g on our scale, a little over the 124 g on the label, it carries enough water for a day of drinking and cooking, which makes it good ultralight gear too. Full, it moulds to the space you put it in; empty, it folds flat for the glovebox or a pocket of your pack. If you’d rather have a rigid container with a tap, see our best camping water containers.
Pack Tap or Watercell X?
We’ve also reviewed the Sea to Summit Watercell X, a tougher 4 L water bag with a nylon outer and a shower head. The Pack Tap carries more water for less weight and money and has the handier one-handed tap; the Watercell X is the one if you also want a quick shower.
This one Pack Tap | Shower head Watercell X | |
|---|---|---|
| Shower head | No | Yes |
| Material | 300D polyester, Mylar bladder | 400D nylon, TPU liner |
| Pouring | One-handed tap | Flow-control cap |
| Capacity | 6 L | 4 L |
| Weight | 147 g | 170 g |
| Price paid | $45 | $75 |
| Our score | 8.8 | 8.5 |
Conclusion: Sea to Summit Pack TapConclusion
The Sea to Summit Pack Tap gives you 6 litres of water on tap and then folds flat. The bladder sits in a tough shell, the self-shutting valve works with one hand, and the grab handle and anchor points make it easy to carry and to hang from the rooftop tent or the back of the car. It’s not for hot water, filling it takes a steady hand, and full it needs a hook or a flat surface. For $45 and 147 g, it’s a smart way to have water on tap at camp.
Water on tap that folds flat when you’re done.
We hang it from the rooftop tent or the back of the Prado and press the self-shutting valve with one hand for drinking water, washing up or the kettle. It’s not for hot water, and full it needs a hook or a flat surface.
- 4WD tourers
- Rooftop tents
- Hikers
Yes. I paid $45 for a 6 litre bladder that weighs 147 g, gives water with one hand and folds flat when it’s empty. It’s not for hot water.
