At a base camp you need water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, but hard containers take up a silly amount of space when they’re empty. The Sea to Summit Watercell X is a tough, flexible water cell that folds flat, and the 4 litre version quickly became a regular in our camp kitchen. I paid $75 for it.
What’s in the box
A 4 litre water cell with a 400D nylon outer over a 3D baffled, RF-welded TPU liner, a wide-mouth cap with a smaller flow-control cap inside it, a shower head and an adjustable strap. Filled, it’s 28 × 21 × 10 cm, and it weighs 170 g empty. It also comes in 6, 10 and 20 litres; the 10 litre version is at Anaconda.
What we like
- Total empty weight is only 170 g
- Multi-function cap with flow control
- Flexible 400D nylon external fabric
- Compact: 28 x 21 x 10 cm filled
- BPA and PVC free food-grade TPU
What we don’t
- Filling requires two hands
- Nylon exterior takes time to dry
- 4L is too small for big groups
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Capacity | 4 Lalso 6, 10 and 20 L |
| Material | 400D nylon outerRF-welded TPU linerBPA- and PVC-free |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Size | 28 × 21 × 10 cmfilled |
| Features | Flow-control capShower headAdjustable strapLash points |
Build quality
The liner is TPU, RF-welded into a 3D baffled shape, so the seams are stronger than the material itself, and it’s free of BPA and PVC, so the water doesn’t pick up a plastic taste. Over it sits an abrasion-resistant 400D nylon outer that protects the liner from scuffs and UV. It feels very tough: it won’t tear easily when it’s thrown in the back of the 4WD or dragged over the ground, and the welded handle and lash points take the full 4 kg without straining. The nylon does take a while to dry.
Cap, flow and shower
The cap is the best part. The wide 63 mm mouth fills quickly without spilling, though a flexible bag is easier to fill with two hands. The smaller cap nested inside gives very good flow control, so you can set the stream for cooking, filling a bottle or washing up without wasting water. Screw the shower head onto it, hang the cell from a branch with the strap, and it becomes a quick camp shower for camp hygiene or rinsing sandy feet after the beach.
Size and weight
At 170 g empty and flat when it’s not in use, it packs into your 4WD storage or a backpack easily, so it’s handy ultralight gear for carrying water from a creek back to camp. The baffled shape keeps it stable when full and stops the water sloshing around. The strap lets you carry it over your shoulder, lash it to a pack or hang it up, and the lash points tie it down in the car. At 4 litres it’s right for one or two people; groups will want a bigger size. If you’d rather have a rigid container with a tap, see our best camping water containers.
Watercell X or Pack Tap?
We’ve also reviewed the Sea to Summit Pack Tap, a lighter 6 L water bag with a one-handed tap. The Watercell X is tougher, with a nylon outer and a shower head for a quick rinse; the Pack Tap carries more water for less weight and money, and is the better pick for a camp kitchen tap.
This one Watercell X | Lighter Pack Tap | |
|---|---|---|
| Shower head | Yes | No |
| Material | 400D nylon, TPU liner | 300D polyester, Mylar bladder |
| Pouring | Flow-control cap | One-handed tap |
| Capacity | 4 L | 6 L |
| Weight | 170 g | 147 g |
| Price paid | $75 | $45 |
| Our score | 8.5 | 8.8 |
Conclusion: Sea to Summit Watercell X 4LConclusion
The Sea to Summit Watercell X (4L) is tough, weighs 170 g and folds flat. The 400D nylon and RF-welded TPU are built to last, the cap gives very good flow control and the shower head makes it a camp shower too. Filling takes two hands, the nylon takes a while to dry and 4 litres is too small for a group. For one or two people it’s a very good way to carry water, and the bigger sizes cover groups. I paid $75.
The Sea to Summit Watercell X (4L) is durable and versatile.
The 3D baffled shape makes it easy to carry and pour from, and the cap with its flow control is very useful for cooking and cleaning. It packs completely flat, which saves a lot of space.
- Hikers
- 4WD tourers
- Campers
Yes. A 170 g, 4 L water cell with a multi-function cap and tough 400D fabric is built to last. Filling takes two hands and it’s too small for big groups.
