28mm VectoPlus Collapsible Water Container

Disclosure - This product was donated for the purpose of an honest review.
I have been using the 2 liter Vecto for several years as a long distance hiker and swear by it. I was intrigued by when I heard about the VectoPlus specifically for when I am camping/backpacking as a Scout Leader. We tested it recently at camping trip on the shores of Lake Michigan where the potable water had been shut off for the season. We used the VecoPlus to collect water from a nearby stream and then set it up as a gravity filter with a Sawyer.
This feels very similar to the Vecto - the materials feel the same and it employs the same slide and tethered cap. The VectoPlus though has three significant improvements: tie outs to support the additional weight when hung as a gravity filter or strapped to a pack, a carry handle, and internal stays to help it keep its shape when full. The tie out points feel sturdy and have a large enough hole to pass decent sized rope through. The handle, honestly, is a game changer based on it's placement. Anytime you are using a bag to collect from a natural water source one of the tricky parts is keeping the bag from collapsing. This handle is not just useful for carrying the full bag, but also helps you to support the bag and keep it open while filling. With this handle we were able to collect nearly a full bag of water even though the creek was only a few inches deep. The handle is ok for carrying short-ish distances, but as you would imagine with 8L of water it gets pretty heavy to go longer distances. You would probably want to put it in or strap it to a backpack to carry it in those situations.
For this trip, we filtered into a pot. I plan to purchase a second VectoPlus for collection. Though the VectoPlus currently only comes with one color slide and cap, they offer replacement parts in multiple colors so that you can have one color for clean/potable water and one for unfiltered water. That would also allow us to use the clean water bag when we have a potable water source that is a good distance from the campsite - as is frequently the case in group campsites. It would be great if they added that as an option, or even as a matched pair printed with "Clean" and "Dirty" since I have to imagine lots of folks are going to use it in a gravity set up.
Overall I was really impressed with the VectoPlus. My original Vecto has over a thousand trail miles on it and is still going strong. I feel confident the VectoPlus will last just as long, even in the hands of a bunch of rowdy Scouts!

Full disclosure, I was provided this product for free in return for an objective review. I did not receive any compensation nor was I asked to say anything in particular.

I received the 6 L version. I’ve had the chance to check this out at home and use it in the wilderness.

My initial thoughts: this is well-made, and I believe uses the same thickness of material as the Vecto X. I believe the handle and attachment points are made of TPU. It is easy to fill and seems to be sturdy.

Personally, I like the fact that it is translucent as you can see inside to scope out any potential debris or, over the long run, the development of any possible mildew. I don’t think there are any other products quite like it out there on the market that I’m aware of.

I see a few different uses for this product. If you are backpacking, and your water source is a significant distance away, it can be helpful to be able to have a large container of water so that you don’t have to make multiple trips to and from your water source from camp. I often camp near lakes or streams, but there are instances where the best water source is 100 yards or more from the campsite. In these instances, it is nice to be able to go and fill up a large water bladder.

This product can also be used as a gravity filter. I set it up on a large boulder at an angle with a Sawyer squeeze on it and it worked great. It has attachment points, so in the right situation you could hang it from a tree branch or similar.

It might also be helpful for thru hikers who are hiking a significant distance without any known water source.

The negatives that I observed, which are not very significant, is that the TPU handle might not be very comfortable if you were required to carry this in your hand for any length of time. The edges are almost “sharp”. Full of 6L of water it is also decently heavy. Also, depending on how you intend to use this, I think a sport cap or some other kind of lid with a valve would be helpful. When I go backpacking, we sometimes like to have a water bladder in camp just to use for handwashing, etc. There are other brands who make a somewhat similar water bladder that have these attachments built-in. Again, depends on how you intend to use this.

The 6 L seems to be a good size. I do think anything larger would be cumbersome, a bit ungainly and uncomfortable to carry for any significant distance.

I look forward to using this for many years to come and would recommend it to anyone who has a need.