Forclaz Trek500 3L Hydration Bladder Review

Overview

The Forclaz Trek500 3 L is Decathlon’s house-brand hydration bladder, sold in some markets as the MT500. It costs about €16, weighs 119 g and does the one job a reservoir has to do: carry water on your back and deliver it through a hose. It’s aimed at trekkers who want hands-free drinking without paying Platypus or Hydrapak prices. The trade-off is a bladder that is sturdy and sensible but not especially light for its category, and that has a reputation for tasting of plastic at first.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	119 g
Capacity	3 L
Dimensions	21 × 41 cm
Tube length	100 cm
Film	Food-grade TPU
Opening	Slider closure, fully removable for filling and cleaning
Mouthpiece	Silicone bite valve angled at 45°, twist on/off, protective cap
BPA-free	Yes
Rated water temperature	-20 °C to +40 °C
Also available	1 L and 2 L
Price	About €15.99 (France)

Performance

Filling and cleaning. The bladder’s best feature is its slider top. A removable strip opens the whole top edge of the bag, so a hand fits inside to scrub and the reservoir can be filled from a tap, a stream-side pour or a wide-mouthed bottle without much fuss. Owners on Decathlon’s site rate the 3 L model about 4.7 out of 5 across more than 1,100 reviews, and the filling and cleaning setup is a central part of the pitch. The strip carries eyelets, so the bladder can hang from the hooks found in many packs’ hydration sleeves. One habit matters: the air has to be pressed out before closing the slider, or the bag bulges and sits badly against the back panel.

Durability. Decathlon moved this generation from EVA film to food-grade TPU, which it says is 30 percent more resistant to perforation. It also redesigned the connector and improved the welds. The earlier EVA-film bladder has a track record to build on: one Camino de Santiago walker reported more than 100 days of daily use on a 2 L version with the bladder still in good shape. Decathlon’s rated temperature range, -20 °C to +40 °C, is generous. Below freezing, the instruction is to blow the water back out of the hose after drinking to limit ice in the tube and mouthpiece.

Drinking. The silicone bite valve is angled at 45° so it finds the mouth easily, and a grey twist collar shuts it off, which stops the slow weep that can soak a pack’s back panel. A cap keeps trail grime off the nozzle. At 100 cm, the hose is long enough to reach over the shoulder on most packs, from a daypack to a 50–60 L trekking bag. A replacement hose kit sells separately for about €6.50, a useful sign that the parts are meant to be serviced rather than thrown away.

Taste. The recurring complaint is a plastic flavor out of the box. The same Camino walker found the water undrinkable the first time despite the manufacturer’s advice to rinse three times, then scrubbed it with dish soap; the taste faded over 100 days but never disappeared entirely. That report concerns the earlier EVA model, and Decathlon has since changed the film, but new buyers should plan a thorough wash-and-soak before a first trip rather than after it. Aftercare is conventional: wash with dish soap after each outing, keep it out of the dishwasher and microwave, and keep alcohol, oils and dairy out of the reservoir. Storing the empty, dried bag in the freezer is the standard way to keep mold from growing between trips.

Weight. At 119 g empty, the bladder works out to about 40 g per liter of capacity. That is fine for a trekker, but ultralight hikers who already carry a pair of lightweight bottles will find it hard to justify the extra grams. It also adds a hose and a bite valve to maintain.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Price of about €16 is hard to match for a 3 L bladder
• Full-width slider opening makes filling and scrubbing easy
• TPU film and reworked welds improve puncture resistance over the old EVA model
• Twist-lock bite valve with a protective cap
• Wide temperature rating, with advice for freezing conditions
• Replacement hose kit available
• Hanging eyelets on the slider strip

Cons

• 119 g is heavy for ultralight standards
• Owners report a plastic taste that takes a while to fade
• Air must be squeezed out before closing, or the bag sits awkwardly
• Not insulated, and can’t be used for anything but water-like drinks
• Main distribution is through Decathlon

Who Should Buy This

Anyone who wants a no-frills reservoir for multi-day treks, long hill days or hut-to-hut routes will be well served, especially in Europe, where Decathlon is easy to reach. It suits first-time bladder users and those replacing a worn-out one without wanting to spend on a premium brand. Gram-counting thru-hikers who prefer bottles, and anyone sensitive to taste, should look elsewhere.

Verdict

The Trek500 3 L is a sturdy, easy-to-clean bladder at a price that makes it almost disposable, with thoughtful touches such as the shut-off valve and replaceable hose. Rinse it well and the plastic taste is manageable, though the weight keeps it out of true ultralight kits. For ordinary trekking, it earns a recommendation.