ashenThis review may not be relevant for the super minimalist adventurer who prefers to interact with nature as much as they can. They are just looking to plunge into the next stream they run into. However, if you are someone who’d rather be assured that you have means to cleanse yourself while outdoors at your fingertips, then the Sea to Summit Watercell is for you. There are two versions as the X and ST. We will talk about the latter afterwards. Among the available capacities, the Sea to Summit Watercell X 10l takes a special place. We will see why.
Sea to Summit Watercell X 10l Specs
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane(400D) material
- 16.5 x 11.25 x 5 inches and 245 g
- 3D molded shape with an internal baffle
- Adjustable webbing strap
- Streamlined grab-handles
- Screw-top has a variety of features
Why the 10l specifically? Sea to Summit also has 4l, 6l and 20l. As you can guess, the 10L balances pretty well between each requirement of a camping water storage while also not being too heavy like the 20l. It also depends on other variables such as the number of days you will be camping, hiking etc. and number of people. Solo travelers are probably better off with the 4l or 6l. That said, let’s take a moment to examine the specs.
The TPU material is abrasion-resistant, semi-translucent and food-grade. Extra protected by the welded seams. All qualities which are important while tackling the great outdoors. Abrasion- resistance guarantees prolonged life, if it is well taken care of. Especially if you are travelling in rough, rocky environments where even a slight scratch can render disastrous for a poor quality material. No need to worry about the consumer suitability since it is food grade.
The screw-top is quite handy. It is compatible with industry standard water filtration systems and replacement lids. Design is optimum for convenient outdoor usage since the shape makes it more manageable and easy to fill, stow, stack, hang and drain. The cap is the point where most manufacturers blundered in the past. Optimum cap placement is crucial in water storage gear for the above mentioned reasons. When you are in the woods, you are most likely to fill from creeks and streams. Not just that, apart from the filtration systems compatibility, you also have an option for a shower attachment.
Therefore, we can conclude that the designers had the clients best interests at heart. Namely, a packable design, multi functional well placed cap and lashing points to support easy watershell placement. With the lashing points, you can choose to hang it inside your tent, a tree hook etc. Placement can be a bit problematic when it comes to showering, though it also depends on your camping surroundings.
Sea to Summit Watercell X 10l Reviews
All that spec looks promising on paper. But is the material as strong as they say? Does the cap really tally with filtration systems? Let’s see what the actual users are saying.
To speak frankly, the reviews we analyzed across most retail sites presented a mixed approach making the overall conclusion a bit tricky.
In terms of positive feedback, users are enjoying the sturdy material that is capable of tackling rugged environments, the mini “shower head” that is interchangeable and the packability. The large opening makes it easy to fill and dry. The inner chamber walls and the design with side walls also aids with stability when filling. Furthermore, users state that it is way easier to squash up and store than jerry cans.
As for the negative reviews, there were quite a few complaints that the water tastes funny after the initial rounds. This happened despite the watercell being clean. A user claimed that the smell of vinyl came out of the water and it also tasted plastic. Not sure if this was due to a chemical reaction due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. However, another user mentioned that a wash with warm water and bi-carbonate soda got rid of the taste of plastic.
Sea to Summit Watercell X vs ST
As promised, let’s investigate what differentiates the two versions and which suits you best. Listing out the specs of the ST version is unnecessary since they are almost identical. Nonetheless, we will take a closer look at a few significant aspects of both the products.
| X-10L | ST-10L | |
| Material | PVC-free food-grade TPU laminate | PVC-free food-grade TPU laminate |
| Weight | 245 g | 190 g |
| Dispenser Cap / Hanging Strap | Yes | No |
| Price | $55 | $37 |
Well, there it is. The specs speak for the price difference. Unlike the X version, the ST does not include convenient hanging straps nor the shower head. Nonetheless, the users aren’t complaining about the lash points and carry handles. Several complained about the cap leaking though, even if it was tightly shut. Contrastingly, the ST version induces no taste whatsoever in the water. This has been a selling point for the ST as opposed to the X. It is never a major compromise that the water is leaking from X version at times. Just be mindful on how you operate the caps and the closing system.
Summary
We hope the guide above was helpful from a buyer’s perspective. The way we see it, the Sea to Summit Watercell X 10l can be a great companion for campers, hikers, bikers and trekkers. However, if the bad taste in water arises across most users, Sea to Summit might have to recheck their production line. If you have used this before please do let us know how it has treated you so far. Did you face issues with unsuitable water taste too? Let us know in the comments below.
