CNOC Outdoors Vecto 2L Water Container (28mm) Review

Overview

The CNOC Vecto 2L is a collapsible, TPU soft-sided water container built specifically to serve as the “dirty bag” half of a squeeze or gravity filter system. Its patent-pending dual opening system allows for easy filling from a wide opening on one side and a narrow mouthpiece on the other. It’s aimed squarely at backpackers and thru-hikers running a Sawyer Squeeze, HydroBlu Versa Flow, or LifeStraw Flex — and it’s become something of a trail standard for good reason.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	74 g (2.6 oz)
Capacity	2 L (68 oz)
Thread Size	28 mm
Material	TPU (BPA-free, FDA approved)
Packed Size	7 × 2 × 1.5 in
Breaking Point	220 lbs
Compatible Filters	Sawyer Squeeze/Mini/Micro, HydroBlu Versa Flow, LifeStraw Flex, Platypus QuickDraw
Price	~$22
Comparison	See how Vecto Water Container 2L compares to similar gear

Performance

Filling — Where It Actually Shines

This is the whole reason to own a Vecto over the bags that ship with your Sawyer filter. The Sawyer pouch can only be filled with their 28mm opening, whereas the entire back end of the Vecto opens. It takes many swipes through a lake to fill a Sawyer pouch, but the Vecto fills in one fell swoop. That’s not marketing — it genuinely transforms water collection from a chore into a two-second scoop, especially in shallow or still sources like ponds, puddles, and sluggish streams. One side opens up completely by removing the bottom slide, making it easier to fill from water sources that don’t have a current, like ponds, lakes, puddles, and cattle troughs.

One real-world caveat: the opening does need to be held open while filling by squeezing the ends together. In situations that require balancing on a slippery rock, it can be difficult to hold the Vecto open one-handed — though the opening does seem to loosen up with use.

Filtering — Squeeze and Gravity Both Work

The 28mm threaded neck screws directly onto a Sawyer Squeeze for hand-squeezing, and the slider’s loop doubles as a hang point for gravity use. The slide handle makes it easy to use the Vecto in a gravity configuration when suspended from a tree — you just need some kind of lanyard or ‘biner to hang it from. The seal between a Sawyer filter and the Vecto is nice and tight without any leaks, although you need to thread them together carefully and not put too much pressure when screwing them together.

Durability — Better Than the Competition, But Not Invincible

The 0.3mm TPU is meaningfully tougher than the Sawyer or Platypus bags it replaces. The Sawyer pouches are prone to leakage caused by damage from over-squeezing. The Vecto tends to hold up to long-term squeeze filtering better. Long-term users back this up: after a three-year update, these bags had been through hundreds of miles and countless gallons of water and were still in great shape.

That said, it’s not bulletproof. There have been occasional issues with pinprick-size leaks, though CNOC seems to have fixed this for new out-of-the-box Vectos. Because TPU is a porous material, it’s important to care for your Vecto — pinholes can develop from UV exposure, colder temperatures, abrasion, and similar stresses. Keep it out of prolonged direct sun when not in use, and don’t stuff it against sharp objects.

Cleaning and Drying

The wide opening allows for easy scrubbing of the interior without any special tools. Although it is not dishwasher safe, its easy-to-clean design makes that a minor concern. The Vecto can be turned inside out to dry, and after washing and hanging, it was moisture-free in just twenty minutes

in testing — faster than any other bladder tested in that comparison.

The In-Pack Leaking Question

Worth addressing directly: CNOC themselves, in their 2022 FAQ, specifically say they don’t recommend putting your full Vecto inside your pack if you’re concerned about leaking. Most experienced users treat it as a dedicated dirty bag — you filter into hard-sided bottles, then roll and stow the empty Vecto. For long water carries, the full Vecto rides in an external open pocket, not inside the pack. If you need a primary carry vessel, look elsewhere.

Off-the-Shelf Smell

When new, the Vecto imparts a plastic-y TPU taste onto the water, but this goes away over time.

Give it a good scrub on the inside with kitchen soap and water, rinse it properly, then put something in the big opening to keep it open so the full inner surface can air for a few days — that will get rid of the smell completely.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide-mouth dual opening makes filling faster than any narrow-neck alternative
• Compatible with the most popular 28mm filter ecosystem (Sawyer, HydroBlu, LifeStraw)
• Serves double duty as both a squeeze bag and a gravity filter reservoir
• Tougher TPU than the bags that come bundled with Sawyer filters
• Easy to clean, dries quickly, and can be turned inside out
• Volume markings (liters and ounces) printed on the body
• Tethered cap and slider on current versions — no loose parts to lose
• Strong value at ~$22
• If you lose the cap, any standard PET bottle cap fits

Cons

• Heavier than comparable soft bottles — the Evernew 2L comes in around 45g vs. the Vecto’s 74g
• CNOC explicitly advises against carrying it full inside your pack
• The slider is not field-replaceable if it breaks
• Opening requires two hands when new; gets easier with use
• TPU can develop pinholes with prolonged UV or cold exposure
• Discolors over time (cosmetic, not functional)
• Initial plastic taste requires a break-in wash

Who Should Buy This

This is the near-perfect tool for a specific job: the dirty-bag half of a Sawyer Squeeze or similar squeeze/gravity filter system. One AT thru-hiker switched to the Vecto around the 1,500-mile mark and quickly began questioning why they hadn’t done so sooner — the dual opening design made collecting 2L of water dramatically faster. If you’re running a Sawyer and still using the included pouch, the Vecto is a direct, inexpensive upgrade. It also suits anyone who does occasional gravity filtering at camp, or who needs an ultralight emergency water carrier for longer dry stretches. It’s not well-suited as a primary drinking vessel or hydration bladder with a drink tube.

Verdict

The Vecto 2L gets one thing exactly right — making water collection fast and nearly effortless — and everything else is competent or better. The weight penalty over Evernew bags is real, and the in-pack leak caveat is worth taking seriously, but neither is a dealbreaker once you understand how most people actually use it. At $22 with years of trail-proven durability behind it, it’s one of the easiest gear upgrades in the backpacking water system category. Rating: 8.5/10.