MSR Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir, 10 Liter, Black

MSR Dromedary Bag 10L Review: Spare Water That Rolls Up When It's Empty

Most van water lives in rigid jugs, and rigid jugs take up the same space empty as full. The MSR Dromedary Bag is the other approach: a tough fabric bladder that holds 10 litres when full and rolls into a small bundle when empty. It isn't a replacement for a main water jug with a tap. It's spare capacity for long dry stretches, a top-up carrier for the walk from a spring or tap to the van, and a bag you can hang as a gravity water source at a camp table.

What the Amazon link sells: the MSR Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir, 10-Liter, Black, MSR part number 09588. MSR also makes the Dromedary in 4 L and 6 L sizes, and a lighter DromLite line. Those are different products, and the figures here are for the 10 L Dromedary only.

This review is research-based. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specs come from the Dromedary product page on Cascade Designs' site (MSR's parent company) and the Amazon listing we link to.

Choose this if:

• You want extra water for remote trips but don't want an empty rigid jug taking up space the rest of the time.
• You carry water from a tap or spring to the van and want something that packs away afterwards.
• You want a hanging water source for washing up or rinsing at camp.

Skip this if:

• You want a jug with a spigot to sit on the counter. The Dromedary has a cap, not a tap.
• You need a container to stack under a bench. A soft bag doesn't stack or hold its shape.
• Your water needs are bigger than 10 L per container. Rigid jugs like the Scepter 05177 hold more and are easier to plumb.

What it is

The Dromedary is a flat bag made of 1,000-denier fabric laminated on the inside with a food-grade polyurethane lining. MSR describes the fabric as abrasion-resistant. The lining is the part that touches water, and MSR says it is BPA-free. A reinforced fitting at one end takes MSR's 3-in-1 cap. Webbing runs around the edge of the bag so you can carry it by hand, strap it down or hang it.

MSR lists four headline claims for it: collapsible for packing, a 1,000D fabric that's abrasion-resistant, a food-grade BPA-free lining, and the ability to handle both freezing and boiling liquids. It's made in the USA.

Specifications and sources

The Amazon listing repeats the 12.5 x 23 inch size and 10 oz weight, and lists a 3-year manufacturer limited warranty. MSR's page refers to its warranty and repair support without stating a term on the version we opened, so check the paperwork that comes with the bag.

What 10 litres means in a van. Ten litres weighs about 10 kg (22 lb) when full. As a rough planning figure, two people cooking simple meals and washing up carefully might use somewhere between 6 and 15 litres a day for drinking, cooking and dishes. That's an estimate, and it varies with climate, menus and habits. Our van water system setup guide walks through daily water planning. So one Dromedary is roughly a day's extra margin for two careful users, not a week's supply.

The 3-in-1 cap

MSR's cap is the part that makes the bag useful. MSR describes it as a low-profile cap that lets you fill, drink and pour. The page we opened doesn't break down how each mode works or give opening diameters, so look at the cap when it arrives before you plan around it.

What we can't confirm from the manufacturer page we opened:

• Thread size. MSR doesn't publish the cap thread on that page. If you're planning to fit a hose adapter, filter or tap to the bag, check that the accessory is sold by MSR or its maker as compatible with the Dromedary. Don't assume a generic adapter fits.
• Filter compatibility. MSR's page mentions accessories such as a shower kit and hydration kit, but doesn't list which water filters thread on directly. We don't claim it fits any particular filter.

How it fits a van or camp kitchen

As spare water. The usual setup is a rigid main jug feeding the sink, through a foot pump such as the Whale Babyfoot or a 12 V pump such as the SHURflo Revolution 4008, with the Dromedary carried as reserve. When the main jug runs low, you decant the bag into it. Rolled up, the empty bag fits in a door pocket or the corner of a drawer.

As a carrier. Campground taps, spring fills and refill stations are often some distance from where you can park. A bag with webbing handles is easier to carry than a rigid jug, and it doesn't rattle around empty on the way there.

As a camp tap. Hung from a tree, a roof rack or the van's rear door, a full Dromedary gives gravity-fed water for rinsing hands or dishes, using the cap's pour mode. This works well alongside a collapsible basin such as the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Kitchen Sink. Check that your mounting point can hold 10 kg before you hang it.

Stowing a full bag. A full Dromedary is soft and heavy. It needs to lie flat on the floor or in a low bin, held so it can't slide under braking. Don't store it on a high shelf. Put it on a mat so a rough edge can't wear through the fabric over time. The stop van kitchen rattles guide covers securing heavy, loose items.

Water quality: the bag doesn't treat water

A clean container keeps clean water clean. It doesn't make questionable water safe. If you fill from a stream, a spring or an unknown tap, treat the water before you drink it:

• A filter such as the Sawyer Squeeze or Platypus GravityWorks removes bacteria and protozoa, but not viruses or dissolved chemicals.
• A purifier such as the Grayl GeoPress also handles viruses, as covered in our Grayl review.
• Carbon or taste filters improve taste and odour but don't make untreated water safe.

None of these remove salt, and most don't remove heavy metals unless the maker publishes a certification for it. Our water filtration guide explains the differences in detail.

Taste, cleaning and drying

MSR recommends rinsing a new bag with hot water and vinegar before first use to remove any plastic taste. After that:

• Rinse and dry it fully before you roll it up. A sealed, damp bladder is a good home for mould. Hang it open, mouth down, until it's completely dry. In a humid van this can take a while, so plan it for a sunny day.
• Store it unrolled or loosely rolled if you can, with the cap off.
• Fill it with water only if it's your drinking bag. Using the same bag for juice or electrolyte drinks makes cleaning harder and can leave flavours behind.

Cold and heat

MSR says the bag handles freezing and boiling liquids. Two practical notes:

• Freezing. The bag itself tolerates freezing, but a frozen block of water is no use to you in the morning. If water freezes in the cap fitting, the cap can be hard to open. In cold weather, keep the bag inside the heated part of the van. See our winter van kitchen guide.
• Hot water. Handling boiling water in a soft bag is a burn risk if it slumps or the cap leaks. Being rated for boiling liquids means the bag won't be damaged. It doesn't make it a sensible kettle. Fill it hot only if you have a good reason and a stable surface.

Limitations

• No tap. You pour, decant or rely on gravity through the cap. For a counter jug with a spigot, look at a rigid container.
• No shape when full. It doesn't stack and needs support so it doesn't slump or slide.
• Thread and accessory fit not published on the page we opened. Buy MSR-listed accessories rather than assuming generic ones fit.
• Needs full drying before long-term storage.
• 10 L is modest. It's a top-up, not a main tank.

How it compares on this site

The Scepter is the better main jug: it holds more, keeps its shape and works with a pump intake through the cap. The Dromedary earns its place as reserve water that costs almost no space when you don't need it.

Verdict

The MSR Dromedary Bag 10L is a well-made answer to a common van problem: you want extra water on remote trips, but you don't want an empty jug taking up space the rest of the time. MSR publishes the key figures (10 L, 10 oz, 12.5 x 23 inches, 1,000D fabric, a food-grade lining and a 3-in-1 cap) and rates it for freezing and boiling liquids. It doesn't have a tap and won't stack, and it needs drying before you put it away. As spare water and a carrier, it's one of the most space-efficient options we cover.

FAQ

How much does the MSR Dromedary 10L weigh? MSR lists it at 10 oz (280 g) empty. Full, it holds 10 litres of water, which weighs about 10 kg (22 lb).

How big is the 10L Dromedary? MSR gives 12.5 x 23 inches (31.75 x 58.4 cm) flat. It rolls into a much smaller bundle when empty.

Can the Dromedary freeze? MSR says the bag can handle freezing and boiling liquids. Ice in the cap can make it hard to open, though, so keep it in the heated part of the van in winter.

Does the Dromedary have a tap? No. It has MSR's 3-in-1 cap, which lets you fill, drink or pour. For a tap, use a rigid jug with a spigot, or an MSR-listed accessory for the Dromedary.

Does it make water safe to drink? No. It's a container. Treat water from untreated sources with a suitable filter or purifier before drinking.

How do I get rid of the plastic taste? MSR recommends rinsing with hot water and vinegar before first use. After each use, dry it fully before storing it.

Is it BPA-free? Yes. MSR says the food-grade polyurethane lining is BPA-free.

Sources and verification

• Cascade Designs (MSR), Dromedary Bags product page: 10 L capacity, 10 oz weight, 12.5 x 23 in size, 1,000D fabric, food-grade BPA-free PU lining, 3-in-1 cap, freezing and boiling rating, made in USA, hot water and vinegar first-use rinse. https://cascadedesigns.com/fr-eu/products/dromedary-bags (checked 2026-10-11)
• Amazon listing for ASIN B01MSX7C6N, the listing this review links to: title (Dromedary Bag, 10-Liter, Black), part number 09588, size and weight, 3-year limited warranty claim, availability (checked 2026-10-11)