CamelBak Delta 5 Tactical Hydration Vest

Intro

(image courtesy of camelbak.com)

The CamelBak Delta 5 Tactical Hydration Vest is "built for high-speed tactical environments, the NEW Delta-5™ Tactical Vest combines revolutionary design, fully integrated hands-free hydration, rugged pouches and ergonomic comfort. All constructed with the most durable materials on the market" (camelbak.com)

This vest takes the camelbak bladders that some players like to wear on the back of their vests, and integrates it onto the inside. It has plenty of retail space (142 full slots to be exact) for MOLLE ammo pouches and other MOLLE attachments. It also comes in 4 different colors: Black, Coyote, Foliage Green, and Desert Camouflage.

see other colors

Features

The front panels of the vest is made from a single layer mesh of Cordura. This mesh layer allows sweat and moisture to escape, cut back on weight, and is quite durable. After two years of playing, the mesh has no physical signs of weakening or damage. Although the material is Cordura, it is quite smooth and not at all abrasive to the skin, unlike normal Cordura. 

The back panel is made from traditional Cordura material. It is rigid and solid to protect the water reservoir inside. There is a Velcro panel on the back under the Camelbak logo for attaching identifiers. The back panel also features a drag handle, which is very securely fastened.

On the inside of the vest is padding for your back, as well as a drainage hole for those instances when water may potential spill in or enter your vest. A zipper is for accessing the internals is also present on the interior back panel.

On the interior of each front panel is a mesh pocket sealed by a bit of Velcro. This compartment can be used for maps, snacks, and anything that you would carry but are not afraid of losing. The gaps between the Velcro and the sides is decently large, so I would not recommend storing keys or small objects in them. You can store those items in another pocket built onto the Velcro pocket. There is a zipper-sealed pocket - personally, I store my gloves in these pockets since the Velcro tends to chew them up pretty badly. All these pockets are made with the same mesh material and are very durable.

On the front face of the vest, there are two rubberized pads, each with a enclosed bar. These pads are for designed for shouldering a weapon. They provide a nonslip surface that the stock can hold against. These pads are different from other vests' in that they aren't leather based and they do not have as much padding on the inside.

You'll also notice the Velcro/hook and loop patch next above the MOLLE webbing for fastening nametapes, rank patches, flags, etc.

This vest is a one-size-fit-all, however, if you are around 5' tall, this vest will not fit you the way it is intended. The vest is set up for use in conjunction with a belt. One could get away without a belt if the vest's reservoir is empty, as the vest weighs a little over 2 pounds completely bare, but with water and ammo, the vest can top off around 10 pounds (vest weighs 8.7 pounds when full + ammo). You do not want to subject your shoulders to carrying all that weight in addition to your rifle and any other gear you might be carrying. Using a belt transfers most of the weight to your hips, which will make this and any other vest more comfortable. The belt loops are a Velcro/button design.

Adjusting the vest is fairly simple. To adjust its girth, you simply pull each of the six straps that hold the front panels and the back panel together. There are three straps on each side.

Each strap has a Velcro T stop at the end. These stops neatly bundle any excess straps.

You simple pull or release the strap to the correct length, roll the T towards the buckle, and when there is no more slack, fold the Velcro tabs in to secure your strap.

Adjusting the should straps is also fairly simple. The process is a bit more involved, however, and does require either removing the vest or having a friend help out. The shoulder adjustment buckles are on the interior of the vest. To access them, simply unzip the back compartment. There are two metal buckles with straps that clearly go into the shoulders. Pulling the excess strap up will shorten the shoulders, while pulling the metal buckle will lengthen them. 

After adjusting, simply tuck the excess back into the vest and zip back up.

The Camelbak reservoir holds 3.1 L according to their website. It is held upright by a small hook that hooks onto a small loop on the interior pocket.

 The drinking tube is sheathed in a neoprene sleeve that runs the entire length of the tube. The tube itself runs through one of the shoulder straps and can be swapped if so desired.

The drinking nozzle is high-quality. Unlike most civilian products of Camelbak, the drinking nozzle has a lock which prevents water from dripping all over the place. The nipple itself is protected from the environment via a dust cover. The vest I received has a straight style drinking nozzle, while the current model boasts a right-angle drinking nozzle.

The nozzle is turned on and off by flipping the gray level.

Analysis

I bought this vest when I first started actively playing airsoft. I actually bought two, one for myself and one as a Valentines Day gift for my girlfriend. I purchased these vests from LA Police Gear  at around $150 dollars per unit. At Camelbak's webpage, the MSRP is $199. Make no joke about it, these are expensive for first time airsoft players. There are cheaper alternatives for the airsoft players just entering the sport or the casual airsofter.

This vest is great for those hot summer games, because you do not need to bring a canteen out onto the field that could potentially get lost or damaged. For less intense games require little or no water, the vest still performs well, although, like aforementioned, a cheaper alternative could have sufficed. However, if you like the option of playing in both worlds, this vest fits the bill.

After playing with this vest for over two years, the zippers and stitching are still intact. The buttons on the belt loops have had some of their paint scraped off during CQB games. However, everything still functions.

If you are looking at a vest that will prevent you from feeling impacting BB's, this is not it. From behind, due to the extra layers of Cordura and the padding, you will not feel hits. You will hear them, but you definitely will not feel them. However, wherever there is mesh webbing, BB hits can be felt.

Pros

This vest is designed for wear with or without body armor, meaning many people will fit this vest. 

The adjustment process, while not as easy as some Velcro versions, feels more secure. 

The MOLLE webbing is not a cheap, it is extremely durable made to military specifications.

Allows for complete control on how pouches are configured and placed.

Entire vest is very well built, rugged, and can take any abuse thrown at it.

Cons

Because of the internal reservoir, the vest has a visible hump on the back, which may cause you to look like a skinny turtle at times.

The neoprene sleeve for the water tube likes to retract, so every once in a while, you must pull the sleeve back up.

At $140 - $199, this vest is expensive, considering that it comes with zero pouches. All additional pouches must be bought separately. For first-time or casual airsofters, this vest may not be for you. Consider it one of the sport's long-term investments.

No modern military uses this vest, so re-enactors or mil-sim players may not find this vest useful.

Conclusion

Although I really enjoy wearing this vest, it has cost me quite a lot of cash to buy all the pouches for it. At about half the total cost, I could have bought a pre-made vest from Black Hawk or UTG. I am sure that this vest will last longer than cheaper brands and variants, and I am overall very pleased at the quality of the vest. I would recommend it to players that enjoy customizing their load-outs and do not mind spending the money.