Thank you for your interest in the Vecto! Whether you're already holding one in your hands as you go over the details, or you're just thinking about upgrading your water carrying setup, we're here to help.
To make sure you get the most of your Vecto, here is a running list of different questions we've encountered so far.
If you still have any questions about the Vecto, please contact us!
Our 28mm Vecto is designed to have a perfect fit with the Sawyer filters: Sawyer Squeeze, Sawyer Mini, or Sawyer Micro. Make sure your Sawyer filters have fully functional rubber washers to prevent leaks.
You can also use the Sawyer Coupling or a Tornado Tube to create a gravity filtering system with your Vectos.
We recommend washing all the parts of the Vecto before first use to clean off any molding lubricants that were used in the production process. Regular dish soap and warm water will be sufficient.
If you feel that your Vecto needs further (some people are sensitive to TPU smell), use the juice from one lemon, one tbsp of baking soda and one liter of water to make a solution in the Vecto. Freeze overnight and then thaw and wash with soap. Allow to air dry fully before using.
Very, the bladder part has a break point of 220lbs (100kg), so feel free to toss it in your bag full of water, use it as a robust dry bag or hang it as part of a gravity filter system.
The slider loop is useful for creating a gravity system and will hold up to 20 lbs (9 kg).
The Vecto was released in late 2017. So far, it has had four major updates:
4. March 2019 to present - New generation! With new (stiff) necks, new slider and tethering for the cap and slider. Updated logo and print. More about the updates can be found in this post.
In March 2019, we released a new version of the Vecto, with these upgrades:
In 2020 the VECTO got an updated print to include new legal compliance notes and our new logo. The bag itself hasn't changed and shares all the same specifications as the 2019 VECTOs.
We make two variations of the Vecto: a 28mm neck designed for Sawyer filter family or VersaFlow filter, which will not fit a BeFree filter, and a 42mm neck that will.
Please make sure you have picked the correct one for your filter.
We don't officially recommend pairing our Vecto with a hydration tube system as other threads may not be 100% compatible with ours, and we can't ensure you will get a watertight seal with another company's product.
There are kits out there, but CNOC Outdoors has not tested nor do we officially endorse the use of these products - pair at your own risk.
Please note: We do not recommend carrying any water containers inside your bag. The chance of leaks or breakage creates unnecessary risk and danger of wet gear on a trip.
At this time, we have both 2L and 3L Vectos available, 28mm or 42mm* offered in Orange or Blue. (*The 42mm Vecto in 2L & 3L is currently only available in Orange.)
As we expand our product line, we plan on offering more sizes and color choices based on customer requests.
If you are interested in submitting an idea for a color or size, please send you product idea(s) to contact@cnocoutdoors.com and we will do our best to follow up!
The slider works by mechanically sealing the wide opening along with the softer Vecto material, so it requires no lubrication. Just make sure you’ve folded the top correctly before replacing the slider, and keep it clean from debris.
The wide (slider) end of the Vecto is created by welding several parts together. A special bonding lubricant is used to make sure nothing "sticks'' in the process. Cleaning your Vecto with some dish soap and warm water should remove this lubricant.
The Vecto is made from TPU, which is a porous material that can cause a slight plastic taste upon first use from our manufacturer. Some people are more sensitive to this taste and smell; give it a quick wash with soap and warm water (see previous question) before first use and on regular periods between hiking seasons.
If the taste persists, we recommend placing it in warm water with two denture tabs overnight and then emptying and washing thoroughly with dish soap.
The best way to sterilize a Vecto is to fill it with 1-1.5 liters of water along with juice from 1-2 lemons and 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda. Put in the freezer overnight. Let thaw, wash with warm water and dish soap, let fully air dry and use as normal.
Yes! It is perfectly safe to use backup water treatments, like chlorine, iodine, Aquamira©, in your Vecto. Keep in mind that putting any additional chemical treatment in your Vecto may cause staining and/or new odors in the TPU.
If you feel like your Vecto needs to be deep-cleaned, refer to the cleaning questions in this FAQ, above!
When out on the trail, developing a leak can be frustrating. Because of the nature of TPU, pinholes can develop after time from a number of factors, including temperature and exposure to UV rays (sunlight).
The good news is that the Vecto can be sealed using a variety of adhesives, all to be applied on the outside. The simplest and fastest way to fix a pinhole is with a dab of (ideally, brush-on) superglue on the outside of the bladder.
For a more robust patch or for larger rips, tears, punctures or holes, we recommend a piece of Tear-Aid Type A fabric patch.
When the soft-necked Vecto is too full, the softer threads can become a bit twisted from the pressure of holding the Vecto by its neck. Remove some water and place the Vecto on a surface to reduce the pressure when holding it by the neck.
For hard-necked (2019 and newer) Vectos, make sure that you have tightened the cap as much as possible to create a watertight seal. We have designed a cap that is deeper than what is standard to ensure that it seals the softer TPU neck on the Vecto.
If your Vecto still leaks, please send us an email at support@cnocoutdoors.com!
To make this simple, probably not.
First, check if the slider is fully closed - you should slide it all the way to the end, ensure that by checking that the small opening in the open edge of the slider is empty:
Another issue could be that the wide opening is closed over the wrong lip - make sure the lip that reads "This side in" is on the inside of the fold. Allow Devan to illustrate!
Another issue we've observed is that when a Vecto is filled, if excess water is trapped in the lips closed by the slider, this can seep out slowly over time, creating a coin-sized puddle about an inch in diameter (2.5 cm).
To prevent this, once closed, give the full Vecto a good shake holding the body to remove any excess water in the neck or the slider.
If you checked all of the above and your Vecto still leaks, please send us an email at support@cnocoutdoors.com.
We never use BPA plastics in our products. BPA is a part of the polymer that keeps plastics completely clear, but unfortunately it also leeches into water in higher temperatures and is known to cause cancer.
Every BPA-free plastic is sensitive to discoloring, mainly yellowing from UV rays. The combination of high tannins and mineral content in water sources, plus UV exposure, can lead to yellowing, greening or oranging. This is why baby bottles (new ones, without BPA) get weird colors and opaque after some cleaning and use, especially with warm water.
Discolored TPU is perfectly safe and functional, and should not affect the performance of your Vecto.
No, we do not recommend putting any of our products in the dishwasher. The high temperatures in a dishwasher may compromise or degrade the Vecto’s radio-frequency bonded welds and cause leaks. Any of our TPU products that have been through a dishwasher cannot be covered under our Warranty.
Please hand wash your Vecto and other TPU products with warm, soapy water and let air dry between uses.
The Vecto is made in China at a trusted factory we have been working with for over three years.
The main reason we are manufacturing in China is that the Vecto is manually-made and very labor intensive.
