- How to calculate the water capacity you actually need for your specific trip
- The difference between Slim and Wide bladders, and which shape fits your setup
- How to install and connect a water bladder for gravity feed or 12V pump use
- Every product in the Niche Outdoors range, with sizes, specs, and use cases
- How to clean, dry and store your bladder between trips
- Answers to the most common questions Australian campers ask before buying
Water bladders for camping let you carry extra water in the dead space of your rig, a 4WD footwell, a caravan storage bay, under a bunk, a boat hatch, without adding the weight and bulk of rigid cans. The right size gives you enough capacity for the trip without exceeding your available space or vehicle payload.
Every Niche Outdoors bladder ships with the fittings you need to connect it. No separate Bunnings run. Shaun and James tested the bladders in their own vehicles before selling a single one, including 60L and 100L water bladders on a run to Esperance. If you need help choosing a size, the founders answer every enquiry personally.
What is a camping water bladder?
A water bladder is a sealed, flexible reservoir made from food-grade PVC. It stores fresh water, collapses flat when empty, and fills the space available to it as it fills up.
How they work
The bladder has an upper intake and a lower outlet. Before filling, position the bladder flat and remove as much air as possible. Connect the fill hose to the lower outlet so water enters from the bottom. Open the upper intake slightly to release trapped air as the bladder fills. At camp, draw water from the outlet by gravity or with a suitable 12V pump.
The flexible bladder takes the shape of the available space as it fills. Measure the intended position before ordering and allow room for the bladder to expand without pressing tightly against nearby surfaces.
How they compare to jerry cans
Two 20L jerry cans give you 40L. That is roughly 5 days of water for one person, or 2.5 days for a couple, if you are rationing cooking and washing. Once you go past three days out, you need more cans: more weight, more lifting, more space, and more awkward pours into a small pot over a camp stove.
A 100L water bladder stores 2.5 times that volume and packs down flat when empty. It takes up the space it needs as it fills. At camp, connect it to a 12V pump and you have on-demand water at a tap or shower head without touching a jerry can again.
For weekend trips, jerry cans are fine. For anything longer, or for any setup where camp comfort matters, a water bladder suits the job better.
Every Niche Outdoors bladder comes with the fittings needed to connect it, plus a carry bag for storing the empty bladder and its components. The founders tested the bladders in their own vehicles before launch, including 60L and 100L water bladders.
A 100L water bladder stores more than two 40L jerry-can loads, packs down flat when empty, and connects directly to a 12V pump or gravity feed.
How much water do you need?
Getting the capacity right before you buy saves money and frustration on the road. Choose a size that covers the trip without exceeding your available space or vehicle payload.
Daily water requirements in Australia
The survival minimum in a hot Australian environment is 3L per person per day (Australian Red Cross guidance). Once you add cooking, washing up and basic hygiene, the realistic baseline is 5–8L per person per day. Days above 35°C put you near the top of that range. Running a camp shower daily adds another 5–10L on top.
The capacity formula
The calculation is simple: daily litres × number of people × number of days. Then add 25% as a buffer.
Trips blow out. A planned four-nighter becomes six nights when the fishing is good or the weather closes in. Water spills. Unexpected guests show up at camp. The kid leaves the tap running. The 25% buffer covers delays, spills and changes to the trip. It is the gap between a comfortable run and one spent hunting a roadhouse 80km away.
Capacity examples by trip type
| Trip type | People | Days | Base litres | With 25% buffer | Bladder to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend 4WD trip | 2 | 3 | 48L | 60L | 60L Slim |
| Week-long caravan trip | 2 | 7 | 112L | 140L | 180L Slim or 100L + 60L |
| Extended lap (4WD) | 2 | 30 | 480L | 600L | Multiple bladders |
| Solo prospecting | 1 | 14 | 112L | 140L | 180L Slim |
| Family (4 people) | 4 | 5 | 200L | 250L | 350L Wide or 240L + at least 10L separate |
The most common mistake is buying one size down from what the maths says, then spending the trip rationing. Check your available space and loaded vehicle weight, then choose the next size up if both allow it. The weight difference between a 100L and a 130L when full is 30kg, worth knowing before you decide.
Calculate daily litres × people × days and add 25% as a buffer. Check your available space and vehicle payload, then choose the next size up if both allow it.
Slim vs Wide: which shape fits your setup?
Niche Outdoors makes two ranges. The shape you need depends entirely on the space where the bladder will sit. Measure the exact position before ordering.
The Slim range
Slim bladders are made for narrow spaces: 4WD footwells, under-seat cavities and gaps beside drawer systems. The 60L Slim is around 650mm long. The 100L Slim is around 1100mm long. Vehicle interiors and modifications vary, so measure the exact position before choosing a size.
The 70L Jimny Slim was developed for the narrower space in a Suzuki Jimny. Fit can still vary with seat position and modifications, so check your measurements or contact Niche Outdoors before ordering.
The Wide range
Wide bladders suit broader spaces such as caravan storage bays, camper-trailer compartments and boat hatches. They spread their capacity across a wider area than the Slim range.
Available space varies between caravans, trailers and boats. Measure the full length, width and height of the intended position and allow room for the bladder to expand without pressing tightly against surrounding surfaces.
Which shape by setup
| Setup | Recommended range | Common sizes |
|---|---|---|
| 4WD or dual-cab ute | Slim | Measure the exact footwell or storage space |
| Suzuki Jimny | 70L Jimny Slim | Measure around the seat position and modifications |
| Caravan | Wide | Measure the storage bay before ordering |
| Camper trailer | Wide or Slim | Choose from the compartment dimensions |
| Boat hatch or bow storage | Wide | Measure the full usable space |
| Truck canopy | Slim or Wide | Measure first |
Vehicle and storage-bay dimensions vary between models, and modifications can change the available space. Measure the intended position before ordering. For help confirming a size, contact Niche Outdoors with the make, model, year and internal measurements.
Slim bladders suit narrow 4WD footwells and under-seat spaces. Wide bladders suit broader storage areas. Measure the exact position before ordering and contact Niche Outdoors if you need help confirming a size.
The full Niche Outdoors water bladder range
Every bladder is made from food-grade material and comes with a carry bag for storing the empty bladder and its components. The included fittings are ready to assemble and connect.
Slim range
| Size | Typical use | Typical setup |
|---|---|---|
| 60L Slim | Weekend 4WD or extra trip capacity | Narrow vehicle space; measure first |
| 70L Jimny Slim | Suzuki Jimny touring | Jimny storage space; measure first |
| 100L Slim | Longer 4WD or camper trips | Footwell or narrow storage area; measure first |
| 130L Slim | Longer trips and remote stays | Long footwell or under-bench space; measure first |
| 180L Slim | Higher-capacity touring | Large vehicle storage space; measure first |
Wide range
| Size | Typical use | Typical setup |
|---|---|---|
| 100L Wide | Smaller caravan, camper or boat setup | Broad storage space; measure first |
| 240L Wide | Higher-capacity caravan or camper setup | Large storage bay; measure first |
| 350L Wide | Extended trips or marine storage | Large storage space; measure first |
| 540L Wide | High-volume remote or marine use | Large storage space; measure first |
| 1000L Wide | Station or remote-property use | Contact Niche Outdoors for guidance |
What ships with every bladder
- Carry bagStores the empty bladder and its fittings/components between uses.
- Ball valveFits the outlet fitting, open to draw water, closed to seal between uses.
- Elbow fittingAngles the outlet hose for tight installation spaces.
- Hose connectorStandard 3/4" garden hose thread for connecting a pump or gravity hose.
- PTFE thread tapeSeals threaded connections, wrap two to three times around the threads before fitting.
- PVC capSeals the inlet when not filling.
Tested by the founders
Before launch, Shaun and James ran the bladders in their own vehicles, including a 60L and a 100L water bladder on a trip to Esperance. They were confident before they sold a single one.
Every bladder ships with connection fittings and a carry bag. Choose the shape and size from the exact dimensions of your available space.
What customers say
Real buyers, verified purchases.
Don't start cheap like I did, those eBay ones risk leaking, and mine did on the very first fill, not even full. This 100-litre Niche Outdoors bladder I can trust. At $139 plus postage it was half the price of some. Fits perfectly in my MG HS with a little room to spare.
Awesome piece of kit. Fits perfectly behind the seat. Tough as nails.
Purchased the 60-litre bladder and 10L bucket. Needed them for a camping trip and being local to Perth was very handy. Easy pick-up and very impressed with the quality. Will definitely be back.
I don't normally do reviews but Shane's service deserves a mention. Ordered 5 days before leaving on holiday and needed to pick it up on a weekend, Shane organised it. Very handy to get 100 litres in one go to top up our caravan.
Purchased the 60-litre water bladder. Very impressed with the customer service and postage time. Excellent quality, along with the tap fittings.
My 2nd bladder from Niche. Superb quality.
How to set up your water bladder
Setup takes under 15 minutes the first time. These steps apply to every bladder in the Slim and Wide range.
How to set up and fill your water bladder
Rinse the bladder before first use
Niche Outdoors selected the bladder material and manufacturer to keep plastic taste and factory smell to a minimum. Most new bladders have very little, if any, noticeable taste or smell. Before the first fill, rinse the bladder with warm water and a splash of white vinegar, then empty it and allow it to dry.
Fit the outlet fittings
Wrap PTFE tape two to three times around all threaded connections before assembly. Thread on the ball valve, then the elbow fitting, then the hose connector. Hand-tight plus a quarter turn is enough, do not overtighten plastic fittings.
Position the bladder
Position the bladder completely flat and remove as much air as possible. Check the surrounding space for sharp edges or exposed metal and allow room for the bladder to expand without pressing tightly against nearby surfaces.
Fill the bladder
Connect the fill hose to the outlet at the bottom of the bladder. Filling from the bottom makes the bladder easier to manage as it expands. Open the intake cap at the top slightly so trapped air can escape. Watch the bladder throughout the process.
Connect your pump or gravity hose
For a 12V pump, connect the pump inlet to the bladder outlet and run the pump outlet to the camp tap or shower fitting. For gravity feed, place and fill the bladder on a stable, raised surface, then run a hose down to the outlet point. Fit a suitable inline filter between the bladder and the pump or tap where required.
Rinse before first use, position the bladder flat, remove trapped air, fill through the lower outlet and stop before the bladder becomes tight. Check all connections before travelling.
Running water at camp
Once the bladder is installed and filled, you have two ways to draw water at camp, plus an optional inline filter. Each suits a different use case.
Gravity feed
For gravity feed, position the bladder on a stable, raised surface, then run the hose down to your tap, bucket or camp kitchen. The bladder needs to sit above the outlet point for water to flow.
Choose the position carefully. Water weighs about 1kg per litre, so a 100L bladder holds about 100kg of water. Placing that weight high in a vehicle can raise its centre of gravity and affect handling or stability. Check the surface and vehicle load limits, secure the bladder properly, and consider the roads and conditions you will travel on before filling it.
A separate Protective Bladder Bag/Protective Cover is available for the 60L water bladder. It allows 2 people to lift the filled bladder into a safer position. A filled bladder is still very heavy, so do not attempt to lift it alone. Do not lift or reposition larger full bladders.
Gravity feed suits low-pressure jobs such as filling a kettle, washing up or running a basic camp tap. Use a suitable pump where stronger flow is needed.
12V pump
A suitable 12V pump provides on-demand pressure for a camp tap or shower fitting. Connect the pump inlet to the bladder outlet and run the pump outlet to the fitting you want to use.
The number of showers available depends on the shower flow rate, shower length and the amount of water reserved for other uses. Check the pump specifications and fittings before purchase, or ask Niche Outdoors which setup suits your bladder.
Adding an inline water filter
The Niche Outdoors inline water filter fits between the bladder outlet and the pump or tap. It is a general-purpose filter designed for many common uses, but it may not be suitable for every water source or every type of contaminant.
Water quality varies between bore water, rainwater tanks and roadside tanks. If the quality of the source is unknown, have it tested or get advice on the treatment required. Check that the chosen filter is suitable for that water. A general inline filter should not be relied on to make every source safe.
Water bladders are not insulated, so the water temperature will follow the surrounding conditions. Keep the bladder in a shaded position where possible and avoid leaving it in an exposed area in direct sun.
Gravity feed suits low-pressure use. A suitable 12V pump provides stronger flow. A general-purpose inline filter may suit many common uses, but the source water can require testing or different treatment.
Caring for your bladder between trips
Regular rinsing, complete drying and careful placement help keep the bladder ready for the next trip.
After every trip
After each trip, rinse the bladder with clean water, empty it completely and allow it to dry before storing it. Storing it damp and closed can lead to unwanted odour or mould.
If an odour develops, rinse the bladder with warm water and a splash of white vinegar, then empty it, rinse with clean water and allow it to dry fully.
Sharp edges and punctures
Check the intended position for exposed metal, screws or other sharp contact points before fitting the bladder. Keep the bladder away from surfaces that could rub or puncture the material.
If the bladder is punctured or damaged, stop using it and contact Niche Outdoors for product-specific advice before attempting a repair.
Long-term storage
Store the bladder empty and fully dry, inside the carry bag supplied with it. Keep the bladder fittings and components in the same bag so the complete set is ready for the next trip.
Choose a cool, dry storage area away from direct sunlight and keep the bladder separate from fuel and other petrochemicals.
Material and certification
Niche Outdoors water bladders are made from food-grade material. They have not yet been certified for potable-water storage, so Niche Outdoors does not claim that water stored in the bladder is safe to drink.
Rinse and dry the bladder after use, keep it away from sharp edges and direct sunlight, and store the empty bladder with its components in the included carry bag.
