Hydration Packs

[brettyb]

I'm getting rather frustrated with leaks in my Camelbak 100oz. bladders and starting to wonder what kind of experience others have had with various brands of hydration bladders/packs.

Thanks.

[Alex]

I keep getting the cheapo bags from the Recreation Outlet on 33rd and keep getting my bag wet every time. :frustrated:

I am seriously considering just carrying nalgene bottles with me instead.

[CarpeyBiggs]

Yeah, I've given up on bladders. I hate the taste, they pop inconveniently, and they suck to pump water into, or out of for cooking. Nalgene bottles all the way for me... But, the camelbacks are super convenient, especially for mountain biking, etc... Backpacking though, I stick to bottles.

Dan

[Iceaxe]

I gave up on bladders. I now carry Gatorade bottles. :2thumbs:

[Udink]

I use the cheap Outdoor Products 2L bladders from Wal-Mart--I think they're $8 each. With their most recent model (the light blue wide-mouth), I've only had one fail in the past two years.

[Glockguy]

I haven't had any problems with the 4 Camelbak bladders that I own.

How many problems/bladders have you had?

[denaliguide]

i love my camelbacks. my 100oz i've had for over 3 years with no problems. i keep it in a codura sleeve i made to protect it and its always on top of my pack so it doesn't get crushed. if you are going to go back to bottles don't go nalgene. they are so heavy. a old soda or juice bottle is lighter, cheaper and easily replaced. 1.5 liter or 2 liter are at every podunk gas station on the road.

[Iceaxe]

My biggest problem with bladders is when they fail you can really be screwed. Think 10 miles from your car in the hot desert. I now carry my water in multiple one liter bottles. I have seen 4 or 5 bladders fail in my life from falls and such.

[Scout Master]

I love my Camelbaks I have one I have been using regularly for 3 years I have since bought three more for the twins and other uses. I have never had a leak. I will never go back to taking my pack off to get a drink.

[Scott Card]

My bladder is fine thank you... What was the question?? Oh ya. I love my Camelback. I have had two in 8 years and my second I just purchased. I bought the insulator bag thing to put the bladder in and I have never had it pop or leak and believe me, I abuse my stuff pretty bad in canyons. I have had to replace a mouth piece or two from the skinny stuff in the north wash. The new camelpack bladders are supposed to be stronger and not have the "taste". I never know cause I mix Gatorade and water in my pack. Also, I typically carry one bottle, just in case. Gratefully, "just in case" has not happened. :popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

I abuse my stuff pretty bad in canyons.

In canyons? How do you keep your mouth piece out of the putrid water?

:popcorn:

[Scott Card]

I abuse my stuff pretty bad in canyons.

In canyons? How do you keep your mouth piece out of the putrid water?

:popcorn:

I don't.... adds flavor and protein. Mixed with a little sand you just about get all your minerals and protein for a day :lol8: Actually, I have never really worried about it. Either I tuck the tube behind my neck and try not to go under water. Also, I squeeze the mouth piece allowing anything in the mouthpiece and tube to flush out and then drink. Never been sick yet (knock on wood.) And given the number of mouth fulls I've experienced a few drops on the mouth piece aren't too worrisome. After all, it can't be a whole lot worse than dunking your Gatorade bottles in the drink and then partaking. :popcorn:

[brettyb]

To be fair, I've had Camelbaks for several years and used them extensively without a lot of trouble. Once before, I needed to have a replacement cap and handle send for a 100 oz. reservoir that chronically leaked from the cap.

But during a recent trip, I had leaks spring from two different 100 oz. reservoirs. One hole I found before we left because there was a plume of water coming out of hole in the nipple which connects the bladder to the hose. Then another bladder had a slower leak that I found when water dripped onto the back of legs after hoisting the backpack I use to carry my daughter.

It's interesting that some here forgo hydration bladders entirely, though. In spite of the hassles of leaks, I can't imagine not having that bite valve handy, as it helps immensely in keeping hydrated. Since there are many manufacturers making bladders now, I was hoping to glean some first hand information.

Thanks for the replies, and please keep them coming.

[Iceaxe]

I used bottles in ancient history, went to bladders about 1997 and used them exclusively until about 2003. About then I experienced and witnessed several problems as mentioned above and have went back to bottles. I'll still use a bladder occasionally or for things like riding my mountain bike. I'm not dis'n bladders, just telling you the reasons I switched back to bottles. I don't think any of the experienced canyoneers I usually partner with use bladders when in canyons.

One other fault I found with bladders is sometimes I get low on water before realizing I still have a long way to go. With bottles you always know exactly what you have left.

.

[Udink]

don't think any of the experienced canyoneers I usually partner with use bladders when in canyons.
In that case, I should mention that I only use mine for hiking--never been canyoneering with mine. I doubt the cheap ones would stand up to much abuse.

[Mtnman1830]

Too bad about you experience with bladders. I love my camelbaks it would be hard for me to carry bottles.

[KillEmAll]

I also use the semi-disposable Walmart specials. The only problem I have with mine is the mouthpiece dribbles. By the time I've made it to camp I'll have a big wet spot on my shoulder. Unfortunately the tube is a different size or I would swap the mouthpiece off my cameback because I like the Outdoor products bag alot better.

[brettyb]

On the off chance that anyone cares, I should follow up with a hearty compliment for Camelbak's customer service. Today I received brand new replacements for the two leaking bladders. One of the used bladders was several years old, and I didn't even have a receipt for either one. So, I'd have to say that Camelbak's replacement policy is generous.

Nonetheless, I ordered a Deuter bladder to use with the Deuter pack. Just to see how a different one works.

[RedRoxx]

I use the MSR dromedary bags, have several sizes, I take it in my cave pack that gets thrown down drops, dragged and stuffed in tight places, never had a problem. Just tuck the drinking tube inside, and I use the mouthpiece that can be "locked" off.

Backpacking I usually have it bagged in a trash bag just in case. Never had one leak even under a lot of compression.
Bottles take up too much space for my taste, I'll usually have a Nalgene along clipped to outside of pack just in case. I'll also carry a big Platypus collapsable bag to haul water from springs. Also these water bags are less weight than most bottles, although some of the bottles are pretty light.

[Wasatch]

For canyoneering I use a Platypus (100oz.) filled with PowerAde, plus a bottle of PowerAde. For Backpacking, Snowshoeing, and Day Hikes I use 2-3 Nalgene bottles filled with CytoMax.

[jumar]

Several camelbaks my family have used over the years have leaked. I've had two different ones where the hose kept popping off the bladder, so all the water would dump out in my pack. VERY bad out in the desert, when that's your only water. And that's why I'll never own a camelbak again. I've switched to Nalgene bladders. When you take the hose off the bladder, the water stays in the bladder. Just got my wife one that's supposed to not have that nasty plastic taste to it. So far that seems to be true, water tastes good.

[kris]

I use the MSR Dromedary 10L

http://www.nexternal.com/armynavy/images/dromedary_bags1.gif

I have never had a issue with the bag itself, only the valve slowly leaking. I usually carry a Nalgene 1qt, just in case. I have also never noticed a bad taste in mine.

[Bo_Beck]

I'm getting rather frustrated with leaks in my Camelbak 100oz. bladders and starting to wonder what kind of experience others have had with various brands of hydration bladders/packs.

Thanks.

I broke down 6 years ago on my 50 miler across Zion and stuffed 2- 100 Oz. Camelbak bladders in my pack. I hated the thought of "sucking" vs "guzzling", but found that after 16 hours of hiking I was still hydrated. Refilling the bladders at Lava Point was a PITB, but I wasn't stopping every half hour to "chug" some water. I still carry water bottles along with my 70 Oz. Unbottle by Camelbak to refill the bladder. I have a friend who works in surgery as a nurse at DRMC and he brings me the 0.9% Sodium Chloride Irrigation, USP bottles that are just disposed of normally, and I have found these to be the ABSOLUTE BEST H2O bottles available! They even have a ring on the bottom to clip a carabiner.
:rockon:

[Wasatch]

Well, this weekend in Larry Canyon I lost my mouthpiece on my Platy, I guess about half way through the technical section it got a little to tight and it popped off. I probably only took 2-3 sips till this point. I lost basically the whole 2 liter's of PowerAde. I did have a full quart and my buddy gave me probably a quart/half quart more, to get me out to the trailhead. Shit I went threw Lep, Blarney, Shileaghe in two days and it never popped off.

[Sombeech]

I've got a Polar Bear Design 100oz gel bladder. I love it, although the mouthpiece tends to leak sometimes.

I keep it in the freezer for the gel. Keeps the water nice and cold.

I've never had problems with the bag leaking, had it for about 3 years now.

But I'm thinking these guys went out of business. They're website http://www.polardesignpacks.com/ isn't working.
http://uutah.com/forum/files/picture_001.jpg

http://uutah.com/forum/files/picture_003.jpg

[Scott Card]

I don't think any of the experienced canyoneers I usually partner with use bladders when in canyons.

Ummmm I want to change my answer. I use bottles. :lol8:

Signed,

the eternal noob.

[denaliguide]

Well, this weekend in Larry Canyon I lost my mouthpiece on my Platy, I guess about half way through the technical section it got a little to tight and it popped off. I probably only took 2-3 sips till this point. I lost basically the whole 2 liter's of PowerAde. I did have a full quart and my buddy gave me probably a quart/half quart more, to get me out to the trailhead. Shit I went threw Lep, Blarney, Shileaghe in two days and it never popped off.

camelbak and i'm sure others make a petcock valve which prevents unwanted siphonong of your bladder in the event of loss of the bite valve or you (like me more than once) set your pack inadvertantly on the valve. the valve has saved me plenty of times.

[Wasatch]

Well, this weekend in Larry Canyon I lost my mouthpiece on my Platy, I guess about half way through the technical section it got a little to tight and it popped off. I probably only took 2-3 sips till this point. I lost basically the whole 2 liter's of PowerAde. I did have a full quart and my buddy gave me probably a quart/half quart more, to get me out to the trailhead. Shit I went threw Lep, Blarney, Shileaghe in two days and it never popped off.

camelbak and i'm sure others make a petcock valve which prevents unwanted siphonong of your bladder in the event of loss of the bite valve or you (like me more than once) set your pack inadvertantly on the valve. the valve has saved me plenty of times.

Thanks for the info, I will check into that.

[Mtnman1830]

Sombeetch, you have White Castle in your freezer? Have you ever eaten at a White Castle restaraunt? I did while I lived in Minnesota. We called the burgers "Sliders".

[Sombeech]

Sombeetch, you have White Castle in your freezer? Have you ever eaten at a White Castle restaraunt? I did while I lived in Minnesota. We called the burgers "Sliders".

Yeah, they were disgusting. :lol8:

[gonzo]

...petcock...

Hahahahahaha.

Yes, I am 14.

I've had problems with my supposedly "freeze proof" Camelbak freezing on me on days up at Alta, and I've lost the bite valve on at least on occasion. (Nothing like a liter of water pouring down your chest in 30 degree weather). It certainly has given me pause about using a bladder in conditions where water isn't readily accessible.

Here's a pic from one of my frozen days at Alta:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/70175943_a199e07bc5_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris247/70175943/)