bladder vs bottles - what would you do if the bladder broke?

They are pretty tough. I've been using the same one for years. Hasn't leaked yet, just kind of a pain to clean IMO. :o
 
IMHO, you can't beat the Nalgene stainless steel. A bit more durable than the plastic and they still have opening/threads that let me attach my water purifier right to it. Bottles are also easier for me because a lot of the time I want water after I've taken my pack off and it's a nuisance to take the bladder with me in that situation.
 
I like the capacity of bladders, but must say I much prefer to drink out of a bottle. Sucking through the hose has never been my thing.

The issue with bottles is capacity. I'd have to carry 2-3 bottles to get to the capacity of a bladder. The solution there might be to carry a bottle and a platypus bladder in the location where I would normally carry a Camelback bladder. The wheels are a'turnin' now!

I love this forum.
 
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I've used a camelback and platypus bladder for years and have had no problems with either one. The camelback stores smaller when empty being a more flexible material but performance-wise they have proven themselves very worthy.

When I get back form a trip I usually swish a bit of listerine in them to kill whatever crud might be lurking. I also store them in the freezer to keep stuff from growing between trips. No problems so far, but to be fair I too only fill them with water. No sugary stuff to make them into petri dishes.

I also bring along a nalgene or two depending on the area and how far it is between reliable water sources. The nalgene also serves double duty as a handy measuring cup if I'm using dehydrated meals.
 
bladders also make very good field expedient irrigation kits for wounds (again, ONLY if you store water in them). Pressurerise the bladder by blowing thru the hose until the bladder is fully inflated, then direct the water stream into the wound. One can make a simple saline wash by adding salt and a chlorine dioxide tab, shaking well and then using.
 
I've owned camelbak, nalgene, and several off-brands of bladders, and they've ALL leaked on me! Even though it's much more convenient to drink on the go, plastic and ss bottles are my only choice now. Btw, mine leak at the seams, usually right near the filling point... go figure, I'd have the bad batches of every brand!!!
 
I use a camelback in the sleeve. I think the sleeve is a great addition, adds a little weight, but it gives you much better puncture resistance, makes handling easier and gives some insulation. I flipped my quad one time and landed on my back right on my camelback when it was full and it didn't bust and I go 270lbs, so it would take something pretty crazy to blow out the seams, if anything were to happen I would say a puncture is much more likely. I have a couple of the guyot stainless bottles, but to be honest if I need more then 2L, I take a nalgene wide mouth platypus type bottle. I hate carrying the weight and bulk of an empty bottle, although I am more likely to carry the guyot in the winter for possible hot beverage prep.
 
I prefer to use a bladder when I'm going on a day hike and need a pack to carry extra gear (usually in the colder months). I like the greater volume, the convenience of the bite valve and the fact that it gets smaller as it empties. During the warmer months when I don't feel the need to carry a pack on day hikes, I prefer a water bottle because it doesn't make my back sweaty. For backpacking I'll take both.
 
I've used bladders for over 10 years, biking and hiking. Camelbak when they were the only option, Ultimate Direction and Platypus more recently. I've never had a problem with a ruptured bladder, even with some fairly rough use.

Besides, my PFAK is not just for humans: 6' of Gorilla tape wrapped around a piece of plastic should work on bladders and air mattresses, although I've never had to test either supposition.
 
muntag451 said:
NOTE: when you need to cross water (swimming or otherwise deep fording) I blow lots of air INTO my bladder for extra flotation. you need to cinch down all the straps tight and low on your back though!
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Sweet trick, I'll have to remember that one!
 
muntag451 said:
i have never busted a bladder, but I always have a bit of duct tape to fix a small leak if that were the case(but I will carry gluelesss tube patches like mentionned above).

for downhilling or mountainbiking I use a bladder; hands free and extra back protection.
for road biking, it's 2 bottles mounted on the bike, that way I can splunk big sips without having to suck it in... just squirt from the bottle.
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I first realized the protection and strength of the camelbak bladder at Bromont in 99, I was playing on the world cup course and lost it in the big rock garden and skipped through it on my back. the pack was torn and seams were split but the bladder was in perfect condition. The only mishap I have had with a camelbak bladder is someone loaded gear on top of the bit valve and bag causing all the water to flow out. My new bladder has an on off at the bit valve to prevent this from happening. To get a big blast of water from a camelbak just blow into it the air pressure will force the water out
 
Bladders- Mountain biking or short day hikes.

Bottles- Backpacking and day hiking in remore areas.

Lean more towards bottles. Bottles are easier to clean.

The farther I travel from the city the more simple my equipment becomes
 
The closest thing to a bladder I've used is my MSR Dromedary bag. I bought it years ago to use as my camp water supply when living outside.

It has never sprung a leak and it has had some pretty heavy use. I can buy a kit that would turn it into a hydration unit but haven't as yet. I back it up with a military 2 Qt. canteen or my Guyot SS bottle.

I always carry both the large capacity dromedary, and a canteen. I use the canteen as my supply while walking etc. and use the dromedary at night when in camp and cooking. I also use the Dromedary for transporting water over long dry stretchesof trail.

I do carry repair materials, not just for the bladder but for all my gear. I'd be a fool not too.
 
Whilst I have MSR Dromedary 6 litre and 4 litre water bags, I tend to use the Guyot stainless steel bottle as my main user.

I want the MSR's for bulk camp water storage and shower bags and prefer not to drink from hoses.

My Packraft/Gear repair/spares kit has Tyvek tape and duct tape, Aquaseal, Patch-N-Go and a swatch of Packraft hull fabric, needles and dental floss (for thread) so I'm okay for field repairs.

I want to be certain that I have sufficient means to complete a trip and I'd rather carry repair/spares gear that never gets used than need it and not have it.
 
Arrrrg! Jinxed!

Not two hours after my post above claiming never to have problems with a bladder system, guess what? I went out for my Sunday run in the desert north of Camp Pendleton (Donna O'Niell Reserve, if you care) and the attachment of the hose to the bottom of the bladder tore off about 1/4 way, dumping 2 liters of water on my ass, down my legs and into my shoes. So, here I am, 80f, 9 miles into the desert and planned 9 miles back, no more water. $hit! I decided to cut short, so I wandered into the subdivision close by, found a young man and his dad washing their mx bikes and drank from their hose until I was bursting. I couldn't run with that gut full of water, so I walked for about 10 minutes, then ran the rest of the way back the short way.

The item that failed is a 4-year-old Ultimate Direction backpack with 100 oz bladder. I never much liked the closure on the top of the bag, so now I have an excuse to get another Platypus or Camelbak or something.
 
I always have bottles with me if I'm packing the bladder-the bladder is to supplement the bottles, not the other way around so i'm not COMPLETELY screwed if it fails. I just buy the decent ones off the bad and carry them in a designated water bladder pocket so they don't get pinched, poked, torn, ripped etc.
 
tknife said:
That's what I was gonna say. Been using Camelbaks for years with no tears. But I'd duct tape it if it did.
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That's what I was thinking as I read the posts You beat me to it. Always carry some duct take. Wrap a little of it around a pencil. Canoe repair. Wear spot on your heel. Cheap suture strips. etc. Didn't mean to hijack a thread.
 
I use both soft pack(bladder) and hard bottle.
Because the water is often the most essential part to sustain life in my kind of field.
 
best trick for keeping a camelbak style bladder clean is to dump s soon as you unload yr gear. empty, hang to dry(they make devices for this but you guys can figure out yr own im sure..) dont let what water may be left sit. i take off the bite valve, the tube etc let everything dry between uses. and as others have mentioned keep a separate bladder for the sugary drinks if you put those in a bladder. the first camelbak i ever used was in about 1990 or so. there was only one model. tho ive updated and upgraded numerous times, has served well here for all these yrs. tho bottles have a purpose too. and as others, that puppy has saved me some serious injury when i landed on it instead of my flesh n bones, down onto the rocks when taking a hard spill off the mtn bike. have yet to have one leak. tho i do periodically replace the bladder and now only use the newish military biotech ones. love the wide openings they now have. and as someone mentioned, listerine is a great solution to prevention of mildew etc.
 
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