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

Bladders all the way!
I've never had one leak, and you'd have to be pretty careless to puncture one. I had a pretty bad mountain bike crash and landed on my back, and the bladder is totally fine. Just make sure you are using a name brand bladder.

I never understood why everyone thinks they are so difficult to clean, they aren't any harder to clean than a bottle, in fact it's easier to get in there to scrub if you need to. But, I've never had to scrub mine, just rinse it with soapy water.

I do carry an empty soda bottle with me though, I use it in conjunction with my steripen, and I suppose it could get me back to the car if my bladder broke, but that's almost unthinkable. If I want some flavored drink with dinner, I'll add some water to the bottle and mix in my powder, that way I don't taint my bladder for the rest of the trip.
 
I use the platypus bottles a lot and the only one that ever cracked was six years old and the seam of the hard plastic screw on part broke not the clear part:rolleyes:

I have some nearly 10 yrs old still going.

On my last backpacking trip on the way out stupid me put both water bottles in my dog's pack and he lost it while I wasn't looking and I couldn't find it:thumbdn:

So what I did was just stop and drink more often and filter the water into my large folding bowl. No biggie.

On a trip with very little water on the trail I usually carry extra bottles but usually the platypus type because they are so much lighter and hold so much more.

Considering most bladders and collapsible bottles hold way more than a rigid bottle for me the more concern would be that you would run onto less water on the trail than you planned for and your rigid bottle did not hold enough to get between water sources.
 
If I were still hunting...or for other reasons wanted to be more stealthy...I'd use a bladder. My pack is equipped for one. I just prefer the durability and versatility of my metal water bottles, and have ran into no reason why I'd want the bladder.
 
JCavSD said:
I've never had a bladder leak on me, they seem pretty tough. Not really worried about a leak. Typically I carry 1.5 liters in a bladder, and 1 liter in a bottle.
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I do exactly the same thing most of the time :thumbup:. I usually use a bladder for hiking (hands free, ensures constant drinking, minimizes storage room when the water is gone), but I always have a guyot in the pack as well or wear a canteen w/cup on the belt in case the bladder does get punctured or otherwise damaged. In my normal activities though, damaging the bladders is highly unlikely; they are pretty darn tough.

My only complaint about bladders is that they really are annoying to clean (for me). I don't feel comfortable using them again unless I scrub em with a brush and detergent...bladder, hose, and bite valve. And that takes longer to do than cleaning out my guyot or canteen with a brush. I am also guilty of often leaving the bladder wet and not cleaning it right after an outing...forcing me to sterilize it when I do get around to cleaning it...damn procrastination....

Sometimes, I only carry the bladder, and if so, as others have said, duct tape would be my best bet.
 
Bill Siegle said:
Have bladders but I use bottles. For me the bladders are a pain to fill in the field, clean at home, and I and my friends have had leaks on em. My Nalgenes have never let me down :)
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I had one bladder and just was not worth the hassle ,I stayed with Nalgene bottles :thumbup:
 
meh bladders aren't all that quiet, if you let em they slosh around all over the place and you sound like a babbling brook moving down the trail.
 
^ ya need to get ALL the air out of the bladder, so its just water.....makes it silent. put it inside a insulating sleeve inside yer pack, totally silent.
 
I prefer stainless steel bottles. They are safe, easier to clean than bladders, and you can cook in them.
 
I use my billy to cook in, my bladders to drink from.

I like the look of the stainless steel bottles, but to carry my 6L capacity, I'd be carrying 6 bottles and over a kg in steel!
 
mcjhrobinson said:
bladder breaks....use some duct tape....dont carry duct tape??? well you should :)
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I use the duck tape around my bottle. j/k Well not really, but for biking and some activities hands free hydration is the way to go, but for most activities, bottles are fine. They never break, are easy to clean...

I'm kind of done with bladders, but I don't mtn bike any more. Just basic whatever riding on a cyclocross rig. I won't buy another one unless I get back into it. For hiking, backpacking, etc. they just aren't an advantage.

ymmv
 
Mannlicher said:
I have, and use both bladders and bottles. Every method does not fit every outing.
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Well said. :thumbup:

For me, a bladder pack is nice for certain situations.
If I'm out riding my bike or day hiking/walking in or around town, a bladder pack makes sense.
Anywhere else I want my SS bottle/s. Find water, put a bandanna over the top, sink it in water and boil it up or treat it, day or night without any hassles.
I keep a couple .5L Platypus water pouches in my pack just in case but a full bladder system stays home.
 
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I tend to use both, if im going to be out in an extended situation i have maybe 2 full bladders and a nalgene or camelback bottle plus a guyot bottle which are compatible with my katadyn hiker water filter.

I have broken a few camelbak bladders but after i switched to source brand bladders i havent had a problem, i also enjoy their ease of cleaning which i have only ever had to do at most twice in the 4 years ive been using bladders because i only use water in them.

Sources also have tougher hoses and a more durable bite valve.

I only have experience with their tactical bladders the civilian/sporting bladders i have no experience with.

http://www.source-military.com/p-standalone-wxp3ls.html
 
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