Hydration Systems..... What should I know? What do you like?

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
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Good Day,

I have been waiting to buy a hydration system, because I figured that prices would come down and various companies would get in the game. I think both have happened.

So, now I am looking at buying a system, what should I know, what should I look for, what do you like?

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com

My website, guided links, talonite/cobalt alloy info, etc....
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>>--->Bill Siegle Custom Knives<---<<
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"The sun will rise, who knows what the tide will bring." from the movie "CastAway"

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao Tzu

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.

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If we're talking about the same thing, I might be able to give some idea of what to look for.

Camelback is still the standard. Their systems are among the best designed, and best made. It's tough to go wrong with a Camelback.

Definately figure out how much capacity you need, both for liquid and cargo. I have a Camelback 70 oz pack for cycling, that has just enough space for a multitool (cycling tool), a patch kit, keys, Clif bar or two, and so on. I didn't need loads of space, just enough for the essentials.

I also have a Camelback TransAlp, which is a medium size backpack. with space for 2 100 oz bladders (only comes with one though). Loads of space, very useful.

Always check the bladder. Is it sturdy? Is the opening big enough for ice cubes and for cleaning? Is the tube diameter big enough for good flow? Is the bite valve easy to use (hard to check before buying)?

Check the pack like you would a backpack. Try it on, make sure you can snug it down without constricting motion. Is it comfortable? Does it sit well on your back? Do any of the seams, buckles, etc rub on you? Remember that any little discomfort will be greatly magnified halfway through a tough ride or hike.

Personally, I love Camelbacks. BUT $$$$. Blackburn makes several very good hydration systems for less than the cost of Camelback. I'm not enamored of Platypus designs, but their bladders are fantastic. I have a Platypus bladder in a Kelty pack of mine, and it's better and sturdier than my Camelback bladders.

I'll try to think of anything I missed. If you have any other questions keep asking.

BTW, do you ride? I ride both road and mountain bikes, and for awhile I worked in a bike shop.
 
From just over a year ago:
<a href="http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum57/HTML/000060.html">old hydration system discussion</a>

My post to that thread rambles more than a little, but its information is still more or less current, AFAICT. I haven't really looked into buying a new system since then.
 
I'll second what mgeoffriau said about the Camelbak gear. I own a Camelbak Blowfish and although it was expensive, I consider it the most beneficial piece of gear I own for bike riding, after the helmet and the bike itself. The bladders are excellent, mine has held up well, even after an endo flat on it with it being full of water and gear. Some cyclists even say that these offer a degree of back protection, and I see why.
Don't think that these are only cycle-specific gear, however. They make nearly any outdoor activity so much more enjoyable. The part that rests against your back consists of an effective moisture wicking material that works great. I wish I'd got the Transalp model instead of the Blowfish- it is roomier and it also has a nifty hideaway rain fly on it. I can honestly give my Camelbak my highest recommendations. Here's a tip for bladder maintenance- if you have room in your refrigerator for it, keep it full of water and store it in the refrigerator if you plan to use it regularly. I've kept mine like that for over a year with no signs of algae (or whatever) growing in it.

JK
 
Actually, I'll stick mine the freezer half full of water before a big ride. I'll top it off before I go, and it stays cooler longer than trying to cram a bunch of ice cubes down there.

One big thing - you gotta make sure that you angle the bladder so that the ice doesn't freeze over the tube hole or the opening at the top. If you do though, just run enough hot water to start melting it down and it'll break free.
 
I think there are THREE questions to ask yourself.

1. How much water should I take w/ me?

2. Do I need a container ONLY for WATER, or do I need a bag for water + other stuff, and in that case, HOW MUCH STUFF?

3. Do I already have a bag that I like that could handle stuff+water?

I have:

Camelback Blowfish (100 oz. water, good insulation + room for everything)
Camelback Classic (70 oz water, no carry space)
Nalgene 1-L. bottles w/ Neoprene insulation. (1 liter each - INDESTRUCTABLE)

A Polar Bottle (1 Liter - keeps water cold for a good while)

My "EDC" is the Polar bottle.

Riding a bike I use the Camelback Classic w/ the Polar bottle in the cage.

Blowfich see's almost NO use as I usually carry a Timbuk2 courrier bag NEway.

Nalgene's go w/ me on the mountain...
Nalgene's go ANYWHERE!

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peace love arch

[This message has been edited by archieblue (edited 06-25-2001).]
 
In the "what should I know" department, I've found that these bladders are a huge pain in the butt to get fully dry -- I'd appreciate any tips and tricks people use. Anyway, as a result of this, I've switched from my previous hydration system bladder (which was an opaque metallic bladder) to Camelback, with its clear bladder. I will definitely not stray from clear bladders again, I want to be able to easily see if the system is still wet inside.

The other very important thing to note is that backpacks are very personal things. Depending on the particular details of your body, a pack that is comfortable for one person might be horribly uncomfortable for you. I personally tried all the Camelback packs, and everything else I could find. I ended up buying an Arc'Teryx pack, and a standalone Camelback bladder, instead of going with the appropriately-sized pack from Camelback. You might make the opposite decision, after you try on all the packs.

But, my rule for pack buying: Don't buy until you try it on, along with several others! Sometimes you put on a pack and it feels comfortable, then you try on a different brand, and you realize the first pack was just a little uncomfortable here or there, but you didn't notice it because you had nothing to compare it to.

The other nice thing about Camelback, BTW, is that replacement parts are so easy to find. If you need a new bite valve, or tubing, or whatever, you can find them at REI for a few bucks each. Sometimes, with other brands, you'll have to look harder to find replacement parts. For me, even if another brand was just a little superior, the convenience of getting replacement parts makes up for it to some extent.

Joe
 
Do you have a hanger for your bladder? Camelback sells a hanger that you stick inside the bladder, it keeps it open and allows airflow so it dries out quicker.

Cheaper solution (and my current setup). Take a metal clothes hanger (preferably one coated in plastic). Bend the straight section so it looks like very narrow diamond shape (with acute angles at hook and bottom, obtuse angles at each side). Stick the bottom into the bladder until only the hook is sticking out. Hang somewhere to dry.

For best results, turn hanger 90 degrees so that instead of being flat inside the bladder, it is holding the two flat sides of the bladder away from each other.
 
I have a Camelbak Storm, and I love it, except for the fact that the mouth won't mate to the bottom of my MSR MiniWorks water filter.

Certain Camelbak models, such as the Storm, are designed for the military, right? Well, MSR won a contract to supply the USMC expeditionary forces with MiniWorks filters a couple years ago. So my question to Camelbak is, if you have to design an opening in the bladder big enough for ice cubes, etc., and there's no particular good reason to design the opening at any other diameter or thread, then why not go ahead and at least make the opening compatible with SOMETHING? The dia. is already very close to the MSR's & Nalgene's dia., but no cigar. So what exactly IS the opening and threading designed to fit? A Katadyn? Does anyone know? Very frustrating, but in every other aspect the Storm is a top-notch system. MSR makes a bladder--I think called the Dromedary(?)--that is bulkier and uninsulated, but is made from whitewater raft material and is hands down the most rugged, bombproof bladder I've seen so far. And I bet the mouth will hook up to a MiniWorks perfectly. Worth looking into if you have an MSR filter.

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Molon Labe
 
So to recap....

Camelbak is a good choice because parts are easy to find. Platypus is not bad either.

The bags have no unique value other than the inclusion of design features to fit the bladders and so forth.

I think that I will probably go and check out Playpus and Camelbak, and see who's design features I like better, then buy a bladder to throw in the top of one of my current bags.

Thanks for all your input, I really appreciate it.

------------------
Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com

My website, guided links, talonite/cobalt alloy info, etc....
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff

&gt;&gt;---&gt;Bill Siegle Custom Knives&lt;---&lt;&lt;
-http://www.geocities.com/siegleknives-

"The sun will rise, who knows what the tide will bring." from the movie "CastAway"

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao Tzu

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.

40K Space Marine Army, For Sale or Trade for Knives or Gear http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/002045.html
 
I think the bite valves on the Camelback taste sort of disgusting.
Eventually, I put the bladder and tubing from a Target FlexiFlask model (like a Platypus, but cheaper) into my Camelback. (I didn't like the pack from Target that much; it leaked when I got some water inside.)
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mgeoffriau:
Do you have a hanger for your bladder? Camelback sells a hanger that you stick inside the bladder, it keeps it open and allows airflow so it dries out quicker.

Cheaper solution (and my current setup). Take a metal clothes hanger (preferably one coated in plastic). Bend the straight section so it looks like very narrow diamond shape (with acute angles at hook and bottom, obtuse angles at each side). Stick the bottom into the bladder until only the hook is sticking out. Hang somewhere to dry.

For best results, turn hanger 90 degrees so that instead of being flat inside the bladder, it is holding the two flat sides of the bladder away from each other.</font>
Click to expand...

I half-heartedly tried to jury-rig such a thing, but didn't think to use a coated hanger. Thanks, I'll give it a try! Or just go find the Camelback solution.

Joe
 
I really like my Blackburn Hydrasak. I like the way it rolls up and velcros at the top...no problems with leaks and it makes it easy to dry (hang it upside down with a cloths pin and a little plastic thing to hold it open...dries in a couple hours).

I use it with a generic Cyclepro bag that I bought for $10...not great but it works well enough for riding here an there and everywhere.

~Mitch (stranded in Pasadena with no car)

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I like the Camelback, and it is comfortable to haul around in the woods. Does anyone have a Blackhawk? I would like to check one of these out.
 
Rattler, I have one of the Blackhawk Hydrostorm "Torrent" bladders. I like it better than any Camelback I have had anything to do with. Blackhawk has a bunch of accesories to go along with their systems. I have a bunch of Blackhawk gear (Combat vest, packe, bags etc) and like it all so much I became an authorised dealer!

All that said I still like a couple of canteens the best!
 
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