What are your experiences with hydration systems? Internal or with its own pack? It seems most problems are with leaks in the bladder or bite valve. I am planning a trip to the Southwest US this summer and feel this would be an important item there. Also, any experiences with hydration systems and 8 to 12 year old children would be most helpful!
Jeff at GSU
I recommend the use of these systems. You’ll drink more, they are lighter than water bottles, you don’t have to stop to have a drink. If you will be carrying a backpack, why carry another for a bladder. Just take the bladder and throw it on top with the hose sticking out. I carried an MSR Dromedary for the whole AT and never had a leak. I had a bad experience with CamelBak once. The new one I got has not leaked. Bite valves are pretty bullet proof from my experience.
I think these would be fine for all ages who know how to bite. Just make sure they don’t write their name in the sand too often.
Grimace
I started out with a Dromolite bag but sent it home. The thing I didn’t like was that I couldn’t see it (since it was inside my pack, with only the tube sticking through the little hole made for that purpose), so I couldn’t know for sure how much water was left. I prefer bottles. So I stop my forward motion for a moment to take a drink (although, not always). I carry 1-liter soda-turned-water bottles (or bottled water bottles are fine), which are lighter than Nalgenes. Also, I use a Dana wet rib, a hip pouch, for easy access to a water bottle, maps, munchies, etc.
I think it’s a good idea, myself, to have a backup bottle juuuuust in case the hydration system runs low or runs out and you’re not right near a source. Just my opinion.
ramkitten
ramkitten
I also prefer bottles. You always know how much water you have. Ran into alot of people with hydration systems that sucked them dry before they knew it.
steamboat
Soda bottles cost nothing, you only pay for the soda, the bottle in free. A large single is 0.75 liters, so 4 bottles gives you 3 liters of water. And so what if one of them springs a leak, you just buy another soda. They are also great for treating water, Color code them, say two blue and two red with a coloring marker----and you can drink from the blue one for example, while the water in the red ones is being chemically treated. A water bladder is great, but putting all one’s water in a bladder, which could spring a leak, seems to lack good common sense. I also perfer bottles for these and lots of other reason—one being, the cheap route is often the best route, and of course, the easiest replaced. Keep on hiking (and hydrating).
Maintain
i love it - i will never hike without one again. i’m a camel - i drink A LOT, so i consider this piece of gear essential.
hephzibah
I’ve got (from MTBing) camelbak bladders. laaaarge opening, bite valve on tube end. 3ltr capacity. bladder is marked, so capacity can be easily gauged…
i’ve never used plats, so not sure what they have over camelbaks.
Bloody Cactus
I use platypus and carry two nalgenes for the times when I need xtra water. Nalgene now has a hoser attachment for there bottles, so if you prefer nalgene you can now have hands free drinking. With my Platypus, I never sucked it dry it carries, 3 liters, an I leave it at the top of my pack as opposed to the pocket, anytime I open my pack I can see how much water I have.
Chef