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When touring I am usually using a 32 ounce nalgene bottle, however I find myself using it up faster than I would like. I was looking into just using a camel pack however, not sure how durable or even if it is the right choice. I have broken a few beers in my bag just hiking so I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them popping or any other faults?

Platypus


Nalgene soft-side wide mouth

Both are durable as hell. I've hiked literally thousands of miles with Platy's.

I rock a platypus too. Tricky part is keeping the bite valve from freezing. I don't have any preference between platypus and camelback, and they are basically the same. I just got the platypus free. I usually fill it with warm water, make sure to blow the water back, and turn the valve off. I also have an insulated sleeve on the shoulder strap. I really like it, very convenient, and I don't have to fiddle with pulling out of my pack.

I used to use camelpack type bladders, but find that I am much too lazy to remove the bladder after every trip for cleaning. Going to make a storage compartment for a nalgene to strap firmly to my pack for the up and store it in the pack for the way down. I was lucky to have never broken a bladder in the BC, but was always worried about it.

The trick to not freezing your bite valve isn't having an insulated sleeve as most people tend to think. After taking that refreshing drink, blow a little air into the line so that there is no liquid in the tube between drinks.

I've popped one. I don't use them at all any more, not even in summer.

You think you go through water too fast with a nalgene? Wait till you have a hose sitting right next to your mouth the whole time, it'll only make things worse.

+ 1 for the Platypus.

It doesn't get that funky plastic/rubber flavor that most camelbak liners have.

With out easy access I find myself not drinking enough. I'd rather drink more than not enough.

I think you have to give it a try. If you get the camel back , you can get an sort of insulated one as well, bag and tube. Mine is an older one. I ve never had one pop...yuck! that would suck...

Also , I disagree with the tube being next to you , that you would drink a lot... I just pace my self...Thats what this is all about... I think my CB holds 32 oz... I never fill it and never drink all of it, except maybe on a Shasta day, but then I am carrying a small 8oz. on that kinda day as well...

Hope that helps...

Thanks guys I think I might try to get a pack with a hose along with one of the smaller platypus bags to go in my pack for longer hikes. The convenience of being able to just get a drink of water while splitting up without taking off the pack seems to be pretty lush.

I love camelbak packs, and their hose shutoff valves are the best I've tried, BUT I don't like their bladders at all. Unscrewing the lid is a bitch, as is resealing it so it doesn't leak...

I've started using Source bladders (Deuter uses these). They have a fold over closure that never leaks and is super easy to get your entire hand into for cleaning. BUT I go with the Camelbak valve assembly because the Source valve leaked quite badly...

I trail run with bladders and the pack cinched very snug on my back and have never had a bladder burst. That would definitely suck, so I guess I'll consider myself lucky...

Lastly, if your body is prompting you to drink, then drink. Whether you get water from a hose, or a bottle is irrelevant. Nursing your water is silly, if the body wants water, drink up...

+1 for the Deuter Streamer hydration bladders. Though I have the opposite experience with the Deuter shutoff valve, mine has never leaked and is the one that I personally prefer over options from MSR, Platypus, Camelback and Nalgene. Was the Source valve the same as that on the Streamer system?

Doesn't sound like it... It actual had no shutoff mechanism and dripped constantly. I will give a look at the Streamer, Thx for the heads up.

This system look sweet. I will have to check them out.