What do you carry?

[morrell12]

So do you carry water bottles or use a camelsback?

I just bought a camelsback for last years hiking season and it is the best purchase I have made yet. I always hated to stop unzip my pack and dig the water bottle out.

[sdg75]

Always use my camelback!!

I have the 100 oz peakbagger. It also has around 2300 cubic inches of pack space, so there is plenty of room for gear on your dayhike. Just be sure to also purchase the cleaning brushes the keep the tube and reservoir clean.

[Jeff]

Huh! For some reason I never even thought to get a camelback as a dayhike bag. That's a GREAT idea . I'm going to do that. I go on plenty of dayhikes. I usually carry a bookbag backpack, and several water bottles. Not any more! Wow! it's like an epiphone! I've seen the light .

[morrell12]

Book Bag

Jeff I know what you mean! The book bag gets tedious at times having to stop and unpack a waterbottle. SDG75 is a grreat friend of mine and I took him on his first trip to the Adirondacks a few years ago and after I saw his camelback I said I need one of those. It was one of the best purchases I have ever made.

My camelback does not have any storage but I have a cool daypack that has a special pocket for my camelback. I just slide it into the pocket and put the hose through a special hole. Now I am good to go all day!

[mike1889]

both

If "I use both" was a choice, I would have voted. I recently got a camel back and like using it. But it doesn't hold enough water for a typical long day hike. I also bring 1 or 2 quarts in regular water bottles. One thing I don't like about the camel back is you can't tell how much water is left in it without pulling it of the pack and feeling the weight. And don't take a camel back on a (cold) winter hike (duh). I had a friend who took one on a winter climb of Dix and Hough and the tube froze solid before we reached Dix. Luckily for him we all had extra water.

[sdg75]

Camelback for winter hiking!!

If anyone is thinking of using a camelback for winter hinking they do sell an insulated liner for the tube. Alot of people also put the smaller hydration system on before their outer layer and, keeping the tube from freezing.

[okpik]

I like the way bladders store out of the way.
I usually carry at least one bottle as well for rehydrating foods between lunch and dinner.

[Charlie]

Both

I agree with Mike

You forgot to list "BOTH" as an option. I generally have both depending on the length of the trip. I drink out of the bladder as I hike and use the bottles for measuring for cooking or mixing gatorade, tea etc.... and I am also paranoid about running out of water so I always bring too much water and my filter.

[Kevin]

Won't be able to re-vote, but anyone else that comes across the thread has the other option now...

[morrell12]

Thanks

Thanks Kevin for adding the other option. So what do you use?

[Kevin]

Re: Thanks

Originally posted by morrell12
So what do you use?

For now I'm using a pair of Nalgene's and an old saratoga water bottle.

I'm planning on getting a skin for the summer (day hikes) and replace my nalgenes with larger lid tops (got the small holes and they plug when icy). Depends on my needs, but I may end up taking both (the skin for convenience).

Both of my packs have a spot for a platypus.

[redhawk]

I can't vote, my option would be "either"

It all depends on where I am going.

A short hike I will carry a hydration bladder in my pack.

Long Hikes I carry just a bottle and I refill it with my filter.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by redhawk
I can't vote, my option would be "either"

It all depends on where I am going.

A short hike I will carry a hydration bladder in my pack.

Long Hikes I carry just a bottle and I refill it with my filter.

Guess this means I'm adding another option...

[Head]

Camelback in the warm weather....both in the winter (just in case the tube freezes)

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[Rick]

It's interesting - When I got my Lowe Alpine Attack 40 7-years ago, it came with a hydration bag and tube.
For years I left the bag and tube in the basement as it seemed like so much fluff - If you can't even stop for a water break to drink from your bottle, then you ned to slow down.

However 2 years ago, I was looking to go ultralight and realized how heavy nalgenes were - I dug up the tube and bag and started using it - I am absolutely hooked - the Bag really allows me to drink much more water than just when taking a break ever 1-2 hours.

A plus with these new clear bags is that they don't have that funky taste that my old MSR Dromedary bags always carried.

I'll still bring a water bottle on backpack trips as assurance in case my bag breaks or leaks, and for extra water at the campsite - but for 3 season hiking, most of my hydration comes from the bag and tube.