Hydration Bladder

bowhunter

New member
Aug 26, 2015
1,832
I have used a Nalgene bottle for my water. I purchased it when I got my PUR Hiker water filter. I got the bottle because the water filter has a stopper that fits in the Nalgene bottle. This eliminates holding that while you pump water freeing up a hand. I carry 2 bottles on long trips and one for the short hike. My question is what do you use and why. I have been thinking about getting a water bladder so I wouldnt have to remove my pack to get water.
 
A bladder is very convenient.
The tube runs along your shoulder pack strap and all you have to do is bite and drink.
The downfall is the water can get fairly warm in the tube during the day
 
\"cnelk\" said:
The downfall is the water can get fairly warm in the tube during the day

After you drink, blow air back in the tube, forcing the water to the bladder. This helps.
 
\"Deertick\" said:
\"cnelk\" said:
The downfall is the water can get fairly warm in the tube during the day

After you drink, blow air back in the tube, forcing the water to the bladder. This helps.
I do this as well as have a neoprene sleeve that sort of helps insulate the tube. I bought it for winter mountain biking because water was freezing in the tube.

The down side of a bladder...they can fail, and will soak the entire contents of your pack and potentially your back/butt. My son was MISERABLE for the mile hike back to camp to change clothes last year in 25 degree temperatures. That\'s the second Camelbak bladder I\'ve had fail on me.
 
I like them because it is right there and I drink more. I tended not to drink as much when I had to stop and get a bottle out of my pack
 
\"F M\" said:
I like them because it is right there and I drink more. I tended not to drink as much when I had to stop and get a bottle out of my pack

This is another reason ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also, do not make the mistake I did and put powder Gatorade in your bladder.
Any remaining water in the tube can heat up enough to cause bacteria growth, as its mostly sugar.

And I can tell you, you dont want to be drinking any bacteria.
It is a great weight loss program...
 
I might try carrying a smaller bottle in a pocket of my hunting vest and refill it when I do stop from the larger bottle. I should eliminate the problems mentioned above. Thanks for the input.
 
\"cnelk\" said:
And I can tell you, you dont want to be drinking any bacteria.
It is a great weight loss program...

The guy I will be hunting with on week 2 of the season drinks straight from the streams. I don\'t want to risk being sick and will not do that. I would hate to miss elk season because of a bacteria. I will have my filter with me and filter his water for him if I have to.
 
I have been using camelbak bladders for years turkey hunting. I\'ve had a few of them bust. Had one bust on a deployment, felt good actually it was a hot day. They are convenient. I plan to use it in conjunction with a bottle as well as a Sawyer bottle with a filter as well as carry a spare bladder to pick up dirty (creek) water once I get low.
 
I\'ve been running a bladder since they showed up on the market. IMHO they pretty much changed long distance mountain biking. (You cannot keep a water bottle in a frame cage. If you can you\'re doing it wrong). I\'ve seen them improve so much. I just got one with a shut off valve. I will never pull my pack out of a wet backseat of my truck ever again. Get the valve bladders. Trust me.

I still tie an empty Nalgene to the outside oft pack. It\'s what is use to drink fortified water. Plus its nicer to drink from a. \"Cup\" while eating. Sucking on a tube during meals seems weird and getting food gravy on the nipple has to be unsanitary. :)


Typos and bad grammar sponsored by iPhone!
 
Platypus bladder and their collapsible bottles. I prefer that brand over camelback.

Downside is trying to fill up at a lake. It is easier to fill small mouth bottles at creeks. I rarely have to fill up at a lake. A flowing area of a creek is safer water than a lake.

Sometimes I take a cutoff 1 liter bottle/cheesecloth/rubberband to speedup refilling.

I use chemical tablets (not iodine) to make the water safe.

I am too lazy to carry extra weight of a wide mouth Naglene or water filter.
 
I\'ve had a SOURCE bladder since 2003 use it throuout the summer and fall so I can\'t count on how many times I\'ve filled it up over the years but it has been a bunch never leaked yet \\, now I better go find some wood but my wife with same care has had a couple camelback ladders leak so I say the source bladders are better from my experience.
 
I did the bladder thing for a couple of years and found that for my style of hunting the extra five or so pounds of weight in my pack just wasn\'t worth it. I ended up drinking a lot more (not necessarily a bad thing) just to get the weight off my back.

Now days I pack a quart of water and for a different taste, a 16-20 ounce diet Pepsi. I also have one of those filter straws so I can drink right out of a cool stream.
 
I love my hydration bladders. haven\'t had failure yet... I keep a Nalgene bottle for my caffeinated crystal light drinks.
 

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