Water Discussion (I thought you might like a laugh)

[Mycroft]

All of the main manufacturers of water reservoir/bladders use plastics that do not contain any.

I am happy to hear that but I have read that even BPA-free products are believed to leach bisphenols....

 

[davebugg]

I am happy to hear that but I have read that even BPA-free products are believed to leach bisphenols....

I have not seen any reputable research, independently conducted and funded, that would indicate that such is the issue for the major product manufacturers. Given the growth in number of cheaply manufactured hydration reservoirs, I would not rule it out for some secondary brands.

 

[Old walker]

All of the main manufacturers of water reservoir/bladders use plastics that do not contain any.

 

[Old walker]

The following piece suggests that this area is a Long way from being adequately researched and the public health consequences are laregly unknown and even less likely to be reported and regulated: https://www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/whats-really-in-your-bottled-water-a5361150329/ . I don’t know enough to interpret this one: : https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c01103
i bring a 1 cup ziploc container for food and sports liquid bottles that we reuse year after year . Im not worried for myself but I do for the young and unborn

 

[Eli_]

My advice, based on my own experience, is to test it out. I really really didn’t want to use a bladder. Worried about cleanliness, plasticky taste, leakage. And have always used water bottles when I day hiked with a smaller pack. But when I did a couple practice hikes, I realized that a water bottle wasn’t going to work with my system. Too finicky to reach (I would be solo), I really wanted a crossbody and not a waist pack with bottle holder, etc. Thanks to people on this forum (@trecile) I found a bladder with no plastic taste, easy to fill and clean, and doesn’t seem to leak. It works for me, and much better than when I was trying to use bottles. Depending on the day, I will have a spare bottle in a pocket for emergency. At least that’s my plan - my Camino starts this week! Everyone is different. You can take opinions but in the end you have to go with what actually works for you on the trail.

Which bladder are you using ?

 

[annmte]

Which bladder are you using ?

I’m using the one recommended by @trecile, the brand is Source: https://sourceoutdoor.com/product/ultimate/

I think they’re available on other websites. I accidentally bought the 3L and it’s fine - but the 2L is plenty sufficient. I love the extras with the ‘system’ too - the magnetic attacher thing, the bite valve cover, and the attachment for adding water from the tube (though I’ve rarely had to use that).

 

[David Tallan]

I like bottles, but last Camino I used a hybrid system where a sipping tube attached to the water bottle.

 

[davebugg]

The following piece suggests that this area is a Long way from being adequately researched and the public health consequences are laregly unknown and even less likely to be reported and regulated: https://www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/whats-really-in-your-bottled-water-a5361150329/ . I don’t know enough to interpret this one: : https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c01103
i bring a 1 cup ziploc container for food and sports liquid bottles that we reuse year after year . Im not worried for myself but I do for the young and unborn

I see this as not even mentioning water reservoirs, but it does talk about water bottles and food containers.

 

[LilleTyksak]

On my first camino I walked with a 500 ml Brita bottle with a coal filter to take away chlorine taste, which I hang in a “string” for fast and easy access.
The following caminos I used a 1,5 L bladder from Osprey which also functioned, but I always felt there was too much hassle when refilling because I had to take ”everything” out of the bag…
Third option was soft bottles for my red running backpack - with a “straw” attached to one of the bottle and both on the front of the pack.
My next Camino is Salvador and Primitivo in July, so I know I will need to bring quite a bit of water some days… anyway my backpack isn’t made for a bladder so I have bought a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with a big opening and a tube attached, so I can use it like a bladder, and I also bought a 1 liter soft bottle Befree which I will use as a normal bottle, but also can use to tank water from rivers and lakes or untested water, if I need to. First of all I happy to avoid the after taster which I got from the bladder, and that they both are easy to clean - and it also my experience that, like I read from others, it is crucial, that I drink frequently without having to stop walking.

 

[davebugg]

On my first camino I walked with a 500 ml Brita bottle with a coal filter to take away chlorine taste, which I hang in a “string” for fast and easy access.
The following caminos I used a 1,5 L bladder from Osprey which also functioned, but I always felt there was too much hassle when refilling because I had to take ”everything” out of the bag…
Third option was soft bottles for my red running backpack - with a “straw” attached to one of the bottle and both on the front of the pack.
My next Camino is Salvador and Primitivo in July, so I know I will need to bring quite a bit of water some days… anyway my backpack isn’t made for a bladder so I have bought a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with a big opening and a tube attached, so I can use it like a bladder, and I also bought a 1 liter soft bottle Befree which I will use as a normal bottle, but also can use to tank water from rivers and lakes or untested water, if I need to. First of all I happy to avoid the after taster which I got from the bladder, and that they both are easy to clean - and it also my experience that, like I read from others, it is crucial, that I drink frequently without having to stop walking.

I never need to remove my reservoir to refill it, and it has no taste to it. The Befree is what I use backpacking; it is a good system.

 

[LilleTyksak]

I never need to remove my reservoir to refill it, and it has no taste to it. The Befree is what I use backpacking; it is a good system.

Ok - guess it depends on the brand of pack and bladder… and good for you!

 

[davebugg]

Ok - guess it depends on the brand of pack and bladder… and good for you!

The link to my basic information on hydration bladders is here. It has been posted earlier in this thread, but I know how trying to weed through all the posting can get tedious.