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I guess it depends upon the stage of life one is at. I am at that stage where I have denture tablets! Others might find they have easier access to baby feeding bottle cleaning tablets. As you say, these are basically the same as the premium priced products offered by OEMs.
Yes this is a good piece of advice. I carried a 500 ml bottle that I used for this purpose so as to not to affect the clean water drinking system I had (two 750 ml bottles with adaptable drinking tube system)
Electrolytes? That will be the salt in the jamon and chorizo.
And don't forget on the french friesElectrolytes? That will be the salt in the jamon and chorizo.
You can get insulated tubes that might help, but on hot days, once I have finished taking a drink from the tube, I will gently blow the water out of the tube and back into the bladder. The tube is then empty of water, and while it might heat up a bit in the sun, there is no water in it heating up as well.
)
Like being at the dentist - sip, swill and spit.
I always carry a small can of Pringle’s just for that reasonAnd don't forget on the french fries
What is this tube system for bottles??? Sono ignorante
Different makes of varying expense available - try Smartube. They have loads of different adapters to suit all kinds of bottles.What is this tube system for bottles??? Sono ignorante
It's a tube system that fits on most standard water bottles.What is this tube system for bottles??? Sono ignorante
I have used a Gregory 35L on two caminos, it has the same frustrating problem, can't reach the water bottle in an outside pocket while wearing it. This year I will be taking a water bladder that I have used for local walks. When full, 3L, it adds the weight needed for my conditioning walks preparing for the Ingles.
Thanks everyone for your input. I just ordered a 2L bladder. I think it is the best solution for me. Can’t wait to try it out!
I carried a 1.5L hydration bag in my daypack on the CF in 2016 and my wife carried bottles. I never ran out with a full 1.5L while walking between Ponferrada and SdC. My wife had to ask to get her bottles out to drink, or take her pack off, and got mildly dehydrated on occasion. Having the bladder to sip water as you go makes a real difference. I also carried a small reusable bottle in which to mix fruit electrolyte tabs. I choose the 1.5L size keeping in mind that every litre is 1kg of weight in the pack! We are returning this September to do the Portuguese Coastal route and we will both carry a bladder this time! Great advice and research in this thread. Thanks for all the contributions!
I agree. I use a 2L bladder when treking. However on Camino (done 3) I simply attach a 1L bottle to my shoulder strap and on those few longer stretches between water supplies carry another bottle in my pack. Either way worksPersonally, I prefer Platypus Big Zip hydration reservoirs.
This post is written to dispel myths which are commonly used to try and claim that reservoirs are either less sanitary to use, or are less easy to use than bottles.
I'm NOT writing this post to suggest that I and others who prefer reservoirs are making the best and most superior choice; I am doing this to preempt those who misstate facts to claim that using hydration reservoirs is the WRONG way to go.
1. Sanitation. Bottles have no advantage. Reservoirs stay as sanitary. They do not require cleaning every day, nor do they need to be dried.
As with plumbing, it is the change of water and water flow through use that keeps things fresh. With normal use, both bladders and bottles are constantly refilled and emptied That keeps them sanitary UNLESS contaminated water is introduced, or other fluids with sugars (juices, energy drinks, soda pop, etc) are put into either storage container.
While working for the local public health district, I did a review of the literature, which I again did in 2016. Comparisons of bacterial contamination levels between bottles and hydration bladders were indistinguishable -- both had equally low rates of bacterial contamination. And both were at about equal risk for developing significant levels of bacteria and mold if not cleaned and dried properly prior to storage. In the last few years, the hydration reservoirs have become more modular in nature and have wider openings to access the water compartments, making it much easier to clean and prepare for storage than previous generations of the product.
One study, from 2009:
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(09)70419-3/fulltext
When it is time to store bottles or bladders away for the season, they can be sanitized if desired with a bit of bleach added to the final rinse water during cleaning. It is not necessary, but there is no harm in doing so. Then they can be rinsed out and be allowed to dry.
Molds and other nasty things occur if either container is stored with water over a period of time, or have contained other fluids which might have sugars and not properly washed out prior to long term storage..
2. Ease of Use. I find it personally easier to raise the mouth tube on my shoulder strap to drink from. I do not like to reach around to a side pocket, or even need to take off my pack to do so. I definitely do NOT like stuff hanging on my shoulder straps like bottles of water.
Again, this is personal preference, not an issue of something being 'better'. Access water bottles is not an issue of usability for bottle users.
3. Weight. Here is where two major claims are made, one is correct and the other is not.
A typical empty 2 liter reservoir weighs around 4 ounces. The equivalent in bottles around 1.5 to 3 ounces. Depending on bottle material used, though, bottles can weigh up to 8 ounces.
So while it is correct that bottles can weigh less, it is not a significant issue of consideration with overall backpack weight.
The other issue is capacity and weight.
No, one does not have to fill a reservoir to the tippy top. I will carry as much water as I need to carry from water source to water source. So regardless of container used, water weight is related to the individual's decision about how much to carry, and NOT on a container's capacity.
4. Refills. This is actually a subheading under 'ease of use', but it is frequently pointed to as why bottles are better than reservoirs.
I can refill my reservoir without even removing my backpack. One does not need to pull a reservoir out of the pack. It is a matter of using a quick disconnect system which is a simple and cheap add on accessory.
For those interested in adding a quick disconnect adapter to your hydration reservoir/bladder, I've added a link below. With the quick disconnect added, I don't even need to remove my pack to do a quick and easy refill of the bladder.
The video shows the quick disconnect being used with a water filter as it might be used for wilderness backpacking. It is the way I have it set up when I am backpacking. However, on camino I leave off the filter altogether. Instead of the filter being added to the refill cap on the flexible water bottle, skip the filter and screw the refill adapter cap -- sans filter -- to the bottle after it is filled with water.
For refill bottles.... I use extremely lightweight collapsible bottles that can hold up to 2 liters. Empty, they roll down to a small bundle that are easily stashed in an outside pocket.
Many times, I will carry 1/2 liter in the bottle as a quick backup if the weather or the distance between water refills dictates. So if I decide to, say, carry 1.5 liters on a longer stretch between water resupply points, I will fill the reservoir with 1 liter, and then carry 1/2 liter in the bottle and keeping the bottle partially collapsed. That also assures me that I do not need to visualize the amount in the reservoir to be assured of adequate water.
The refill container in the video is just one option. The refill adapter can also fit on a variety of bottled water containers, if so desired.
So those are the major issues that always seem to come up. There are other myths, but those are the major ones.
GREAT! You've just introduced me to another new way of parting with my money.
I tend to as well. Though now after 3 Caminos I can plan my water consumption much more accurately. Typically 1 L per 10 kms. Weather dependant. But I always make sure I have 500 ml at least as extra. Just in case a planned water refill stop is closed, dry, not there.......
Postscript on this September's Portuguese Coastal Camino: My wife used my older 1.5L Camelbak and I used a newer 2L Camelbak that was given to me. She filled hers and I only put 1.5L in mine, to limit weight. It was not overly hot this Sept/Oct on the Coastal route (max about 20C). We did not carry extra water nor did we use electrolyte tabs as there were more than adequate places to stop and buy energy drinks and water as needed. But we are both convinced that bladders are better than bottles!
As soon as I see a word like 'obviously', my mind starts thinking that it isn't really that obvious at all. In this case, I also wonder what the fascination is with the 'ease' of refilling. I use a bladder, and refilling it takes a little time with my pack off for a refill. I might or might not remove it from my pack, depending on which pack I happen to be using. I have used a refill attachment that replaces my bite valve that allows it to be refilled without removing the pack at all, but I figured that on the camino I am not participating in some competition event where the speed of my pit stop might be really important. So it now stays at home.
Wow The best article I have read. You convinced mePersonally, I prefer Platypus Big Zip hydration reservoirs.
This post is written to dispel myths which are commonly used to try and claim that reservoirs are either less sanitary to use, or are less easy to use than bottles.
I'm NOT writing this post to suggest that I and others who prefer reservoirs are making the best and most superior choice; I am doing this to preempt those who misstate facts to claim that using hydration reservoirs is the WRONG way to go.
1. Sanitation. Bottles have no advantage. Reservoirs stay as sanitary. They do not require cleaning every day, nor do they need to be dried.
As with plumbing, it is the change of water and water flow through use that keeps things fresh. With normal use, both bladders and bottles are constantly refilled and emptied That keeps them sanitary UNLESS contaminated water is introduced, or other fluids with sugars (juices, energy drinks, soda pop, etc) are put into either storage container.
While working for the local public health district, I did a review of the literature, which I again did in 2016. Comparisons of bacterial contamination levels between bottles and hydration bladders were indistinguishable -- both had equally low rates of bacterial contamination. And both were at about equal risk for developing significant levels of bacteria and mold if not cleaned and dried properly prior to storage. In the last few years, the hydration reservoirs have become more modular in nature and have wider openings to access the water compartments, making it much easier to clean and prepare for storage than previous generations of the product.
One study, from 2009:
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(09)70419-3/fulltext
When it is time to store bottles or bladders away for the season, they can be sanitized if desired with a bit of bleach added to the final rinse water during cleaning. It is not necessary, but there is no harm in doing so. Then they can be rinsed out and be allowed to dry.
Molds and other nasty things occur if either container is stored with water over a period of time, or have contained other fluids which might have sugars and not properly washed out prior to long term storage..
2. Ease of Use. I find it personally easier to raise the mouth tube on my shoulder strap to drink from. I do not like to reach around to a side pocket, or even need to take off my pack to do so. I definitely do NOT like stuff hanging on my shoulder straps like bottles of water.
Again, this is personal preference, not an issue of something being 'better'. Access water bottles is not an issue of usability for bottle users.
3. Weight. Here is where two major claims are made, one is correct and the other is not.
A typical empty 2 liter reservoir weighs around 4 ounces. The equivalent in bottles around 1.5 to 3 ounces. Depending on bottle material used, though, bottles can weigh up to 8 ounces.
So while it is correct that bottles can weigh less, it is not a significant issue of consideration with overall backpack weight.
The other issue is capacity and weight.
No, one does not have to fill a reservoir to the tippy top. I will carry as much water as I need to carry from water source to water source. So regardless of container used, water weight is related to the individual's decision about how much to carry, and NOT on a container's capacity.
4. Refills. This is actually a subheading under 'ease of use', but it is frequently pointed to as why bottles are better than reservoirs.
I can refill my reservoir without even removing my backpack. One does not need to pull a reservoir out of the pack. It is a matter of using a quick disconnect system which is a simple and cheap add on accessory.
For those interested in adding a quick disconnect adapter to your hydration reservoir/bladder, I've added a link below. With the quick disconnect added, I don't even need to remove my pack to do a quick and easy refill of the bladder.
The video shows the quick disconnect being used with a water filter as it might be used for wilderness backpacking. It is the way I have it set up when I am backpacking. However, on camino I leave off the filter altogether. Instead of the filter being added to the refill cap on the flexible water bottle, skip the filter and screw the refill adapter cap -- sans filter -- to the bottle after it is filled with water.
For refill bottles.... I use extremely lightweight collapsible bottles that can hold up to 2 liters. Empty, they roll down to a small bundle that are easily stashed in an outside pocket.
Many times, I will carry 1/2 liter in the bottle as a quick backup if the weather or the distance between water refills dictates. So if I decide to, say, carry 1.5 liters on a longer stretch between water resupply points, I will fill the reservoir with 1 liter, and then carry 1/2 liter in the bottle and keeping the bottle partially collapsed. That also assures me that I do not need to visualize the amount in the reservoir to be assured of adequate water.
The refill container in the video is just one option. The refill adapter can also fit on a variety of bottled water containers, if so desired.
So those are the major issues that always seem to come up. There are other myths, but those are the major ones.
