- Time of past OR future Camino
- May-July 2023 (solo)
May-July 2026
Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here. |
---|
We used bottles, the aluminium type but cheaper versions. (Mountain Warehouse in UK.) Still have them over 10 years later. The advantage to us was that we could take them sightseeing on a 'rest day' without having to carry our packs. We could use them if thirsty in the night and, when walking, stopping briefly for a drink was a good excuse for a breather or to admire the view.........
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
I know the feeling well! I have several systems but always wind up with platypus in ruck and two small bottles, one either side. I keep my gear in drybags as it wouldn't be the first time I have incorrectly put the slider on and lo and behold one ruck full of water! I then commence to speak in tonguesI was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Good points thanks! I've been leaning bottles for sure. And yes I'll be on the CF.If you are on the CF no need for a large water supply. I carry a 500 ml water bottle I buy at the store on arrival and keep refilling until it starts to leak. For the few longer stretches without water supply I carry one extra 1 liter bottle that I purchase. Lighter when empty than the fancy water bottles that you can buy. For some other routes you may need a larger supply. I don't like the water bladder thing. Just a personal preference though.
It's about, um, half packed hahaha!Your Camino is only 14 months away? I hope your bag is packed and ready to go... if not... better get on that!
Laughing because I start packing as soon as I start with serious plans... Of course - I am never done packing until I actually leave for the airport. Because - of course - you must unpack your bag to see what else you can elminate or exchange to lighten your load.
As for the water container? Disposable 1L "smart water" (for those in the US) bottle that I will buy after I pass security at the airport which will be refilled/reused until I think it is starting to get gross - weighs only 40 grams - and I will add a lixada hydration tube that attaches to the water bottle so I can drink from it as if it were a hydration pack (but it is more convenient for me to check water levels and refill). Of course - I will have to trim the hose to the perfect length, because, you know - it can't be too long and that extra few grams makes a difference in the total weight of the pack.
I like this idea and will use it!You have plenty of time to figure out what you need to do to maintain a healthy level of hydration, and ymmv. But here’s my two cents.
I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away. I also think they lead to carrying around more water than is necessary, and water is really heavy.
It’s good to remember that the CF has water available every few kilometers, with only a few exceptions. It isn’t the Gobi desert, or Arizona, or the Australian outback. If you’re walking in spring or fall, temperatures are moderate and your need for hydration is not that great. There is danger in over hydration as well as under. I drink when I am thirsty, enough so that my pee stays light yellow. I drink in the morning before a hike, and afterwards. That helps maintain a steady state in my body, and there’s no extra weight to lug around. I pay attention to how much I am sweating.
That’s why I don’t feel that I need to lug around several liters of water (weighing 5+ pounds) and suck down water every few minutes. The total that I start out with every morning on the Camino is .75 liters, and I have never had any issue at all. (With the exception of a few stretches, which are well-known.)
This what I bring on the Camino and on walks at home of up to about 5-6 miles (10 km):
1. 250 ml Nalgene bottle that absolutely does not leak. That makes it worth the slightly extra weight to me, which is probably a difference of a fraction of an ounce. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or my waist pack and I have easy access to it without stopping walking. Often it is all I need until I can refill along the CF.
2. My favorite type of water bottle from Spain. You will probably get served one of these in a restaurant if you order water. It’s .5 liters and very sturdy.
View attachment 123691
I’ve seen people using bladders. And other people using bottles.I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though.
I agree--seems pretty yucky to me, but I don't use a straw with any drinks and prefer to sip from the rim.I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away.
No one suggested otherwise. SMH...I’ve seen people using bladders. And other people using bottles.
Both types of homo sapiens seem to be able to start in Saint-Jean and actually make it to Santiago (this also applies to a number of other camino’s).
I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it.
I usually appreciate what you both post. But with all due respect ... For goodness sake! There are things worth being squeamish about and this definitely isn't one of them.I agree--seems pretty yucky to me, but I don't use a straw with any drinks and prefer to sip from the rim.
Squeamish as I wanna be!I usually appreciate what you both post. But with all due respect ... For goodness sake! There are things worth being squeamish about and this definitely isn't one of them.
We'll just have to agree not to watch each other drink.And I do think it is something for people to consider if deciding yes or no to a bladder system, that other people might not enjoy being around you using it.
Ooooo. Bladders are one thing. But puns?Thankfully my husband doesn’t use a bladder. That would really suck!
snap! I am still using one of those blue Spanish water bottles now, from my last Camino walk in 2019. Very sturdy indeed and it gets used on a weekly basis...You have plenty of time to figure out what you need to do to maintain a healthy level of hydration, and ymmv. But here’s my two cents.
I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away. I also think they lead to carrying around more water than is necessary, and water is really heavy.
It’s good to remember that the CF has water available every few kilometers, with only a few exceptions. It isn’t the Gobi desert, or Arizona, or the Australian outback. If you’re walking in spring or fall, temperatures are moderate and your need for hydration is not that great. There is danger in over hydration as well as under. I drink when I am thirsty, enough so that my pee stays light yellow. I drink in the morning before a hike, and afterwards. That helps maintain a steady state in my body, and there’s no extra weight to lug around. I pay attention to how much I am sweating.
That’s why I don’t feel that I need to lug around several liters of water (weighing 5+ pounds) and suck down water every few minutes. The total that I start out with every morning on the Camino is .75 liters, and I have never had any issue at all. (With the exception of a few stretches, which are well-known.)
This what I bring on the Camino and on walks at home of up to about 5-6 miles (10 km):
1. 250 ml Nalgene bottle that absolutely does not leak. That makes it worth the slightly extra weight to me, which is probably a difference of a fraction of an ounce. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or my waist pack and I have easy access to it without stopping walking. Often it is all I need until I can refill along the CF.
2. My favorite type of water bottle from Spain. You will probably get served one of these in a restaurant if you order water. It’s .5 liters and very sturdy.
View attachment 123691
Edited to add: I find a one liter bottle to be awkward in a pack, and sometimes to refill. And just generally bigger than what is necessary.
I use mine all the time at home, too. The little shoulder on the bottle makes it fit in my pack pocket perfectly and I love the color. But I did have someone ask me once, who obviously had never been to Spain, if I was drinking gin.snap! I am still using one of those blue Spanish water bottles now, from my last Camino walk in 2019. Very sturdy indeed and it gets used on a weekly basis...
LOL.. Weighing gear is the ONLY thing I use my kitchen scale for!@Sirron, a word of advice; don't let your wife catch you weighing water bottles on her kitchen scale.
Well thousands of Army Sergeants would say the answer to all ills is to drink more water. Still I believe US Army basic trainees are issued canteens (two) and are urged to drink whether they feel thirsty or not. Yes tactical warfighters had the water bladder. (Mine always leaked so I still prefer a canteen and as an RN I did not have to go to basic training.) Each person must decide his or her own system for water. A cheap water bottle works best for me.@André Walker
I think the advice to drink before you’re thirsty is outdated. The thirst mechanism has served us Homo sapiens very well for millions of years. The pendulum has swung (finally, for some of us) from hydrate-hydrate-hydrate hysteria to a more informed and nuanced approach.
New Rule: Just Drink When You’re Thirsty
Don't worry about hitting some arbitrary X-cups-of-water-a-day targetwww.smithsonianmag.com
Yes - most people have to work hard to drink "too much water". That isn't to say you shouldn't supplement with some electrolytes - but in general - people hiking are much more likely to be dehydrated than over-hydrated. And as any kidney doc will tell you - if you wait until you are "thirsty" to drink - you are already getting dehydrated. Sip Sip Sip - all day long!Well thousands of Army Sergeants would say the answer to all ills is to drink more water. Still I believe US Army basic trainees are issued canteens (two) and are urged to drink whether they feel thirsty or not. Yes tactical warfighters had the water bladder. (Mine always leaked so I still prefer a canteen and as an RN I did not have to go to basic training.) Each person must decide his or her own system for water. A cheap water bottle works best for me.
I simply will not tell someone that bottles are bad and reservoirs are the best. I am limited to telling people WHY I might prefer one over the other. Others can do likewise. I want folks to use what makes sense to them, and seems the best choice. Those factors for choosing are all subjective issues which no one can dispute.I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Great info! I appreciate all that you share!I simply will not tell someone that bottles are bad and reservoirs are the best. I am limited to telling people WHY I might prefer one over the other. Others can do likewise. I want folks to use what makes sense to them, and seems the best choice. Those factors for choosing are all subjective issues which no one can dispute.
This post was 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; this is a difference than from focusing on how someone 'perceives' usability as was mentioned above with regard to subjective values for an individual.
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 posting this to preempt those who misunderstand the facts - or who have insufficient facts -to claim that using hydration reservoirs is the WRONG way to go.
1. Sanitation. With water carry, bottles have no advantage. Reservoirs stay just 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 frequent use which keeps bottles, reservoirs, and tubing fresh and sanitary. 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 a bottle or a reservoir.
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 example 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 then are not properly washed out prior to long term storage. Mold may also form in the shorter term when fluids with sugars are exposed to warmth and sun.
Also, not all discolorations are harmful molds. Most times, it may be an algae growth from leaving stagnant water exposed to light.
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 to 6 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 reservoir water capacity and total weight.
You do 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. If the next water source is 32 kilometers distant under a hot sun, I will carry up to 4 liters. If the next water source is a few kilometers distant in cool weather, I might carry a half liter.
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 Connect 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 backpack or daypack to do a quick and easy refill of the bladder.
NOTE: The video shows the quick disconnect being used with a water filter as used when wilderness backpacking. However, on camino I leave off the filter altogether. The refill cap is simply attached to my collapsible water bottle, after it is filled with water from a fountain or faucet.
For refill bottles.... I use an extremely lightweight collapsible bottle that can hold up to 1.5 liters. Empty, it rolls down to a small bundle that are easily stashed in an outside pocket.
Many times, I will carry 1/2 liter in the collapsible bottle as a quick backup as the weather or the distance between water refills dictates. So, if I decide to, say, carry 1 liters of water between water resupply points, I will fill the reservoir with 1/2 liter, and then carry 1/2 liter in the bottle, keeping the bottle partially collapsed and tucked into a side pocket.
By doing the above I do not need to see the water bladder itself in order to be assured of adequate water or to avoid accidentally running out of water.
The collapsible bottle I use is just one container option. The refill adapter with the Quick Connect kit can also fit on a variety of empty bottled water containers.
So those are the major issues that always seem to come up. There are other myths, but those are the major ones.
Valid points. I live in central Georgia which is awfully hot, humid.....etc in the summer. So this summer I'm going to test my pack and with a bladder and just bottles to see which I prefer. This is the best I can do to simulate summer in Spain. I'm prone to drinking a lot so I'm going to test your strategy as well!To each their own, but practice before you go if you haven't traveled a distance on your feet.
I use a bladder and a bottle, because of my thirst levels and my need for electrolytes ( well documented in multiple endurance events and last July from Sarria).
One note, though, for the group..."mature" adults and children tend to have a decreased perception of, or understanding of, thirst, and will often (yes, I've stopped for several responses) dehydrate before they know it. Practice will tell you if this is relevant to you before you get started.
Light weight metal water bottle is my preference. Handy, cheap, replaceable, easy to clean, seconds to fill and virtually indestructible. Also works well filled with either hot or cold water to roll over sore muscles. I have had one that has kept me good company on thousands and thousands of kilometers!I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken Feel free to chime in! LOL
I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
We shifted to water bottles after our first camino. They are much lighter than bike type bottles, easy to clean, easy to pitch and easily replaced. Since then, we've used these type of water bottles in all our hikes and trips in the U.S. and around the world. 20 ounce bottles are the best, especially longer thin ones that are easily reached from your backpack, side or fanny pack. All our friends use these bottles now and we preach this in our practice camino presentations.I like water bottles. I like their simplicity and in my case, their disposal ability. I buy two or three bottles of soda or water when I begin my Camino and refill them all the way to the end and then throw them away.
I have had hydration bladders before, but they do get mucky inside if not cleaned regularly and I have seen them leak into pack contents before.
One final point, which was mentioned by another posting. It isn't the bladder or bottles that add much weight;it's the amount of water that you carry. We found so many fuentes and cafes along the Frances that by our second week, we were carrying much less water every day, no more than two half filled bottles. That is NOT true on other, less walked caminos. And in France, we carried a lot until a French dude we were walking with told us that all cemeteries have potable water. Sheesh. Why isn't this widely publicized?I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
That’s hilarious and I can relate. I get excited too about anything camino and probably have bored my husband to death for the last three years!!I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
I have an older uncle in his 80's. He is in good shape for his age and independent, but he does not drink enough water and we have the hardest time convincing him to stay hydrated. I am sure I can be a pain in the butt to him when I visit and bring various new easy to fill, wide mouth water bottles and different brands of electrolyte mix powders, etc. Different flavors, trying to find the one he likes as much as his nightly glass of red wine lol.To each their own, but practice before you go if you haven't traveled a distance on your feet.
I use a bladder and a bottle, because of my thirst levels and my need for electrolytes ( well documented in multiple endurance events and last July from Sarria).
One note, though, for the group..."mature" adults and children tend to have a decreased perception of, or understanding of, thirst, and will often (yes, I've stopped for several responses) dehydrate before they know it. Practice will tell you if this is relevant to you before you get started.
I have my Osprey Talon. I seem to think I can get the bottle out easily enough while walking. I'll have to double check I can get it back in haha.WHERE will you carry the water?
That makes the choice for me.
20 years of road cycling, I loved bottles hanging in cages.
10 years of mountain biking, I loved bladders because the bottles wouldn't stay in the cages..
First back-pack with unreachable side pockets, I used a bladder.
Current Exos pack with easily reachable side pockets,,, I'm back to bottles !
Easy accessibility encourages more use, so WHERE you carry depends on which to choose, whether bottles or bladder.
Well I'd say some probably just struggle with their packs etc. But I don't foresee that being my problem. Like you said, I'll definitely take some breaks along the way haha.While walking the Camino it's okay to stop and drink the water (and smell the roses, too).
I never gave too much concern as to where the water was kept in my pack as when I get thirsty I stop and drink. I am never in a rush on the Camino. I mean, why would one be?
This! And same can be accomplished with a water bottle and hose attached (yay - they finally sell them to fit some water bottles).I think the difference may be that you don't have to "take a break" to drink if you use the bladder, hose, bite valve. You just drink without having to make an effort to stop, reach for, unclip, unscrew the cap and drink. You could trip or fall if trying to do too many things at once.
Yes, I just don't like straws or sippers of any kind. I don't like to "suck" the liquid. Maybe from working with people who have swallowing difficulties. I can drink from a hose if the water is freely running like at a tap or fountain. Personal preference, though. I also don't drink enough water because I don't want to have to find a place to go to the bathroom. That has gotten me in trouble a few times with dehydration and/or heat injury. I do know better since I am a nurse, but just because you know something does not mean you will actually do anything about it.This! And same can be accomplished with a water bottle and hose attached (yay - they finally sell them to fit some water bottles).
I think for many that leave their water in a bottle and don't have a hose - many times they won't drink water at regular intervals which can lead to dehydration. I am not saying that everyone with a water bottle becomes dehydrated - but if you aren't drinking frequently enough it is a potential problem. When someone has a hose - they are more likely to drink at regular intervals and stay more hydrated. Not everyone. But many if not most people tend to drink more water when they have easier access to water.
Anyhow - there are advantages and disadvantages to having a bladder and advantages and disadvantages to having a water bottle. Do whichever will make you more likely to drink more water. If you don't like drinking from a straw - you aren't going to like drinking from a hose. But if your water bottle isn't as easy to access while you are walking - then either get a bladder or add a hose to your water bottle. Just drink plenty of water as you walk! And the more you exert yourself or the hotter it gets - increase your fluid intake.
Yes - you can stop to drink water. And you SHOULD drink water when you stop for breaks. But you should also be drinking water WHILE you are walking (or stop momentarily to grab your bottle and keep walking).
Bladders are hard to keep clean plastic bottles are good but with 2 liter bottle so enexpensive we've always refilled or after a couple of day purchased more.ypi should plan on carrying four liters and consume that much to keep hydrated.I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
LOL... we both know that just like doctors - nurses are some of the worst patients! (Also a nurse).I also don't drink enough water because I don't want to have to find a place to go to the bathroom. That has gotten me in trouble a few times with dehydration and/or heat injury. I do not know better since I am a nurse, but just because you know something does not mean you will actually do anything about it.
This is my first posting here. My wife and I did our first Camino in 2018,I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
You have plenty of time to figure out what you need to do to maintain a healthy level of hydration, and ymmv. But here’s my two cents.
I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away. I also think they lead to carrying around more water than is necessary, and water is really heavy.
It’s good to remember that the CF has water available every few kilometers, with only a few exceptions. It isn’t the Gobi desert, or Arizona, or the Australian outback. If you’re walking in spring or fall, temperatures are moderate and your need for hydration is not that great. There is danger in over hydration as well as under. I drink when I am thirsty, enough so that my pee stays light yellow. I drink in the morning before a hike, and afterwards. That helps maintain a steady state in my body, and there’s no extra weight to lug around. I pay attention to how much I am sweating.
That’s why I don’t feel that I need to lug around several liters of water (weighing 5+ pounds) and suck down water every few minutes. The total that I start out with every morning on the Camino is .75 liters, and I have never had any issue at all. (With the exception of a few stretches, which are well-known.)
This what I bring on the Camino and on walks at home of up to about 5-6 miles (10 km):
1. 250 ml Nalgene bottle that absolutely does not leak. That makes it worth the slightly extra weight to me, which is probably a difference of a fraction of an ounce. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or my waist pack and I have easy access to it without stopping walking. Often it is all I need until I can refill along the CF.
2. My favorite type of water bottle from Spain. You will probably get served one of these in a restaurant if you order water. It’s .5 liters and very sturdy.
View attachment 123691
Edited to add: I find a one liter bottle to be awkward in a pack, and sometimes to refill. And just generally bigger than what is necessary.
I didn't realise that drinking through the mouthpiece of my water bladder hose was bothering other people, and making them look away. Now that I have been enlightened, I shall attempt to find a tree or bush to conceal myself while drinking. If anyone sees me go back there, they'll just assume I'm peeing.You have plenty of time to figure out what you need to do to maintain a healthy level of hydration, and ymmv. But here’s my two cents.
I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away. I also think they lead to carrying around more water than is necessary, and water is really heavy.
It’s good to remember that the CF has water available every few kilometers, with only a few exceptions. It isn’t the Gobi desert, or Arizona, or the Australian outback. If you’re walking in spring or fall, temperatures are moderate and your need for hydration is not that great. There is danger in over hydration as well as under. I drink when I am thirsty, enough so that my pee stays light yellow. I drink in the morning before a hike, and afterwards. That helps maintain a steady state in my body, and there’s no extra weight to lug around. I pay attention to how much I am sweating.
That’s why I don’t feel that I need to lug around several liters of water (weighing 5+ pounds) and suck down water every few minutes. The total that I start out with every morning on the Camino is .75 liters, and I have never had any issue at all. (With the exception of a few stretches, which are well-known.)
This what I bring on the Camino and on walks at home of up to about 5-6 miles (10 km):
1. 250 ml Nalgene bottle that absolutely does not leak. That makes it worth the slightly extra weight to me, which is probably a difference of a fraction of an ounce. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or my waist pack and I have easy access to it without stopping walking. Often it is all I need until I can refill along the CF.
2. My favorite type of water bottle from Spain. You will probably get served one of these in a restaurant if you order water. It’s .5 liters and very sturdy.
View attachment 123691
Edited to add: I find a one liter bottle to be awkward in a pack, and sometimes to refill. And just generally bigger than what is necessary.
Probably only bothers me and @Esperanza . No need to change your habits on my account.I didn't realise that drinking through the mouthpiece of my water bladder hose was bothering other people, and making them look away. Now that I have been enlightened, I shall attempt to find a tree or bush to conceal myself while drinking. If anyone sees me go back there, they'll just assume I'm peeing.
Bladders are easy to keep clean as the water supply lines in a home. As long as it is being used daily, and only with water, there is no special cleaning needed. The continuous use with fresh water is sufficient.Bladders are hard to keep clean plastic bottles are good but with 2 liter bottle so enexpensive we've always refilled or after a couple of day purchased more.ypi should plan on carrying four liters and consume that much to keep hydrated.
Enjoy and Buen Camino
Oh! Great idea...They can also be stored in the freezer.
Recipe please?I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Dave,I simply will not tell someone that bottles are bad and reservoirs are the best. I am limited to telling people WHY I might prefer one over the other. Others can do likewise. I want folks to use what makes sense to them, and seems the best choice. Those factors for choosing are all subjective issues which no one can dispute.
This post was 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; this is a difference than from focusing on how someone 'perceives' usability as was mentioned above with regard to subjective values for an individual.
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 posting this to preempt those who misunderstand the facts - or who have insufficient facts -to claim that using hydration reservoirs is the WRONG way to go.
1. Sanitation. With water carry, bottles have no advantage. Reservoirs stay just 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 frequent use which keeps bottles, reservoirs, and tubing fresh and sanitary. 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 a bottle or a reservoir.
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 example 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 then are not properly washed out prior to long term storage. Mold may also form in the shorter term when fluids with sugars are exposed to warmth and sun.
Also, not all discolorations are harmful molds. Most times, it may be an algae growth from leaving stagnant water exposed to light.
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 to 6 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 reservoir water capacity and total weight.
You do 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. If the next water source is 32 kilometers distant under a hot sun, I will carry up to 4 liters. If the next water source is a few kilometers distant in cool weather, I might carry a half liter.
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 Connect 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 backpack or daypack to do a quick and easy refill of the bladder.
NOTE: The video shows the quick disconnect being used with a water filter as used when wilderness backpacking. However, on camino I leave off the filter altogether. The refill cap is simply attached to my collapsible water bottle, after it is filled with water from a fountain or faucet.
For refill bottles.... I use an extremely lightweight collapsible bottle that can hold up to 1.5 liters. Empty, it rolls down to a small bundle that are easily stashed in an outside pocket.
Many times, I will carry 1/2 liter in the collapsible bottle as a quick backup as the weather or the distance between water refills dictates. So, if I decide to, say, carry 1 liters of water between water resupply points, I will fill the reservoir with 1/2 liter, and then carry 1/2 liter in the bottle, keeping the bottle partially collapsed and tucked into a side pocket.
By doing the above I do not need to see the water bladder itself in order to be assured of adequate water or to avoid accidentally running out of water.
The collapsible bottle I use is just one container option. The refill adapter with the Quick Connect kit can also fit on a variety of empty bottled water containers.
So those are the major issues that always seem to come up. There are other myths, but those are the major ones.
My choice of water bottle for the Camino is a clear plastic 850 ml bottle, hanging off my backpack strap - light, readily accessible, and I can see how much I am drinking and when I need to refill...You have plenty of time to figure out what you need to do to maintain a healthy level of hydration, and ymmv. But here’s my two cents.
I don’t like bladders. I don’t need the leaking and sanitation issues in my life, and I don’t like to see others mouth around for the tube and then draw on it. I have to look away. I also think they lead to carrying around more water than is necessary, and water is really heavy.
It’s good to remember that the CF has water available every few kilometers, with only a few exceptions. It isn’t the Gobi desert, or Arizona, or the Australian outback. If you’re walking in spring or fall, temperatures are moderate and your need for hydration is not that great. There is danger in over hydration as well as under. I drink when I am thirsty, enough so that my pee stays light yellow. I drink in the morning before a hike, and afterwards. That helps maintain a steady state in my body, and there’s no extra weight to lug around. I pay attention to how much I am sweating.
That’s why I don’t feel that I need to lug around several liters of water (weighing 5+ pounds) and suck down water every few minutes. The total that I start out with every morning on the Camino is .75 liters, and I have never had any issue at all. (With the exception of a few stretches, which are well-known.)
This what I bring on the Camino and on walks at home of up to about 5-6 miles (10 km):
1. 250 ml Nalgene bottle that absolutely does not leak. That makes it worth the slightly extra weight to me, which is probably a difference of a fraction of an ounce. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or my waist pack and I have easy access to it without stopping walking. Often it is all I need until I can refill along the CF.
2. My favorite type of water bottle from Spain. You will probably get served one of these in a restaurant if you order water. It’s .5 liters and very sturdy.
View attachment 123691
Edited to add: I find a one liter bottle to be awkward in a pack, and sometimes to refill. And just generally bigger than what is necessary.
I just took an ordinary plastic bottle of water purchased in a shop. Plenty of places to top it up. Wish I was going again!I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Haha I really identify with this. For the past week or so I have been frantically researching and planning my next camino and the WHW and I am not sure when I will be able to do either.I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
There are as many answers as there are people! I've walked twice using/reusing bottles I bought along the way. This time I'm taking my bladder. Trying something new for a few reasons. I've done alot of backcountry camping since my last Camino in 2017 and find I drink more water (and more steadily) with the bladder. My bottle pockets are a pain to reach. My daughter (aka my Camino partner) got dehydrated on our last Camino by not drinking enough water. If it doesn't work for me I can switch back to bottles. Like other have suggested, I'd try both on long hikes w a full pack. It'll help those months go by a little faster
Mine seem to - unfortunately! And I have had multiple brands. Is it from the material? Or is bacteria entering the bladder? I don't know. But I tend to throw out my bladders more frequently because of the change in taste! This is another reason why I like a disposable water bottle that you buy with the water in it - once it starts getting gross I can buy another bottle of water and toss the old one! And as I said previously - I do use a tube with it for easy access to water while leaving the bottle in my pack.I have not taken the time to read all of these many replies, but as @davebugg has said, it is entirely subjective.
I do have one question regarding owning and using a water bladder over the years...does the supple, rubbery plastic they are made from taint the flavor of the water over time? I own a few brands of reusable hand-held water bottles for use on my local walks and it seems in time the water changes its taste from the materials they are made from. Do bladders change the taste of the water, and is it recommended to replace them even before they would happen to spring a leak?
Definitely water bottle plenty of places to refill and lighter to carry and u can keep eye on how much u are drinkingI was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Definitely water bottle plenty of places to refill and lighter to carry and u can keep eye on how much u are drinking
I use Camelbacks, have about 5 of them, the oldest is 10 years. No change in taste at all over all this time.I have not taken the time to read all of these many replies, but as @davebugg has said, it is entirely subjective.
I do have one question regarding owning and using a water bladder over the years...does the supple, rubbery plastic they are made from taint the flavor of the water over time? I own a few brands of reusable hand-held water bottles for use on my local walks and it seems in time the water changes its taste from the materials they are made from. Do bladders change the taste of the water, and is it recommended to replace them even before they would happen to spring a leak?
I have got 2 camelbacks and the Costco one for at least 5 years (almost 10 for the camelbacks) they all still work fine and didn’t smell or taste plasticky. I like the Costco one as it has a cap to cover the mouth piece, feels more hygienic.I do have one question regarding owning and using a water bladder over the years...does the supple, rubbery plastic they are made from taint the flavor of the water over time?
You can get the bottles that u can screw in the “suck tube” so you can have the convenience of the bladder but not fill up your rucksack-also easier to refillI like water bottles. I like their simplicity and in my case, their disposal ability. I buy two or three bottles of soda or water when I begin my Camino and refill them all the way to the end and then throw them away.
I have had hydration bladders before, but they do get mucky inside if not cleaned regularly and I have seen them leak into pack contents before.
The bladders work just fine without being hooked to anything. Just plop it into your hydration sleeve and go!I have got 2 camelbacks and the Costco one for at least 5 years (almost 10 for the camelbacks) they all still work fine and didn’t smell or taste plasticky. I like the Costco one as it has a cap to cover the mouth piece, feels more hygienic.
When I have finished each trip I would do a thorough rinse with soap and water including the tubing and flush the tubing completely before storing them (for what, 5 days?). Cos I don’t want to find mould inside the tubing or around the mouthpiece yuk!
Longevity wise, I removed the Costco bladder from its original daypack to my Camino backpack, attached the plastic top handle to the hook of my backpack but because of the weight, and how I treated the backpack (tossing them around), the plastic “handle” had snapped. I used a carabiner and hooked it to the next “loop” and 2 months later it snapped too. So I only have 1 “loop” left to attach the carabiner to, otherwise I will have to start being very creative (or get a new bladder).
Bladders are great - IF they don’t leak. I’ve been left almost without water a few times because of that - no fun. I recommend always carrying at least a liter bottle of water just in case.I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Although water is easy to find on the Camino Francés, I'll still carry a Grayl. Water was not easy to find on the twelve kilometers I walked from Los Arcos to Arróniz in 2015. Hot day, and I filled it three times from ponds and ditches.I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
OMG, that is so me and the redhead!!!After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time.
When hiking I use one or the other or both, depending on the weather. On my Camino I took both, but only used water bottles. I brought two empty Smart Water bottles and they worked well the whole trip. I only had a couple of segment where water was scarce. Between Castrojeriz, Frómista, Carrión de los Condes, and Terradillos de los Templarios. I thought planning for my Camino was a great way to enjoy the anticipation. Buen CaminoI was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
Did Camino Norte and Primitivo last year. For me - best decision was this thing: https://sourceoutdoor.com/product/convertube/I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
I have owned a couple of these Platypus's in the past. Although they have some nice features, I dislike the flat, hard seams around all the edges where they are fused together. I have had them scrape my side pouches of the fabric, and I have scratched my hand before, so they are not my favorite for the constant "in and out" use they get on a Camino.Not sure you need even more input but I swear by these platypus collapsible water bottles, with the pull-push caps.
Just got off the coastal Portugal route and water transport was my big concern. I use a hydration bladder because rehydrating is so important and I cant reach my water bottle in the side pouch. So the drink tube doubled my intake. Very important for those in the 50s and 60s as kidney stones creep up with dehydration and can really ruin a trip. The constant tossing of plastic bottles killed me and few places offered refill opportunities unless you baught lunch or dinner there. I did have a plastic bottle on my pack’s side as I like the convenience when taking a break with the pack off. Yes, I refilled it daily. So, I do both, but swear by the hydration bladder for increased intake. I drop the base of the bladder in a quart size zip lock in the pack in case of a little leakage and dont worry after that. I do love the idea of the tube designed for plastic water bottles. It’s genius. $20 on line, but maybe a great middle ground for people like me. One other note on water bottles. If they are clear, you kow when to refill. If they are metal or solid color, you guess until its gone. Go clear, use a drink tube bottle as its easier to dink more and rehydrate. Enjoy and wear good socks.I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
If your bladder is a fairly new model it shouldn't leak - if you close all the connections correctly. I had my pants soaked because I didn't put the top on a bottle correctly - at least that's what I told my hiking partners. And if your gear in the pack isn't in waterproof bags already, shame on you.
The ONLY advantage I can see to bottles is that they're convenient in the evenings when wandering around town - but you can accomplish that easily enough with carrying a spare bottle along with the bladder, as Davebugg and others of us do.
Other thoughts brought on by earlier posts in this thread:
I carry a stainless steel cup with a silicone lid - can be used as a cooking pot or coffee mug as needed - and one of the 20 oz/591ml sports-drink brand bottles nests nicely inside the cup in the mesh side pocket of my pack. Combined weight, empty, is under 6 oz. The cup keeps the mesh from holding the bottle too tightly so it's easier to remove and reinsert when desired.
If you walk with a partner - at the same pace - put your water bottles in their pack-pockets and you carry theirs. That way you don't have to ask for help reaching them - you just reach over and help yourself.
In my training walks I'll carry a pack loaded with water. At roughly 8 lbs each, a couple of gallon jugs in my pack approximates my regular load and provides me two solid advantages over carrying all my other gear: I have all the water I'll likely need (I train in the heat just north of Atlanta!) and if I feel too tired at any point I can quickly and cheaply lighten my load.
Mention was made in an earlier post about a "kitchen scale" - where does one buy such a thing? I'm tired of my gear scale being used by the cook and would like to find a dedicated scale just for kitchen chores.
This was asked several days ago and I for one am still awaiting a response: chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe please!
Take the water bottle that's easiest for you to use. I used a retail water bottle with a separate soft plastic drinking tube with a bite valve that I could secure to one shoulder strap. Always handy and easy to unscrew the top and fill the bottle when needed. BTW, I'm curious about the color of your cowl in your photo. UNC?I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
I know what you mean about this. I’ve got used to folding the edges over when I hold the bottle.I have owned a couple of these Platypus's in the past. Although they have some nice features, I dislike the flat, hard seams around all the edges where they are fused together. I have had them scrape my side pouches of the fabric, and I have scratched my hand before, so they are not my favorite for the constant "in and out" use they get on a Camino.
I have read the whole series; it is a subject that gets everybody going; we all need water….I have not taken the time to read all of these many replies, but as @davebugg has said, it is entirely subjective.
I do have one question regarding owning and using a water bladder over the years...does the supple, rubbery plastic they are made from taint the flavor of the water over time? I own a few brands of reusable hand-held water bottles for use on my local walks and it seems in time the water changes its taste from the materials they are made from. Do bladders change the taste of the water, and is it recommended to replace them even before they would happen to spring a leak?
Your entire post is well written, lovely, and helpful.So, OP, you have a lot of advice and you can see that preferences vary a lot. You’ll have to try these out to see what you like. You’ve got the time….
I agree! @davebugg is one of the most knowledgeable forum treasures we have on all things gear related, and a wise sage as well, when sharing his other opinions.I love the @davebugg complete gear reviews on every subject. True to form in this thread as well.
Kitchen scales can be bought cheaply at Bed bath and Beyond, any kitchen store, Amazon etc. I used mine a lot weighing all my gearMention was made in an earlier post about a "kitchen scale" - where does one buy such a thing? I'm tired of my gear scale being used by the cook and would like to find a dedicated scale just for kitchen chores.
Is anyone concerned about bisphenols in their drinking water from plastic containers?I was working in my office last night. (Okay work is a stretch. I was on the internet) My wife walks in and she asks me a question and then she sees on my note pad I have scribbled "Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder" Besides those words, not much else was on the note pad besides poorly drawn unrelatable doodles. So she goes "What's that about?" I then launch into a five minute discussion on the merits of which I should take on the Camino. I say 5 minutes. Maybe it was 10 minutes. I dunno. I get excited about containers that hold H20. I'm sure to her it seemed like an hour though. God Bless her. After almost 16 years of marriage, she still tries to pretend she's interested in what I'm saying.. After all that was said and done, my beautiful wife looked at me and said "Matt, you aren't leaving for 14 months. I think you have time. For now, what should we make for dinner?" Well if you must know, we made chicken fettucine alfredo.
I'm still debating water bottles or hydration bladders though. Feel free to chime in! LOL
No, I'm not.Is anyone concerned about bisphenols in their drinking water from plastic containers?
Is anyone concerned about bisphenols in their drinking water from plastic containers?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?