From: p2ranger@anvilgear.com
Date: Thu Dec 12 2002 - 16:52:56 CST
I use Nalgene water bottles. I've never used the Camelbak brand, I'll have
to try it. Thanks for the tip John. The bladder I used a few times was
the one that came with my Gregory. The bite valve leaks. I also had
problems getting the hydration hose to snake around to the right place. I
often stuck my arm through the hose while searching for the shoulder strap
on my pack.
I like to see how much of my water I drink as well. I have to admit, I'm
not the model Ranger when it comes to consuming water. For ME I don't need
a quart an hour. I can look at my bottle and tell how much I have drunk
and need to drink.
But the hydration packs are good for hydration, I must admit. You can take
small sips of water very often, which is the propper way of drinking it
instead of a cup at a time like I do it.
Overall hydration packs are probably the way to go. I think they are a
great idea, I just prefer bottles for myself.
If you do get bottles the best out there are the Nalgene Lexann (I'm
talking about the Nalgene name brand bottle). Nalgene's water bottle
market is actially only a small portion of their sales. They primarily
make containers for medical uses. Nalgene's do NOT leak. The Lexann
bottles are break RESISTANT. I've never seen one break, but I've heard a
couple of stories. The white plastic Nalgenes are OK for general use, but
I wouldn't trust my life to them. My Lexann bottles have taken quite a
few spills from hieghts onto rocks and they were still good to go. The
white plastic ones are more likely to break. The Laxann bottles come with
a warranty of some kind that if they break Nalgene will give you a new one
for free. If you are going to be in cold weather go with the Nalgene
Lexann. I've seen the white plastic ones shatter on a trip in the Smokies
one winter. Also if you use a hydration system in the winter, the water in
the hose will freeze more easily than in a bottle.
Make sure you don't put any drink mixes in your water bladder. Just water.
The sugars in the drink mixes stay in the cool dark bladder and allow
mildew and bacteria to grow. And you can't wash those things out well
either.
A quick tip. If you use bottles like me for backpacking, keep only one
bottle outside your pack so the rest stay in you pack where it is cool.
That and you are less likely to have one fall out accidently.
And if you are camping in the snow, don't forget to bury your water in the
snow.
Jason
><>
Retired Ranger
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