Gear

Does anyone know if Camelbak do bladders or do they just do those bottle type things? I'm just wondering what bladder or hydration system you use in your rucksac and what size you got e.g. 3l, 2l etc?

Which bladders are best for Ospreys?

John

Second the source bladders. I use a platypus after swearing never to use them again. I had no choice as I needed a bladder and it was the only one I could get at the time. It is the wide opening with the blue plastic thing that seals it. It has a locking bite valve. I think it is a lot better than Platypus bladders of the past.

My choice would be source first then the various other brands that are made by source (Dueter I think, Inov8, some North Face bladders, there are many others as source are bladder whores that will make for anyone).

After that its Platypus but would not get a Camelback again.

As for amount to take that is personal to you. I tailor mine to about 1 litre for an easy walk (up to 15 miles at a group walk pace) or 1.5 to 2 litres in summer on a harder walk. Do remember you have to carry the water and about 1kg per litre it all adds up. I mean if you're backpacking you might have reduced the pack weight down to say 9kg only to add 3kg with a 3litre bladderful of water. I also taake slightly less in winter than  summer. Getting slightly dehydrated in winter is one thing but running out of water on a hot summers day in hot, sunny England is another. Heat stroke / exhaustion is not nice.

I used to use a 3 litre but it doesn't fit too well in my UL sack. I never used the full 3 litres anyway except on a vvv hot summers walk. I probably drank too much thaat day and could have washed out.

don't bother getting the bladder with the flow meter. IMHO you find out how much water you have left when you run out. If that happens then you have not planned your water right (you will gain this knowledge) and it is no big deal in the UK as you are always able to either fill it up somewhere or make it up after your walk. Always staart your walk hydrated BTW. Might sound stupid and obvious but you can fill up on water in your body before your set off so you can carry less onthe day, I prefer to staart off slightly over-hydrated then end up slightly dehydrated. Makes that first soft drink in the pub so much more enjoyable.

I generally use a 2 litre bladder, even if I need more water.  On very hot days I carry, say, 2l in the bladder and another 1l in a bottle.  When the bladder is empty, I pour the bottle in.  Doing it this way warns me when I'm running low on water (it's easier to run out when using a bladder than using bottles).

As an aside, I think a flow meter would at least let you know how much water you have left.  I won't be buying one, however

We've just got the latest Camelbak bladder in for review complete with - very expensive - digital Flow Meter. I'll use it this week and get some first impressions up. The whole point of the meter is that you find out how much water is left before it runs out, but that will matter more to some users than others.

Fwiw, my favoured reservoir is a Source though I think the Camelbak Big Bite valves are the best on the market and often use one with a Source bladder and tube, though the latest Source valves seem better than the older version. Or I'm deluding myself...

I use a 2 litre Source widepak - I preferred the Source taste to the Platy, and the wide top makes it much easier to clean; it also came with a bite-valve cover which is useful when the hills you do most of your walking in are covered in sheep-shit most of the year. I have an in-line filter from Aquaguard fitted to mine so I can re-fill on same sheep-shit covered hills without worrying.

I've happily used the Source in all my rucksacks, including various Ospreys.

2 ltr Source Widepac is my choice.  As stated by others they are very easy to clean, no problem with any leakage or taste.

I only bother with my bladder (an ancient camelbak that incidently has never tasted funny or gone mouldy) when I'm doing a route I know has no water and these are few and far between in the UK hills.

When I first got it I thought it was the mutt's nuts and used it all the time, but I've since gone off the idea of setting off uphill with an extra and unnecessary 2kg on my back.

Another vote for Source Widepaks.  I have 2 of them - a 2-litre for day walks and a 3-litre for backpacking.

Both bladders are larger than I really need but it is easier to half-fill a large bladder from a  stream than to completely fill a smaller one.  It is also easier to get it into a packed rucksack and only weighs a few grammes more than a smaller model.

The Source Widepaks are excellent - very easy to fill and clean and no taint.  The bite valves weren't the best in the past but that has been fixed on current models.

Like Kate, I have an in-line filter on the larger bladder for backpacking and this set-up provides as much safe, clean, taste-free water as I want.

The flowmeter gimmick on the latest Camelbaks is not necessary; as a previous poster pointed out, if you are concerned about running out, carry 250ml of water in a Platy bottle or similar as a reserve.    

i use a source convertube and liquitainers/bottles instead these days.

each is easy to fill, easy to see when you're running out, don't have to unpack and repack your pack to refill, can be put anywhere in/on your pack or person. with an in-line aquaguard filter it's an unbeatable, extremley flexible combination in my view.

there are large parts of the uk that may be termed a bit bumpy as opposed to hilly. these areas invariably have no water freely available. for those relatively few places where water is available the multiple smaller conatiner method is superior to the one large container for convenience, refilling a bit and carrying differing types of water e.g. clean or needs filtering, drink now or cook with it.

I have a 2 litre Platypus hoser that fits into my rucksack (Golite Pinnacle) and utilises the drinking as you go set up.

I also carry a travel tap with me.  I don't drink on the go (stopping for a drink is part of my enjoyment) but instead brew up.  I use the platypus the same as I used to use empty coke bottles (a vessel to decant filtered water into to) so it is hard to justify the purchase really.

Time to go wrote (see)

You know when a bladder is good and that is when it takes the weight of a clumsy 14.5 stoner bloke. Source always did that for me. Never did it with the camelback though I am sure I will end up doing it with my platypus I now have duering the summer's wildcamping season.

LOL. That's good to know!

I went with the Source ones and got a 2 and 3L WXP one. I can always have a small water bottle with me as well and I figure that could stretch it to 4 or 5 days if I don't need to drink a lot and am away from any fresh/clean sources.

Thanks for the advice,

John