Water Bladder - Why don't more people use them?

[74 or more]

I've been browsing the interwebs (and ZS) looking at how people have there Maxpedition rigs set up. Other packs also but mostly Maxped. My question is why don't more people use a water bladder with there packs? Don't get me wrong, I definitely think you should have a Nalgene or a canteen of some kind on you in addition to the bladder but I feel like the bladder is an easy way to carry more water and save some space. I just bought the Maxped Noatak and I also bought by first bladder (camelbak 50oz). Having the bladder allows me to allocate the bottle holder for other things like a poncho or a small siltarp which in turn allows me to put more stuff into the small pack.

Thoughts?

[DJH]

I have a 100oz on mine (edit - non maxpedition, just a L3 assault pack), but I think I know reason. You have to keep them clean and they're a bit harder to clean than a nalgene bottle.

second tho, I wouldn't toss out the bottle in the holder so fast, you can always have it in case you run out of the bladder supply.

[74 or more]

I have a 100oz on mine (edit - non maxpedition, just a L3 assault pack), but I think I know reason. You have to keep them clean and they're a bit harder to clean than a nalgene bottle.

second tho, I wouldn't toss out the bottle in the holder so fast, you can always have it in case you run out of the bladder supply.

I agree. I don't think I would use ONLY a bladder for anything other than short day hikes.

[501scout]

Bladers have a tendency to Burst. The durability has gotten a lot better over time though. Bottles, though are easer to drink and mix stuff in. Like someone stated before the bladders are a pain to properly clean. In most cases you really need a cleaning kit for it. The other factor are the seals around the houses also can crack and cause leaks. When I was in Alaska we were told to wear or camelbacks under our jackets, to keep them from freezing. Great idea until mine burst and I was soaked in -20 degrees. The perq of a wide mouth bottle in cold weather is the fact you can brake up the ice as it freezes.

[Niblick]

Most humans have no need to carry 100oz (or even 50) on their backs, that is why. I go through 2 camelbaks a day at work but my wife who works in air conditioning all day might drink a full bottle of water in a day.

[Dooms]

I bought my first Camelbak years ago and it wasn't too good of an experience. In a short time it started developing numerous leaks. After that I swore off of them for a while.

Last year I got a new one as a gift, so I figured I would give it a try again. So far, it has been a lot better than my original bladder. It seems to be built better and it hasn't developed any leaks. I use it for hiking, but I'm still not quite willing to rely on it 100% yet. I carry a 16 ounce widemouth Nalgene with it, just in case.

[KnightoftheRoc]

I added a 5 liter bladder to my ALICE pack. As it sits outside the pack, I didn't have to give up anything from the pack itself. It added quite a bit of weight- manageable, but definitely a change I could feel over what it had been. So, it may be a weight issue for some. for others, it may simply a lack of need- I got my bladder primarily as part of my water gathering kit, not because I needed another 5 liters to hump around with. The pack already has a 2 liter canteen, and I carry two 1 liter canteens on the belt- considering that water is easily found in my area, this is already more than really needed. For me- YMMV, of course.

[DJH]

Yeah my area, water is more scarce. Thus the need for a 100oz bladder, in my mind. Keep in mind my setup incorporates a worst case scenario of having to cover 60 miles on foot thru mountain terrain from home to BOL. In my mind, I'm carrying a manageable amount of water, a little extra, and purification for sources I do find to replenish it. As for the weight, I'm not worried about it. I can hack it.

[tookieblueeyes]

I purchased my first Camelbak years ago and like so many others... I had more problems with leaks than it was worth. I tried a Platypus and unfortunatly, I had the same problem, so I quit using bladder all together and used a wide mouth nalgene for camping, hiking and all my outdoor activity until I was asked to try the Sea to Summit Pack Tap, and actually... I have had a grand expirience with it and use it quite often. I still pack along my nalgene but for extra water I like having the Pack Tap along.

I think the results vary from person to person, I think preferance differs from person to person, but I think we can all agree on the nalgene LOL

[sarky]

I have a 6 liter camelbak bladder in my Kifaru Navigator and a 3 liter bladder in my E&E pack. With those 2 bladders and the 1 Qt Nalgene I have the capability of have 10 liters of water on me IF I need it.

[sarky]

tookieblueeyes, you should check out the new camelbak water beast bladders

[Woods Walker]

I have a Platy in all my BOBs and camping gear.

[tookieblueeyes]

tookieblueeyes, you should check out the new camelbak water beast bladders

Yeah? They pretty good? I am all for checking one out if its well constructed and wont leave me lacking like the first one I bought. That was a bad situation. I was caught 7 miles from my car in mid summer on a day when it was over 100 F out and the damn thing took a $h!t on me! I had a headache from dehydration by the time I got back to the jeep and was feeling not so hot but way too hot and still had a 21 mile drive to get back to civilization. My dumb idea I guess but it was not the time nor the place for a complete catostrophic failure of an expensive piece of gear.

[KnightoftheRoc]

Gear failure was another reason I got the 5 liter bladder- if one of my other canteens isn't usable for whatever reason, it's a back up. BTDT on the dehydration thing, it's no fun, and can be downright dangerous.

[tookieblueeyes]

Gear failure was another reason I got the 5 liter bladder- if one of my other canteens isn't usable for whatever reason, it's a back up. BTDT on the dehydration thing, it's no fun, and can be downright dangerous.

Yeah, the dehydration thing... it isn't any fun and I will say that on this day when my camelbak failed on me, I was more scared than I have ever been of actually succumbing to dehydration. I thought I was going to have to find a bend in the dry creek bed that ran parallel to the trail 2 miles back and dig in it to get some water collected.

[joekaveh]

I carry a 70oz insulated camelbak in my Kifaru Navigator as well as a 48 oz nalgene collapsable canteen and a 10L MSR dromedary bag and a platypus 72oz I think it is. I also have a Camelbak Hawg and a Camelbak BFM both with 100oz bladders. None of my bladders have leader over the past 7 years or so. Not really sure how some people are getting so many leaks. Perhaps a little too rough on the gear?

[tookieblueeyes]

. None of my bladders have leader over the past 7 years or so. Not really sure how some people are getting so many leaks. Perhaps a little too rough on the gear?

Perhaps... perhaps it is just my crappy luck, or like my friend told me... The universe was trying to kill me

[74 or more]

tookieblueeyes, you should check out the new camelbak water beast bladders

Those Water Beasts look awesome. I was going to buy one but they were a little pricey. I think it's what Camelbak is now putting in all of there tactical packs. I think the standard 50oz (Antidote) will work fine for now being that I have a small pack but when I buy a bigger bladder I'm going to go for the Water Beast.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

I'll bite: bladders are hit or miss. I'd keep one as a back-up, except that I'd be afraid of taking out my backup to find that some piece of gear or another has rubbed/poked a hole in it. I have a Nalgene 5L for campsite duty, but it's not a BOB item. A bladder inside a camelbak or similar carrier (like the issued ones) is much more durable, but tastes disgusting if you forget to clean it once, and it's a bitch and a half to clean.

[the_alias]

Difficult to clean.

[joekaveh]

. None of my bladders have leader over the past 7 years or so. Not really sure how some people are getting so many leaks. Perhaps a little too rough on the gear?

Perhaps... perhaps it is just my crappy luck, or like my friend told me... The universe was trying to kill me

The universe doesn't need to "try" and kill you, it can kill you whenever it so chooses Stay positive sir

[tookieblueeyes]

. None of my bladders have leader over the past 7 years or so. Not really sure how some people are getting so many leaks. Perhaps a little too rough on the gear?

Perhaps... perhaps it is just my crappy luck, or like my friend told me... The universe was trying to kill me

The universe doesn't need to "try" and kill you, it can kill you whenever it so chooses Stay positive sir
True, so very true... I shall keep a closer eye on the universe, because I shall not go quietly into that "goodnight"

Back OT: Perhaps I shall give a water bladder other than the Sea to Summit Pack Tap another try and see if I change my mind. Everyone seems to speak highly of the Platys but I am not sure how that would work in my BOB or my regular backpack on expeditions. I like the S2S Pack Tap because i can strap it to the exterior of my pack and it holds great. I also like it because all of the parts are all replacable without having to purchase a whole new system.

[sicsiksix]

Definitely a pain to clean. But can usually water the whole family for short day hikes. I have a couple source bladders, one of which is new, the other gets used on a weekly basis when we go up to the bush for hikes or shooting. So far its held up well, although I haven't used it in sub zero conditions and it sits in the padded laptop holder on a victorinox daypack.

[ghost792]

Difficult to clean.

Not really anymore. There are any number of kits you can get to help in cleaning the reservoir. Here's the official one.

It only took me about 10 minutes to clean mine the last time I used it.

On the main topic, if you are buying a Camelbak, it's very nice to get one of models with an insulated drinking tube. This makes a big difference on hot days, and keeps the first few sips of water cooler until you start pulling from the bladder when you take a drink. Another very nice thing about the Camelbak, especially the insulated models, is that you can fill them with a mixture of ice and water and they will keep the water cold for many hours.