I think it also depends on what terrain your hiking. I backpack in the Rocky Mountains and high desert. Often times you cannot find a single water source for miles and miles in any direction. A back bladder keeps dehydration at bay in those environments.
it also depends on the activity. if youre running or biking then its easy to develop "get there itis" and put off water breaks causing dehydration. bladders are best for those activities, esp if you're talking long distance and need more than 1 liter.
I live in the Rocky Mountains too. I find I drink more with the bladder. I am trying out a quick release which I can pump water directly into. I switched out the sawyer and be free filters for a pump after each failed on trail. Hard to believe after years of use, but I can’t trust them now. Water is so important on trail that I’m willing to take the weight penalty. I just recently reintroduced the bladder so I’ll see how it goes.
My 2L pack lasts longer than your 500ml bottle, so I don't have to fill it as often, and when I do, adding tabs isn't an issue. Furthermore, they are not hard to keep clean, and as for getting warm - whatever you carry your water in, if it's hot it'll get warm. By the time I've added tabs, the taste is of those and not the water. And I always know if I have enough - just by the feel of it. There isn't 1 of your reasons that is actually valid - other than personal preference. From a practical standpoint, a hydration pack is way more efficient.
Hey, thanks for your comments. Do you not find that you get little black bits in the valves that are just a pain to keep clean, especially if you are using electrolytes in the bladder? I think I must have just not cleaned them properly, or dried it properly. Some people absolutely swear by hydration bladders and I get it. They are just not for me. Each to their own. ATB - Julia
Proper cleaning is the answer, and making sure it's dry after. Or, put it in the freezer - that also keeps the algae at bay. (That's what the black bits are.)
@@freelegal I love that! Put it in the freezer - what a brilliant idea. My best friend uses a bladder and I will pass this little golden nugget onto her. Do you have any tips in drying them?
I just bought an insulator/cooler bag for my 3L bladder bag! So the water should stay nice and cool. And it fits into my hydration backpack perfectly 😁
I don't see any point in taking artificial electrolytes added to water...when natural water 💦 is an electrolyte. Most of the food I eat daily contains electrolytes too, including the unfiltered water 💦 I drink direct from lakes, rivers and streams.
Yep - i've had operations on both shoulders so I'm not as flexible as I'd like to be. Sometimes it's difficult to get the water out of the side pockets on some packs. I've just ordered an Atom Pack (customer made), so I'm looking forward to testing their water bottle shoulder pouch.
I have my water bladder inside of an insulated pouch. Likewise, I use an insulated water tube to drink from. As I live in south Texas, it keeps my water cool in the summer, and keeps it from freezing in the winter. Worked great this past February when the freeze hit my area. It went down to 10 F and the water was fine.
I bought a 3L bladder, first time ima use one. didn't want to carry 2 big bottles in my backpack. its all i drink through out the day and i plan to just be outside all day on my vacation alone
Hmmm...I've gone back and forth over the years, and had left the hydration bladders behind until this Spring. Decided to get my wife and I back on the bladders because we tend to not drink frequently enough while hiking the hot and dry Sierra Nevada of Northern California. It gets bloody hot here and I need that 3 liters on my back. Often creeks that show on a map turn out to be dry, and so you are never sure enough where the water is going to come from next if you are only carrying a tiny bit. Finally, please don't encourage people to rely on single use plastics. We have an ecological disaster that is killing off multiple species around the globe due to single use plastics. Enough already with those. Carry your own reusable water bottle and fill it regularly.
I’m looking forward to the PCT next year so will hopefully not run out of water. I have 6L carting capacity and will decant it into my Aciphv Water Bottle (similar to a smart water bottle / gator aid). I’ve used the same bottle for over 2 years now. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Hiking 🥾- Julia from the UK 🇬🇧
I agree totally! I always calculate the ratio of "bladder weight / liter" in order to compare to bottles. So my 2 L bladder weighs 218 gs (ratio = 109 gs / L). For example, a 1 L Nalgene Oasis weighs 132 gs (worse ratio). A Smart Bottle 1 L weighs ca. 25 gs, so that one has got a better ratio.
Interesting, Julia. I still use a water bladder - although much less frequently than I used to. I'm with you on how quickly mould can develop. Nowadays, I tend to rinse it out after a walk and leave it in the freezer until next time... It always looks clean(!) but I sometimes get that initial taste. I bought a Ronhill soft flask last year and, no matter how many times I wash or freeze it, that plastic taste remains. :-/ Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
my pack is not so great, so I actually can grab a bottle from the side pockets but can't put it back. So it's a pain to use bottles in very warm weather, since I tend to want a sip or two every like 10 to 15 minutes and have to unstrap my pack to get some. So for hotter days I'll slide in the bladder filled with ice cubes
Stay hydrated when going for outdoor adventure activities with top hiking backpacks with a water bladder. This video covers plenty of information :- th-cam.com/video/Ob9kzppU7I4/w-d-xo.html
Woohoo finally someone else who carries a water bottle on their shoulder strap like me 😜. I don’t hike but just carrying a bottle as you do is soooo convenient.
Yep gimmick, need careful cleaning. They can drop, if Peirced all water is lost. they also arnt good for tracking hydration and encouraging others to drink
I think it also depends on what terrain your hiking. I backpack in the Rocky Mountains and high desert. Often times you cannot find a single water source for miles and miles in any direction. A back bladder keeps dehydration at bay in those environments.
it also depends on the activity. if youre running or biking then its easy to develop "get there itis" and put off water breaks causing dehydration. bladders are best for those activities, esp if you're talking long distance and need more than 1 liter.
I live in the Rocky Mountains too. I find I drink more with the bladder. I am trying out a quick release which I can pump water directly into. I switched out the sawyer and be free filters for a pump after each failed on trail. Hard to believe after years of use, but I can’t trust them now. Water is so important on trail that I’m willing to take the weight penalty. I just recently reintroduced the bladder so I’ll see how it goes.
My 2L pack lasts longer than your 500ml bottle, so I don't have to fill it as often, and when I do, adding tabs isn't an issue. Furthermore, they are not hard to keep clean, and as for getting warm - whatever you carry your water in, if it's hot it'll get warm. By the time I've added tabs, the taste is of those and not the water. And I always know if I have enough - just by the feel of it.
There isn't 1 of your reasons that is actually valid - other than personal preference. From a practical standpoint, a hydration pack is way more efficient.
Hey, thanks for your comments. Do you not find that you get little black bits in the valves that are just a pain to keep clean, especially if you are using electrolytes in the bladder? I think I must have just not cleaned them properly, or dried it properly.
Some people absolutely swear by hydration bladders and I get it. They are just not for me. Each to their own. ATB - Julia
Proper cleaning is the answer, and making sure it's dry after. Or, put it in the freezer - that also keeps the algae at bay. (That's what the black bits are.)
@@freelegal I love that! Put it in the freezer - what a brilliant idea. My best friend uses a bladder and I will pass this little golden nugget onto her. Do you have any tips in drying them?
I hang mine upside down in the airing cupboard. Take off the bite valve and replace once dry.
I just bought an insulator/cooler bag for my 3L bladder bag! So the water should stay nice and cool. And it fits into my hydration backpack perfectly 😁
Use something like Milton’s Fluid overnight and no scrubbing needed. That works for both hydration packs and soft flasks.
Fantastic, informative video. Please consider not using the annoying music in the background.
Agreed. This is an old video and my recent vids don’t have the annoying music. We are all learning on here (not professional) so bear with us.
My sentiments exactly Julia. I gave them up years ago. Thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I don't see any point in taking artificial electrolytes added to water...when natural water 💦 is an electrolyte. Most of the food I eat daily contains electrolytes too, including the unfiltered water 💦 I drink direct from lakes, rivers and streams.
Interesting and I like your water bottle carrier-much more convenient than getting a bottle from a side pocket.
Yep - i've had operations on both shoulders so I'm not as flexible as I'd like to be. Sometimes it's difficult to get the water out of the side pockets on some packs. I've just ordered an Atom Pack (customer made), so I'm looking forward to testing their water bottle shoulder pouch.
I have my water bladder inside of an insulated pouch. Likewise, I use an insulated water tube to drink from. As I live in south Texas, it keeps my water cool in the summer, and keeps it from freezing in the winter. Worked great this past February when the freeze hit my area. It went down to 10 F and the water was fine.
I bought a 3L bladder, first time ima use one. didn't want to carry 2 big bottles in my backpack. its all i drink through out the day and i plan to just be outside all day on my vacation alone
I liked it a lot so I bought a better one. Cleaning it wasn’t that difficult. Maybe if you use it many times it will be annoying
Hmmm...I've gone back and forth over the years, and had left the hydration bladders behind until this Spring. Decided to get my wife and I back on the bladders because we tend to not drink frequently enough while hiking the hot and dry Sierra Nevada of Northern California. It gets bloody hot here and I need that 3 liters on my back. Often creeks that show on a map turn out to be dry, and so you are never sure enough where the water is going to come from next if you are only carrying a tiny bit. Finally, please don't encourage people to rely on single use plastics. We have an ecological disaster that is killing off multiple species around the globe due to single use plastics. Enough already with those. Carry your own reusable water bottle and fill it regularly.
I’m looking forward to the PCT next year so will hopefully not run out of water. I have 6L carting capacity and will decant it into my Aciphv Water Bottle (similar to a smart water bottle / gator aid). I’ve used the same bottle for over 2 years now. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Hiking 🥾- Julia from the UK 🇬🇧
@@TheAdventureGeek I’m so excited for you! I hope you will be posting your adventure. The PCT is a goal of mine too. Happy trails!❤
why put .5l in a 1.5l bladder and compare the weight with a .5l bottle? why don't you compare 1.5l in the bladder with 3 .5l bottles?
I agree totally! I always calculate the ratio of "bladder weight / liter" in order to compare to bottles. So my 2 L bladder weighs 218 gs (ratio = 109 gs / L). For example, a 1 L Nalgene Oasis weighs 132 gs (worse ratio). A Smart Bottle 1 L weighs ca. 25 gs, so that one has got a better ratio.
Interesting, Julia. I still use a water bladder - although much less frequently than I used to. I'm with you on how quickly mould can develop. Nowadays, I tend to rinse it out after a walk and leave it in the freezer until next time... It always looks clean(!) but I sometimes get that initial taste.
I bought a Ronhill soft flask last year and, no matter how many times I wash or freeze it, that plastic taste remains. :-/
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Freezer! What a good idea 👍
The freezer is a great idea!
my pack is not so great, so I actually can grab a bottle from the side pockets but can't put it back. So it's a pain to use bottles in very warm weather, since I tend to want a sip or two every like 10 to 15 minutes and have to unstrap my pack to get some. So for hotter days I'll slide in the bladder filled with ice cubes
Loving the ice-cube idea!
Love that bottle holder on your shoulder strap - where did you get it from?
Looks like it says Salomon on it
Woow que información tan completa!
Gracias por compartir.
Julia: forgive me if I missed this in the video: What is the pack you use for your adventures?
Hi Gary, I use an Atom Pack for the last 12 months. I love it.
I just got a bladder for running I love it.
Music is super distracting.
I see you don't varnish your fence. Lawn ok though.
The weird things that people notice 😂
@@TheAdventureGeek I didn't say you had a Weird fence!
Stay hydrated when going for outdoor adventure activities with top hiking backpacks with a water bladder.
This video covers plenty of information :- th-cam.com/video/Ob9kzppU7I4/w-d-xo.html
Woohoo finally someone else who carries a water bottle on their shoulder strap like me 😜. I don’t hike but just carrying a bottle as you do is soooo convenient.
yep - I don't think I will ever go back to bottles in a side pocket or a hydration bladder. Shoulder bottles are great for me. x
Unlucky Irish
Yep!
Yep gimmick, need careful cleaning. They can drop, if Peirced all water is lost. they also arnt good for tracking hydration and encouraging others to drink