H2O

“I was wandering how other people carry water. I know you use purifiers or filters, but do you carry water in bottles and how much?”

“Get a hydration system like Camelbac, MSR, or Platypus. You have a hose that runs from your water and over your pack strap. It makes it easy to drink as you walk and you don't have to fool with a bottle.”

“The walkindude is correct.

A hydrationhose can make a big difference when it is hot.”

“But isn't that gonna make a big weight difference? How many liters”

“There are different sizes out there. Water is a very important thing to have with you. Don't skimp on water.”

“Water is heavy and hiking is seasonal.”

“I carry the 70 oz Camelback, with a insulator on the hose so I almost always have cold water. I carry a 14 oz nalgene too, for my Cytomax. Tried the Platypus, and both of them leaked. I've had this Camelback for about 2 years, seems to have a small leak at the seal. Bought a new one for the JMT, but I'll used the old one for shorter trips.”

“Since hydration bladders come in a variety of sizes, you can pick what's appropriate for your pack and your conditions. I used mine for the first time in the Badlands of N.D. and it was a big improvement over having to pull out a plastic bottle from a pack or belt pocket.”

“I'll look into getting me some sort of water hydration pack. I also use a exstream water purifier. Since i will hike solo a lot of the time.”

“I carry a 2 liter platy and drink along the way. Takes some practice though. Ever decide on a drink while pulling that killer hill? Don't forget to breath. :) One thing I've noticed is that the more hydrated I stay, the stronger I am so I can cover more miles. Nothing beats a those hyrdration systems for staying hydrated along the trail.

How much other water I carry depends on availability and whether or not I'll be dry camping. If I'm headed to a dry camp I'll try and delay filling up with extra water until the last water before camp. Then I usually carry about 4 liters.”

“I use a one litre narrow mouth nalgene, in a holster. Most trails around my neighbourhood, the biggest problem with water, is the way that it pours from the sky, not availability.

I do carry a Pur filter and a 4 litre water bag, for camp.”

“Right now I have an Exstream water bottle purifier and it sucks. It holds only a pint and you have to constantly squeeze the thing for a very small stream of water.

I'm gonna replace it with either a Camelbak/Pur Hiker duo or Safewater gravity pack with inline filter. Don't know how sturdy the Safewater would be on a pack, so may go with the Camelbak & Pur Hiker combo. Or a Dromedary.”

“I scoffed at the idea of a hydration system...until I hiked with someone who had one. Watching him drink while he hiked...while I had to stop, pull out my bottle, unscrew the lid, take a drink, screw the lid back on, put it back and then start hiking again. Boy, did I covet his system.

I went out and purchased one soon afterwards. And I've never hiked without one since.

I got a 1-1.5L(?) Platypus that fits in the lid of my pack.

I drink more water now than I ever did!”

“I have a 2-liter platypus I just throw in the top compartment of my external frame pack. If I know I am going to a dry camp, I have a second 1.6 liter platypus I fill up and throw in also.

I drink more water than ever and really like the system. No leaks yet.”

“If you're not carrying an electrolyte recharger like Gatorade (which is not actually so good, given the sugar content), add a pinch of salt to your water supply. It may help you avoid electrolyte depletion (cramps).”

“Varmit I have a friend that works in sports medicine and he suggested that if you use Gatoraide, mix it weak because of the sugar content.

Get a hydration system. I thought they were a joke too until I got one. I'm a believer now.”

“I have a nalgene 96 oz baldder that goes into the top of my pack. I used to carry a canteen filled to the brim as well. While we are on the subject: I have heard that you can buy a bite value and drink tube for the nalgene that fits that nalgene. Anyone else hear of this?”

“My Gregory pack came with a hydration system that fits in the top lid - 110 oz. I liked using it and noticed that I drank a lot more water with it than with a bottle (a good thing). What I didn't like was that the bite valve started leaking, I couldn't tell how much water I had left and often hiked the last stretch to camp dry, and with the weight so high in the pack, it felt unbalanced on tough trails. I was always nervous about a leak from the bag too. A friend of mine ended up with a real problem that way.

I have since started carrying two of those Nalgene 96 oz collapsible water bottles, one in each of the large mesh wand pockets and a small 16 oz Nalgene in a hip belt holster. They weigh next to nothing empty. I usually only fill each bag only part way full so I end up carrying about 3 quarts for a typical day but I have the ability to carry over 1.5 gallons this way.

I drink as much water as my belly can hold in the morning.”

“Anyone know of the Gatoraid competetor that doesn't use sugar? I swear I heard about one that uses some other sweetener that you use less of because you don't need as much volume as the Gatoraid mix.

Maybe I was dreaming”

“Violin, my wife, my hiking buddy and I all use the Gregory mirage cell like yours and all of ours leak pretty bad. I'm going to swap out the valves for something (hopefully) better. I'll post it if I find a good setup.

Lagtis, yes REI carries them for about $10. Just search for nalgene products and you will find it.”

“I carry a 2L platypus,and a 1L spare (just in case).

Regarding Gatorade...the sugar in it is NOT harmful. It does NOT cause cramping etc etc...That is unless you mix it like Kool-aid. Gatorade has 1/2-1/3 the sugar of pop. The sugar will give you a boost of energy (a slight one granted) and helps to mask the salty flavor. I cant imagine cruisin down the trail on a hot day sucking down unsweetened salt water NASTY!”

“I just bought a 2 liter platypus the other day and I am very excited about it. I also have 2 1 liter nalgene bottles that i use. Water is very important, and one should never be without it. I have had to take to many dehydrated kids to the hospitol in my camp counselor days. Always carry water”

“I've never used a hydration system, but after a recent hike in skeeter infested country, when I got severly attacked everytime I stopped, I am shopping for one. It is rather silly that I have to stop to dig a bottle outta the pack.”

“I carry a 2 liter Platypus with water on the trail. I also carry the 48 oz. Nalgene canteen and a 1 liter Nalgene wide mouth bottle for measuring and convenient camp drinking. When I get to camp, I like to fill up everything so I do not have to get water again until I'm out on the trail the next day.”

“Thanks, packmule!! I'll picking one up shortly.”

“While hiking today in Blackjack Springs Wilderness Area, I tried out the drinking tube addition to my MSR Dromalite waterbag that slides into the special pocket in my Jansport Dart Frog. The bite valve was much more difficult to use (very hard, thought I'd chip a tooth) than the valve on my Camelbak MULE tube. While it worked, it didn't make using it pleasant.”

“count me in as a reformed scoffer of hydration systems.

Bought a camelback on a whim and have not hiked without it. I find the constant water supply makes me drink more, more often, and hike a lot longer/harder.”

“I used to use a home made drinking tube. The last couple of years i have been using a pint sized bottle I wear around my neck. I chug a quart as I leave for the day. When I stop, I drink whatever is left in the pint bottle and dig a gatorade bottle of water out of my pack. I refill the pint and drink the other two cups from the gatorade bottle. Two pounds off my back--feels nice. If it is a long hike and I have taken a second quart I repeat the process later on. Usually I am through for the day and just sip the last pint till I am in camp. I seem to do better drinking a lot at once--I don't know why.”

“Took my daughter shopping for her Sweet 16 present, and she asked for a CamelBak for mountain biking! There's hope afterall for her company in the woods.

BTW, I compared Gatorade to Cran-Grape in a convenience store along the road, and Gatorade had 1/3 the sugar in each 8 oz. of the juice drink. Fruit juices and juice drinks actually have loads of sugars and calories. While no vitamins, Gatorade seems pretty benign, and sure helped hydrate me last time out overnight.”

“I have 4200 ci. dana design. What size hydration system would you think?”

“Prolly 1.5 to 2 liters.”

“Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry......”

“I've got a pint nalgene I click on my sterum srap, I forget it's there till I need a drink.”

“ok”

“I used to do that till I got my hydration ststem.”

“Tucky I'm using a terraplane and Gregory's mirage cell fits just fine underneath the lid. I slide it behind the flap that holds the hipbelt in place when you use the lid as a fanny pack. The mirage cell is 110 oz. if my math is right that converts to 3L. (Doesn't seem that big though.)”