Hydration systems or water bottles?

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 08:30:07 +0000, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
think? Are they a good idea?

While this is Australian, it gives an interesting perspective in my
view ...
<http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Ultralightweight.htm#Water>.

Andrew

In article <[email hidden]>, Peewiglet
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Another thing I've been wondering about is hydration systems. I'm
still using a water bottle, but when I spend time in gear shops I see
hydration systems all over the place. I've hesitated to try them,
largely because (i) I had one when they very first came out, and the
water tasted of plastic, and (ii) I know that water bottles can be a
breeding ground for all sorts of buggy things if not carefully cleaned
regularly, and I've assumed that this is more difficult to deal with
when using a hydration system.

However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
think? Are they a good idea?

I use Platypus hosers quite a bit and have not had any plasticy taste
from them. I only ever use fresh water in them and ensure that I dry
them out thoroughly after use. I have never had to wash them out and
rarely get anything growing in the hose - only a wee bit of algae
forming near the bite valve if I don't dry it properly.

However you are very likely to use more water if you have it easily
accessible. That means you will probably end u carrying more if you use
a hydration system. Depending upon your thoughts on dehydration that may
be a good or a bad thing!

If there are plenty of streams in the area you are walking and you are
happy to drink from them you only need carry a very small water bottle
to cope with the bits between streams...

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

Andrew Priest said:

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 08:30:07 +0000, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
think? Are they a good idea?

While this is Australian, it gives an interesting perspective in my
view ...
<http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Ultralightweight.htm#Water>.

Very interesting! Many thanks for the link 🙂

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

Peewiglet said:

However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
think? Are they a good idea?

Daft idea unless walking means going from A to B in as short a time as
possible. Needing a drink is a good reason to stop and take my pack off
and maybe sit down and have a cup of tea and admire the view. Besides I
very rarely carry any water and just wait until there's a stream.

Tony

In Article <[email hidden]>,Dominic Sexton

Quoted message said:

... and ensure that I dry them out thoroughly after use.

I find one of the major weaknesses of bladders is the ability to thoroughy
dry them out. I've tried sticking various things in the bladder to keep them
open, but find they never really dry out as much as I would like. I think
this could be a design problem with mine, which has a large hole in the
middle of the bladder rather than the small hole in the corner like a
platypus. So how do you dry one of these things out thoroughly?

Quoted message said:

I have never had to wash them out and
rarely get anything growing in the hose - only a wee bit of algae
forming near the bite valve if I don't dry it properly.

Mmm, I have to clean black stuff out of the bottle and the bite valve
regularly. I'd put that down to the fact that I often put lucozade sport in
it?

Back to the original question though, I'm much happier with a hydration
system than a bottle. I tend to drink little and often and like to remove my
pack as little as possible.

Regards,
Richard G.

In article <[email hidden]>, Richard G.
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

In Article <[email hidden]>,Dominic Sexton

Quoted message said:

... and ensure that I dry them out thoroughly after use.

I find one of the major weaknesses of bladders is the ability to thoroughy
dry them out. I've tried sticking various things in the bladder to keep them
open, but find they never really dry out as much as I would like. I think
this could be a design problem with mine, which has a large hole in the
middle of the bladder rather than the small hole in the corner like a
platypus. So how do you dry one of these things out thoroughly?

Platypus bottles are stiff enough to stand open. I rinse them out and
then leave them upside down to drain out as much as possible. I then
hold the base flick them to get even more out. Then they are left to air
and naturally dry out fairly quickly in warmish weather. In winter they
sit on a radiator in my office / kit store until dry. Once dry they are
stored open.

I hand the tube up by the bite valve so that any moisture drains out the
open end. When nearly dry I give it a good whirl round to fling the
remainder out and then store it hanging by the valve.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have never had to wash them out and
rarely get anything growing in the hose - only a wee bit of algae
forming near the bite valve if I don't dry it properly.

Mmm, I have to clean black stuff out of the bottle and the bite valve
regularly. I'd put that down to the fact that I often put lucozade sport in
it?

Yes the sugar in it will encourage growth. You need to give it a
thorough rinse out as soon as pos after using it with anything other
than water. I would even suggest keeping a 2 litre pop bottle of water
in the car to rinse it out at the end of your walk.

Quoted message said:

Back to the original question though, I'm much happier with a hydration
system than a bottle. I tend to drink little and often and like to remove my
pack as little as possible.

Regards,
Richard G.

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 08:30:07 +0000, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
think? Are they a good idea?

Best thing since sliced bread. It's great to have a bite valve close
to my mouth, and to be able to drink a little as I go along. Much
easier than stopping and taking my rucksack off every time I want a
drink. To be fair, though, I seem to dehydrate much more readily than
most folk, and to want a lot to drink - 500 ml/hr minimum when I'm out
walking. BUT I do find it difficult to dry the bottle (Platypus) and,
especially, the hose properly. They seem to end up living in the
airing cupboard.

Peter.

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:16:53 +0000, Dominic Sexton
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I use Platypus hosers quite a bit and have not had any plasticy taste
from them. I only ever use fresh water in them and ensure that I dry
them out thoroughly after use. I have never had to wash them out and
rarely get anything growing in the hose - only a wee bit of algae
forming near the bite valve if I don't dry it properly.

Sounds good, thanks.

Quoted message said:

However you are very likely to use more water if you have it easily
accessible. That means you will probably end u carrying more if you use
a hydration system. Depending upon your thoughts on dehydration that may
be a good or a bad thing!

For me it would probably be a good thing: I don't drink very much, and
should probably drink more.

Quoted message said:

If there are plenty of streams in the area you are walking and you are
happy to drink from them you only need carry a very small water bottle
to cope with the bits between streams...

True, but it's more of a hassle when streams are less frequent on the
ground.

A lot of what sound attractive to me is the convenience of not having
to stop to get a drink. Having said that, it looks at though it might
be possible to get a water bottle out of the mesh side pocket on an
Osprey Luna without removing the pack.... uh-oh.....

Thanks for the good advice 🙂

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 11:08:20 +0000, Richard G. <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Mmm, I have to clean black stuff out of the bottle and the bite valve
regularly.

Bleuch!

[...]

Quoted message said:

Back to the original question though, I'm much happier with a hydration
system than a bottle. I tend to drink little and often and like to remove my
pack as little as possible.

Many thanks. That's what I was thinking would be useful.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:32:50 +0000, Tony Walsh
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Daft idea unless walking means going from A to B in as short a time as
possible. Needing a drink is a good reason to stop and take my pack off
and maybe sit down and have a cup of tea and admire the view.

True - it's a good chance for a break.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

Peewiglet said:

A lot of what sound attractive to me is the convenience of not having
to stop to get a drink. Having said that, it looks at though it might
be possible to get a water bottle out of the mesh side pocket on an
Osprey Luna without removing the pack...

You can get water bottle holsters that mount on the waist belt of any
rucksack, and these are quite a bit easier to grab a bottle from and put
it back into than a mesh pocket on a rucksack. They also cost rather
less than a Platypus or similar, and I'm quite surprised more people
don't use them. Bottles are easier to fill from streams than bladders
and there aren't issues with water freezing in the tubes in the cold.

Bladders are best when you've got your hands full and they pack down to
basically nothing when not in use but they're by no means essential. If
you've already got a bottle then a holster for it is probably cheaper
and less fuss.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:26:11 +0000, Peter Clinch
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

You can get water bottle holsters that mount on the waist belt of any
rucksack, and these are quite a bit easier to grab a bottle from and put
it back into than a mesh pocket on a rucksack. They also cost rather
less than a Platypus or similar, and I'm quite surprised more people
don't use them. Bottles are easier to fill from streams than bladders
and there aren't issues with water freezing in the tubes in the cold.

Bladders are best when you've got your hands full and they pack down to
basically nothing when not in use but they're by no means essential. If
you've already got a bottle then a holster for it is probably cheaper
and less fuss.

Great idea, thanks! I'll follow that up.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:32:50 +0000, Tony Walsh
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Peewiglet wrote:
|
| > However, things change, and maybe I should look again. What do you
| > think? Are they a good idea?
| >
|
| Daft idea unless walking means going from A to B in as short a time as
| possible. Needing a drink is a good reason to stop and take my pack off
| and maybe sit down and have a cup of tea and admire the view.

Coffee! Please!
I carry a stainless steel flask full of hot water and Lyons Coffee bags.
Fresh Brewed coffee on top of a hill. Bliss. Worth every gram carried
there.

--
Dave F

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:56:52 +0000, Dave Fawthrop
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Coffee! Please!
I carry a stainless steel flask full of hot water and Lyons Coffee bags.
Fresh Brewed coffee on top of a hill. Bliss. Worth every gram carried
there.

Do you take milk? If so, in what form?

I take a bag of mixed coffee and powdered milk to make up my flask.
It's not as good as your filter coffee, but I'm not v. fond of coffee
without milk, and that's the best comromise I've yet found.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:56:52 +0000, Dave Fawthrop
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Coffee! Please!
I carry a stainless steel flask full of hot water and Lyons Coffee bags.
Fresh Brewed coffee on top of a hill. Bliss. Worth every gram carried
there.

Do you take milk? If so, in what form?

I take a bag of mixed coffee and powdered milk to make up my flask.
It's not as good as your filter coffee, but I'm not v. fond of coffee
without milk, and that's the best comromise I've yet found.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:56:52 +0000, Dave Fawthrop
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Coffee! Please!
I carry a stainless steel flask full of hot water and Lyons Coffee bags.
Fresh Brewed coffee on top of a hill. Bliss. Worth every gram carried
there.

Do you take milk? If so, in what form?

I take a bag of mixed coffee and powdered milk to make up my flask.
It's not as good as your filter coffee, but I'm not v. fond of coffee
without milk, and that's the best comromise I've yet found.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

In Article <[email hidden]>,Dominic Sexton

Quoted message said:

Yes the sugar in it will encourage growth. You need to give it a
thorough rinse out as soon as pos after using it with anything other
than water. I would even suggest keeping a 2 litre pop bottle of water
in the car to rinse it out at the end of your walk.

Yeah, have to admit that I'm not the most organised at sorting out my gear
after a walk, I think my bladder still has a few dregs in from the weekend.
In fact I now feel embarrased enough that I going to give a good clean this
minute...

Regards,
Richard G.

In Article <[email hidden]>,Peewiglet

Quoted message said:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Mmm, I have to clean black stuff out of the bottle and the bite valve
regularly.

Bleuch!

Not very appetising I know. Trouble is I tend not to spot this fact until
I'm on the hill and just about to take a few welcome gulps. Still never
seems to have done me any harm and it doesn't seem to taint the water
either.

Regards,
Richard G.

In Article <[email hidden]>,Dominic Sexton

Quoted message said:

Yes the sugar in it will encourage growth. You need to give it a
thorough rinse out as soon as pos after using it with anything other
than water. I would even suggest keeping a 2 litre pop bottle of water
in the car to rinse it out at the end of your walk.

Yeah, have to admit that I'm not the most organised at sorting out my gear
after a walk, I think my bladder still has a few dregs in from the weekend.
In fact I now feel embarrased enough that I going to give a good clean this
minute...

Regards,
Richard G.