Things have come a long way since the good ol’ steel Boy Scout canteen. Today we have the luxury of hauling our water in a wide variety of high-performance vessels. Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry or hucking your bike off a cliff, there’s a bottle or hydration pack that makes it easier than ever to stay hydrated.
“Your body is kind of like a motor, and it needs lubricant. You can’t run a motor without any oil in it,” professional mountain biker Kirt Voreis says. “Same with water and your body. Stay hydrated and your muscles will work better and you can go a lot farther at a faster pace.”
Voreis knows a lot about speed and the importance of regular hydration on performance. That’s why we asked him to give us some buying tips. So read up, fill up and stay hydrated.
THE LOWDOWN: THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB
Voreis says the first thing to think about is what activity you’ll be doing most. For hiking or camping or hanging at the skatepark, a water bottle or canteen might be perfect. Just carry it in your hand or toss it in your daypack. If you’re doing something like cycling, snowboarding or kayaking in which you need your hands free, consider a hydration pack.
BOTTLES AND CANTEENS
“If you’re hiking or going to stay in one area, the bottle is great,” Voreis says. This is the cheapest option, too. A couple of buying considerations:
Weight: If you’re backpacking, get something lightweight. There are even special collapsible bags that weigh next to nothing.
Taste: Sometimes cheap water bottles and canteens can give your water a strange plastic taste or hold the flavor of something you had in the bottle weeks earlier. Usually those made of very hard polycarbonate plastic are best. Look for the words “taste-free” on the label or ask a shopkeeper in an outfitter store for help.
Seals: Make sure the top screws or pops on tightly.
HYDRATION PACKS
Like a camel, these packs are equipped with a special bladder that lets you carry all your water on your body; you just drink it through a special straw.
“It’s secure on your back, and you don’t have to take your hands off the handlebars to take a drink,” Voreis says.
Plan to spend $30 to $80 for one of these. When picking a pack, first think of how much water you’ll want to carry and how long you’ll be gone. Some hold as little as 30 ounces; the largest can carry up to 100 ounces or more. Most hydration packs have pockets and room for other stuff, and some are as large as a big daypack.
“Don’t buy a big giant pack if you’re just going to be doing jumps all day,” Voreis says. “And if you’re not going to do big epic rides, bring something small that’ll hold just like a cell phone and a bar.”
Finally, you want it to fit snug and not slung low on your lower back, otherwise it’ll cause painful pressure and bounce around like crazy while you’re moving.
IS A BLADDER BEST?
Most manufacturers offer hydration bladders separately rather than built into a special pack. These run as low as $6 and are cool and versatile because you can use them in your backpack and move it to your daypack for shorter trips.
CLEAN IS KEY
This is probably the last thing you want to hear about (especially after having to clean your room, the dishes and Dad’s car), but if you don’t keep your bottle or hydration bladder clean you’ll risk getting sick.
“If you leave water in something for a while, it gets stale and you can also get bad bacteria in it,” Voreis warns.
If you’re lazy, look for something dishwasher-safe. (It should say so on the label.) Bladder systems are notoriously tough to clean. The easiest are ones that have openings large enough for you to stick your hand inside. Some have detachable hoses, but to really get one clean, you may need to buy a special brush, which will cost you an extra $10 or so.
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment?
Camelbaks are the best.
I have a 2L and a 1.5L pack they work good.
i have a 3L
Hey, “looking for a mountain bike”: you did spell CAMELBAK correctly, but you did mispell the word “Usually”…oops.
Anyway, I’ve been riding with my CAMELBAK for over 7years, the same one at that, and if you are getting the waist strap caught in the wheels, then obviously its too long. So cut it, shorten it, do what it takes to make it safe. I ride technical and not so technical trails and nothing like that has ever happend to me or my fellow riders before….go figure.
But I guess your point was to say that the Camelbak is a good piece of equipment to have for hydration while bike, right?
Thank you
i hava a 70 oz camelbak and it is great i use it 4 running when i go early in the morning it doesnt hurt my bak either i also use on bike rides and it works great b ut i also use a nalgene because it works great on campouts
hey i saw someone with a Camelbak yesturday! man I could have used one……
on the good side Camelbaks (yeah you spell it that way) are really durable and are lightweight even with it filled. But if you ride a bike with them the waist straps get caught in the wheels and usally have small pockets. Also NEVER get them at eastern mountain sports or should i say expensive mountain sports. Get them online at Ebay or something.
Don’t buy Nalgenes. The plastic is toxic.
Dont use nalgenes
They breakdown and can be harmful to your body by releasing chemicals
cheaper than dirt .com has a M.O.L.L.E. gear hydration system for $19.99
5 stars from 33 customers! 2.5 liters! a opening big enough for ice cubes!
I like my camelback for mountain biking, but for running I have a waist pack that holds two16.9 oz water bottles. This is specially made for that size bottle and you don’t have to wash it, just recycle and you’re on your way. Next time out, you have two fresh and clean bottles ready to go.
I like this one best for running because I already buy cases of water bottles anyway.
when it says that you can just get a bladder and put it i n your normal pack i would recommend getting one from polarpak. they are great. they have everything from keeping your water cold all day(truly) to having pressurized water from your bladdder
If your thinking about getting one get a M.O.L.L.E. one you can add poutches to it
I have a camelbak in airsoft and it works like a charm.I almost fell i was so thirsty so i bought a camelbak and now i feel better.
I have an aluminum water bottle. I find that it’s more durable than the Nalgene bottles, and after a while, the Nalgene plastic begins to break down.
I have a camel back they are great when I go on day hikes I put it in my camelback hicking pack and when I go backpacking I slip the bladder in my pack it the best and I never taste plastic or anything it great
Nalgenes are indestructible. You can run them over with a truck and shoot them with a shotgun.
i seriously doubt that a nalagene could survive being run over by a truck, but that’s just my opinion.
both me and my dad have had camel backs for awhile and we both love them
I use a Camelbak all the time and i use Nalgenes becuz they r in destructable almost.
I’ve been using a camelback for a while now, but I’ve never seen a plastic bladder!!!!!
Cool.
I’ve been wanting to get the “Smartube” and the “Firefly” but i don’t know where to get them. I anyone knows where to find them I would very much like to know. XD
The Camelbak and Firefly look awesome!!!!!
i use a gourd
I have almost all canteens, cammelbacks ect. but no bota gourd
i have been using a camelbak for 3 years now and it still is holding up it has been to 5 countries and i would never get rid of it
I got camelpak a few days ago. It is a M.U.L.E and it was 90.00. It carrys 100once’s of water and it is really light.(:(:(:(:
i have a camelback and it works great because you can keep things like your fieldbook, food, and a survival kit and it all wieghs almost nothing
canteens are graet for hikes but don’t fill it up all the way because they can be very heavy, or get a l.l. bean bottle for small hikes
I wont to use my dads on are last hike it was tough and i was thursty but my dad
whould not let me use his
i use the camelback it works great