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?
Coleman hydration backpacks are great, and they are only about $40
Source hydration backs work very well. And they have dust guards.
cammel brand is good, right?
The platypus is very cheap and affordable. they are quite difficult to clean unless you by the accessories, and mine has formed a slight yellowish/brownish tint after a week at tomahawk scout reservation.
field and stream ones are depindible and last
thats rite
are the camalbak ones hard too clean?
cool
what is a good one to buy with a little money 30-50$ price range
i got the camelbak zoid and it works great. it holds 70 oz.:)
high sierra ones are great
HIGH SIERRA hydration backs are great
I had the Source hydration bladder (the kind of bladders that come in Cabela’s hunting packs) are really good. The hose on the bladder has a sleeve on it so it doesn’t freeze in cold conditions, and it is very easy to dry out. I have never needed cleaning, and it is really easy to fill up. Awesome hydration bladder!
i dont have a camelback,so i use my sisters (she used it for the color gaurd training
You want one that you won’t run out of water so quickly so get one that holds 60oz or more.
TOP 2 HYDRATION SYSTEMS
1. camelbak unbottle
2. platypus hoser
i love camelbaks:):):)
me too
I love my cammelbak mule. its the perfect size
i want a hydration system but camelbaks are too expensive. I plan to make a hydration system with a water bottle w/ a hole in it,lots of duck tape and several straws.
you can get a really nice High Sierra water backpack that comes with a water pack and its really light! the one i`m talkin about has a net that folds into the backpack so that you can store your helmet when you are biking. i love it. i take it everywhere. sometimes you can buy one at Costco for $20.
okay……uh have fun with that
just look at something called a platypus. the 70 ounce type is half the price of the camelbak’s 70 ounce type
you really only need a water bottle. water packs are cool, and you don’t have to keep cliping and unclipping your water bottle, but they are too expensive.
Dude!, just use a surplus canteen, with one of those cotton canteen
covers! They clip too your belt, and they hold the cold in, and keep
the heat out. Your water will still be cold after two hours in 90
degree weather! And even after that, it will bu NO means ever get
hot!
An army canteen works great for ant trek, and so do Nalgene bottles and stuff like that. The hydration systems like Camel-Backs and Platypus are great for day hikes and summer camps, as well as your council’s camporees and outdoor get-togethers.
camelbacks are good but the best thing to buy is a hydrastorm. there easier to clean and their more durable but their just a little bit more expensive. so if your thinking about getting a camelback just consider this.
SIGG water bottles are very durable and lightweight. they are on the expevsive side (25-35 $)but will last for years.
I have a nalgene (dropped it 20 feet and it stayed together) bottle that i hold with a carabiner when i go biking, i clip it to my handlebar or belt when i go hiking, i put a string through the carabiner and sling it over my shoulder
also works good for everyday use
CAMELBAKS are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bought my dad a camelback and it works great
i have a camelbak bottle and so does my dad. both him and i love ‘em. if you want to buy one buy one of these!
13adabing, Get alumimum bottles if you want to be eco. i think
so, nalgene waterbottles arent a good choice? so, wat type of waterbottle would you get then?
can you use camalbaks 4 running?
Camelbaks have multiple uses. It is important to get the one that will fit your outdoor experiences. If you like to bike, they have that. If you like to hike, they have that too. I personally have a Camelbak Cloudwalker. It is perfect for hikeing, and also works well for biking.
Hope this helps!