Comments on: Camelbak Hydration Systems Bad Travel Gear

By: Bob L

Bob L — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:47:40 +0000

Not really complicated. Take the cap off a soda/water bottle. If there is a plastic seal inside, remove that. Drill a hole that is smaller than the hose you are going to use in the plastic cap. I use 1/4 inch outside diameter hose. Cut a hole in the seal that the hose can go through (any hole will do). Run your plastic hose through the cap, enough to reach the bottom of the bottle. You can add plastic wire ties around the hose on the inside and outside of the cap if you want to prevent the hose from pulling out. Done. This assumes the bottle will be kept upright. If the bottle is going to sit on it’s side, it can still work, but you will need some sort of bite valve from Camelbak or whatever and risks leakage.

Here is a pic of the bottle on the bike.

http://www.whereisbobl.com/2009-08-ibr/t/2009-08-ibr-001030.jpg

By: Wade | Vagabond Journey.com

Wade | Vagabond Journey.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:54:14 +0000

Bob,

You comment and subsequent suggestions are, as usual, right on. There are plenty of ways to rig up portable, hands free, water carrying devices. You should put up photos of your motorcycle riding water bottle contraption as well as instructions on how to make it.

I use the stainless steel bottles because I am weird about plastic bottles leaching. I must say that I trust the metallurgy of steel far more than I do some mysterious solidified chemicals known as plastic to hold my water. Though I admit that I could be a little naive.

Thanks,

Wade

By: The Reader Travels » Blog Archive » Biking the Road

The Reader Travels » Blog Archive » Biking the Road — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:20:38 +0000

[...] Wade’s Review of the Camelbak – A few week’s ago, I read a review of the Camelbak hydration system on the Vagabond Journey Travelogue, where Wade said that the thing leaks. When I saw in the beginning of M’s book that she was using this piece of equipment, I wondered what she thought of it. Near the end, she writes, “My CamelBak plug came off and stuff started spraying everywhere. I don’t think I’m going to use that anymore.” So there you have it. [...]

By: Bob L

Bob L — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:55:38 +0000

I agree completely, simpler is best. Storing water in a Camelbak is a bad idea. It is for where hands free is needed or where having hands free water will ensure you will drink enough. Now, using a smaller camelbak may be an OK idea, again, as a way of making you drink enough. Just store the bulk of your water elsewhere.

Looking at the added weight and complication and difficulty in cleaning etc, I don’t get them. NOW, I DO use a Platypus *bottle* for some things. It seems much more durable in it’s naked state than a Camelbak. As you said, Motorcycling and other times when a leak would be just an inconvenience.

I think it was you who once mentioned though (or was it Andy?), and I would agree to an extent, that a Platypus bottle can be a good thing to take as an easy to pack water bottle. I use it for just that, and it may be good for some travelers in some situations. Since I am in the position that buying water or getting it from drinking supplies at irregular intervals is best, the bottle comes in handy. If buying water, I can get a super cheap gallon rather than those absurdly priced smaller bottles. Then, if my regular water bottles can’t handle the entire gallon, I just put it in the Platypus, but keep it where it won’t be a problem if it leaks (never had that happen when using it as a *bottle*) and use it first. If getting water from a good free drinking water supply (water fountain, hotel’s 5 gallon bottles etc) I can stock up with an extra couple liters.

No, even the Platypus is not *cheap* but it is good for some travelers in some situations. And, if we are talking all kinds of travelers, people on bikes etc don’t necessaryly need an expensive camelbak or whatever. Just do what I do when I can, get a liter or larger soda/water bottle, drill a hole in the top for a tube and put a cheap clear plastic tube in it. You can use a wire tie around the tube on the inside of the bottle to keep it from pulling out. Then mount the bottle on the bike’s frame or someplace. Simple, cheap and when it gets grungy, just chuck it. If you really want to get fancy, you can get a camelback/platypus bite valve, but they are not necessary (I don’t like them) if the bottle is below the drink tube. I suppose you could even hange a bottle from your hip and use the drink tube when hiking and such. I have never been in that situation, as when I am hiking I like having a water bottle to play with.

I also don’t completely understand these heavy gauge plastic water bottles or the stainless ones like you have. I would rather use the free bottles that soda/water come in, then I can chuck them when needed.

And, yes, this is a high caffeine day.

Bob L

By: Brian P

Brian P — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:44:38 +0000

I spent a couple of months hiking the Appalachain trail, and it was amazing to see people shed these “convience” technologies in favor of simple and reliable ones. Most people I know ditched water filters in favor of purification drops, or gas stoves in favor of a simple alcohol stove. When you are absolutely relying on your equipment for survival, simple is better. Similar to travel backpacking, in wilderness backpacking there are certain discomforts you are willing to accept for a few days or weeks, but after that your approach to life begins to change. For a good example, see all the crazy stuff Andy carries around with him.