Hydration Advantages

Using a water bottle or hydration pack for backpacking is really an issue of personal preference.

ContentsWater bottle vs. hydration pack

Hydration packs or bladders give the option to sip water on-the-go without needing to remove a water bottle from a pocket, day-pack, or backpack. This extra convenience means it is possible to drink more water and stay hydrated without even realizing it. But the water bottle can provide a variety of benefits over the hydration pack.Hiking with a hydration pack

A hydration pack such as a Platypus, CamelBak, or Teton Sports, comes with a plastic drinking tube for easy on-the-go use, and includes a variety of advantages, including:Heavy – A hydration pack makes it easy to carry the supply of water close …show more content…
Here are several of the issues related to hydration packs and why it might benefit to continue using a hiking water bottle:Refilling the bladder – The process of refilling the bladder isn’t always the easiest, especially if attempting to place the bladder system in an already full backpack. Having to unpack and repack the backpack to load the bladder can be a time-consuming process.Tube water gets warm – Any water left in the tube when walking in the warm regions can soon start to warm up. This means it is necessary to dump the water in the tube and add fresh to get a cool and refreshing drink.How much is left – It can be difficult to determine the amount of water left in the bladder in the full backpack without first unpacking to view.Condensation – Pouring cold water into a bladder and then packing inside a warm backpack can result in water condensation.Heavy pack – A large hydration system is rarely needed on the hiking trails where water is easily sourced and available. Filling a hydration bag to its limit can mean too much water and weight is carried on the