Top 10+ reasons why “hydration systems” are Less Than Ideal

Everyone agrees that keeping properly hydrated is important in any endurance sport like hiking and climbing.  But do you really need a so called “hydration system” to do this?  Water bladder systems may look svelte and modern, but they have a host of disadvantages you may want to consider before you take one on your next outdoor adventure.

1. The tubes can freeze.
2. There are too many delicate parts (tubes, bladders, mouthpiece bite valves) that can easily break or malfunction, and they’re hard to repair.
3. They have lots of hard to clean cracks and crevices where funky microorganisms can grow.
4. They’re hard to fill, either from streams or with snow.
5. It’s difficult to monitor your water consumption and see how much you have left.
6. It’s hard to share water with others.
7. The mouthpiece can easily drag in the dirt when you put your pack on the ground.
8. You can’t use a bladder in camp as a cup for hot drinks.
9. You can’t easily put hot water in a bladder and put a sock over it at night, to help dry out wet socks.
10. They’re very expensive compared to a simple water bottle.
11. (Bonus reason:  Unless you’re an adventure racer, are you REALLY in that much of a hurry that you can’t stop and enjoy a drink of water?)

So, how to stay well watered on the go?  Simply clip a “keychain” mini-biner to a pack shoulder strap or side compression strap, and clip a one-pint Nalgene bottle to the biner.  (Or put a water bottle in one of the stretchy mesh pockets on the side of your pack, a feature of many newer models.)  Start the climb or hike with two full 1 liter bottles inside your pack, and simply refill the small bottle at breaks.  This lets you easily drink on the move just as effectively as a bladder system, with none of the cost and hassles.  When your climbing partners complain about their problems with their “hydration systems” you will chuckle . . . and then give them some water from your pint bottle.

Oh, and, check the water bottle aisle next time you’re in REI.  Camelback’s newest offering is not a turbo titanium new bladder backpack system, but, you guessed, it, a simple water bottle (complete with large Camelback logo.)  A tad ironic, no?