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[Scribble]

I am going to buy a hydration system/day sack and am stuck on either a 2l or 3l bladder . I suppose it comes down to each persons intake of liquid while out walking etc. Not going for anything fancy as the wifes budget won't allow me:) gelert are going quite cheap for a bladder and 22l sack . Has anyone got one or any advice for me to look into before buying one .

Cheers Andy

[RedLeader]

I use a 1.5L Widepac Source but I do run out sometimes. That said, it's not so heavy, 2-3L is a lot, especially if you're in the Mournes where there's lots of rivers.

[Scribble]

Cheers will look into that joys if doing nightshift I get paid to do my shopping . 2l would be best I think as I do a lot of costal walks in donegal and water can be rare

[chris]

get a sigg, avoid bladders.

[Scribble]

I have a couple of siggs but I get feed up having to unscrew them and the fact I have them clipped on I just want to grab a drink easy and not have to stop . I am thinking about one of these also that would help me go a bit lighter
 http://www.spottiedottie.co.uk/ezydog-summit-backpack-3279-p.asp

[suspectmonkey]

I have a 2L Source Widepac and it's great.  The newer ones have a better bite valve now, graduations for capacity and an easily detachable hose. Normally I just fill it with 1L of water and on longer trips I bring an empty Sigg that I can use to top up the hydration pack from rivers if needs be. I used to have an older 3L Source pack and I still remembr the pain of lugging 3kg water on a day trip!  Personally I love using a hydration pack, and get pretty annoyed if I haven't brought it with me. Being able to sip little and often is easier and I find I'm more likely to stay hydrated when I can drink on the move.

[Hound of Ulster]

  got dogs then?

You don't mention your budget so its hard to say. Have Platypus 2 litre hydration systems for myself and HWMBO. Kids have I think Millets own brand 2 litre. Nice to carry enough liquid, but must admit being super fast and slight we have run out sometimes. The weight will go down as you drink anyway.

Many on here are the light brigade packwise, but I always like to make sure my pack is big enough to carry for most eventualities especially as the family come with me.

Donegal's great for walking. 

[Scribble]

yea I have a sprollie, springer collie mix he is only 10 months but loves walks I also have a lurcher but he is getting on a bit so a quick dander with him and he is done .

I got my self a gelert 22l daysack with a 2l bladder on fleabay last night for £20 so I will try it out and if I like it I sure I will I may upgrade and give the wife it joys of working night shift searching for a deal .

I am just stuffing my breakfast into me while wife and kids wait then off to Donegal for a long wkend life  is good at times 

[ChuckMcB]

Donegal, nice....the walk around Horn Head is a cracker.

Anyhow my set up, a slightly different in one way: I dislike the taste of water by itself...and esp. water from a bladder.

Short walks:
- Lifeadventure (think it's 0.5l) hip bottle strapped to my ruck's waistband with a weak dilutable squash type thing (apple and blackberry is my fav), refilled ever so often from an other 0.5l bottle I keep in my pack. (have also started experimenting with dissolvable orange/berry flavoured multi-vitamin tablets).
- 1l thermos gives me 1xcup of soup, 1xcup of coffee...and there is just enough left for 1xcup of coffee on the way down/finish/emergencies (nothing like sitting on a picnic table looking back up at what you have done with a cuppa in your hand  )

Overnights:
- Lifeadventre hip bottle as above
- Carry yet *another* 0.5/1l bottle this time empty for picking up stream water for cooking/tea (I never drink stream water... I'm just funny that way)
- Fill my 2l bladder with tap water (full 2l for a hot day...otherwise only 1l) and use that to top up my hip flask and cook with if streams are not available.

I'll bring another 0.5l bottle for the dog if I know there is no streams/muddy puddles/bog ponds on route (very rare in the Mournes)...I know one guy who sticks one of these on his dog, mainly to slow his rather hyper dog down..but it has the extra benefit of 'allowing' the dog to carry it's down water & food (personally my dog would be driven mad by the so-close-but-so-far-away smell of his own food  ).

Other couple of things:
- Get as big a bladder as you ruck can hold...as soon as you know what your water intake is like you adjust the amount you take with you so you are not carrying the lot. (watch what your body tells you that evening and day after: having very dry lips and/or wizz much darker than normal means you are dehydrated and should have drunk more...remember next time to take and drink more)
- When the end of the walk is in sight (esp. if it's all down-hill) dump all your spare fresh water...your knees will thank you for not having to carry that 1l of water you didn't use. Just keep a bottle/flask of something in the car...or £2 for a pot of tea and bun in Meelmore Lodge Cafe...or a Pint at that pub at Newcastle harbour (name escapes me)

* Chuck is killing time hoping the rain will ease a little before heading for Trassey.

(ohh...hope this isn't TLDR)

[RedLeader]

I would regularly drink from streams but if I'm wary I throw in a few water purification tabs just to be sure.

[chris]

get a sigg, avoid bladders.

You'll regret it when it bursts!

[ulsterwalker]

My input is a bit academic as you've made you're buy, but hey. Personally I'd avoid bladders as I find them a right pain, and use a couple of sigg's/sports bottles instead, this however is because I have reachable bottle pockets on most of the packs I use.

Reasons I don't like bladders
I nearly always carry too much water, and at the end of the day have to refill anyways; Carrying a couple smaller bottles and refilling them as I go is far more efficient(as long as you are in an area with a plentiful supply of clean water i.e most of UK mountains)
I never know much I have drank/how much is left (the main problem for me to be honest)
and they are an absolute arse to get back into your pack when its full

I don't understand why rucksack/bladder designers insist on putting the sitmat/bladder compartment in the interior of the pack which means you have to take everything out to get to it. It would make far more sense IME to put it on the "outside" directly against the back for quick access for refills/volume check.

[Hound of Ulster]

Picked up a SIGG from argos, 1ltr for £9.98. Thought why not always good to have a bottle handy.

[andy1984]

I have a couple of siggs but I get feed up having to unscrew them and the fact I have them clipped on I just want to grab a drink easy and not have to stop .

I'm the same, i used to take a couple of bottles with me but I found that I didnt drink anywhere near enough because of the hassle and time of taking the bottle out, even more so if i was solo because i have to take my back off to get the bottle out! so in practice i only had a drink when i stopped for a rest or bite to eat etc... which of course resulted in dehydration.

I since got my self a 2L camelbak and i have to say its been one of my best items of kit. I tend to drink alot more with it, sipping little and often as i go!

There is of course the possibility of it bursting but i think if you try and take reasonable care of it it'll be fine, the camelbak does seem pretty tough!

I would prob go for a 3L, then you have the option of either filling it up ( for long walks with limited water ) or putting 1 -2L in for a shorter walk.
In saying that, for longer walks or overnighters i tend to carry my drinks safe filter bottle too and fill the camelbak from that.

[RedLeader]

I have a couple of siggs but I get feed up having to unscrew them and the fact I have them clipped on I just want to grab a drink easy and not have to stop .

I'm the same, i used to take a couple of bottles with me but I found that I didnt drink anywhere near enough because of the hassle and time of taking the bottle out, even more so if i was solo because i have to take my back off to get the bottle out! so in practice i only had a drink when i stopped for a rest or bite to eat etc... which of course resulted in dehydration.

I had the same problem - couldn't be bothered drinking and endedup dehydrated. The bladder solved the problem but now I tend to drink too much and have to carry more. It's a fine line

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