Hydrate or die

[Pickle]

Camelback always, as my pack contains tools, tubes, rain jacket, flapjack and phone.

Stick a bottle on my bike as a back up if I know the ride is likely to be a long one, or the weather is hot.

 

[IDB1]

I there a decent alternative to CamelBak??

And is the bladder high-maintenance??

 

[Tad]

And is the bladder high-maintenance??

I use a Camelbak. I was a firm believer in bottles and cages. They're fine on road but off road I got fed up of the taste of dog/horse/cow/deer poo whenever I took a swig. My least favourite thing about CamelBaks is the cool bit of fluid in the tube that gets replaced by a mouthful of warm stuff from the bladder if you take a good long suck (insert schoolboy inuendo here)

As for looking after the bladder, buy a bottle of Milton baby bottle sterelising fluid, does a great job of cleaning them out - no black mould. As Kaiser once recommended, I keep mine in the freezer as well, just stops anything growing inside there. You do see people on rides with all manner of black yukky things in the pipes/bite valves. Five minutes spent looking after the thing makes whatever you put in it taste that much better.

 

[Analog Kid]

I've got a Hydrapak which has a reservoir you can turn inside out for cleaning, a bit early to say what it will be like longer term but it is well insulated and easy enough to clean and dry. I've seen various reports of leaks via Google searches when I was looking for opinions but I don't know if these are the exception rather than the rule or not, I like it anyway and it doesn't make the water taste of plastic like my old budget one did.

 

[orange71]

bottle in back pack

 

[Tazio]

Deuter make backpacks with removable bladders, more capacity than a Camelback and they claim that they are better at resisting mould as they have some sort of glassy lining.

I've got a cheap Camelback copy that does me fine so far and I can take the bladder out and put it into my Deuter backpack if I want to carry more stuff..

 

[weeman_mtb]

Bottle n cage for me. Don't like the idea of something you can't wash then dry out properly like camelbak although the freezer tip is a good one. I try to avoid putting the tip of the bottle in my mouth just squirt it in if the bottle is covered in cack.

 

[kaytronika]

Camelbak Rogue as of about 10 days ago.
I forgot my tools on my first trip to Llandegla, now I just need to remember the Camelback instead of all the stuff I have to strap to the bike.

I'm murder for forgetting to clean out bottles.
I know there's one in the Timberline's cage from it's last trip out about 3 weeks ago :shock:

 

[Average Mark]

Bottles for me. Used to use a camelback but prefer to let the bike take the weight, plus i know how much i'm drinking. Also anyone thats sufferd "Thetford Back" will understand why we try and keep as much weight off our backs as possible!

 

[REKIBorter]

I even use my Camelbak on my road bike. Sacrelige I know but I find it so convenient. Makes the bike lighter too.