All outdoor enthusiasts who spend a lot of time in nature certainly deal with the issue of carrying drinking water. Hydration bladders can be a great choice instead of an ordinary bottle. In this article, we will discuss what they are used for, how to choose the right one, and how to keep them in good condition.
What is a hydration bladder and what is it used for?
You may also know it as a CamelBak, camelbag or hydration bladder. All these names refer to the same form of carrying water. Simply put, it is a flexible bladder with a hose and a bite valve, eliminating the need to take out a bottle or unscrew a cap. Its volume varies, usually ranging from 0.75l to 5l.
How to choose the right water bladder? What types can you come across?
First of all, clarify what activity you will use your hydration bladder for. Will you use it for longer or shorter routes? Do you need a standalone bladder or would a backpack with a bladder be better? Do you need to attach it to a vest, or will it be part of your cycling gear? Are you carrying water just for yourself or for another person as well? If so, will it be an adult, a child or a furry companion?
Ask yourself all these questions right at the beginning so you have a clear idea of what your hydration bladder must meet. Feel free to write it down on paper as well. It will give you a better idea of what volume will suit you best, whether you need a bladder with back straps, a MOLLE system for attaching it to a backpack or vest, or with compartments for smaller gear. In general, I would divide hydration bladders with carriers into two groups:
Standalone hydration bladder
This is basically a standalone bladder. It has no rigid fabric cover, so carrying it is impractical without additional gear. However, thanks to this, you can choose the carrying platform yourself. There is a wide range of backpacks that have a hidden pocket for the bladder itself in the back section, including a passage for the hose.
Hydration bladder with fabric carrier
In this case, the hydration bladder is hidden inside a fabric carrier similar to a backpack or a waist bag.
They are ideal for cyclists, runners or surfers. For runners and surfers, there are versions in the form of a lightweight vest. The size of the fabric carrier is adjusted exactly to the size of the hydration bladder.
There are also versions for tactical units. Instead of shoulder straps, you will find MOLLE/PALS attachment points on the back of the fabric carrier. This way, you can attach the bladder to a tactical vest within a few seconds. This solution is also practical for airsoft players.
Cleaning and maintenance of hydration bladders
As with everything important, your hydration bladder also needs to be taken care of. The way you take care of it is the way it will take care of you later. This rule applies to every important piece of gear.
Check your bladder regularly. It is quite unpleasant to find out that the cap does not seal properly or that water is leaking through a crack, especially if it is 35 degrees outside and the nearest water source is 3 hours of strenuous walking away. If you lose or damage some part, there's no need to despair. Most reputable sellers also sell spare parts for their bladders.
What you should never do with your bladder is fill it with sweet drinks or alcohol. Fructose and refined sugar are hard to clean out. If not cleaned properly, bacteria will multiply in the bladder and contaminate your clean water. Alcohol, similarly to sweetened drinks, causes even greater dehydration and worsens your motor skills and orientation in the terrain. Instead of a great trip, this can easily end with an intervention by an emergency search team or a rescue helicopter. Likewise, do not pour hot drinks into it. A thermos flask is ideal for that.
Personally, I recommend cleaning your hydration bladder after every use and not leaving unnecessary water in it, in which various bacteria could multiply. If you want to cultivate small algae and breed organisms, go out to the garden instead and leave your hydration bladder to clean water.
Cleaning can also be a pleasant relaxation, not just a necessity. A cleaning set will make it easier for you.
- Pour out the residual water and check the entire bladder for any damage or missing parts that may have occurred in the meantime.
- Rinsing out the bladder itself is a piece of cake. Use warm water and, once in a while, a bit of detergent. However, after using cleaning agents, thoroughly rinse the bladder several times with clean water.
- Use the brushes to thoroughly clean all the folds, the valve, the bite valve and the threaded cap. Rinse them repeatedly after brushing.
- Let the bladder and accessories dry well. Use the hanger from the cleaning set for the bladder itself. It will dry faster and more easily.
Products for cleaning the bladder:
- Hydration bladder cleaning tablets
- Baking soda (approx. ¼ cup of soda and ¾ cup of water per liter)
- Lemon juice (approx. ¼ cup per liter of content). It works great in combination with the baking soda mentioned above. However, point the opening away from yourself, as the mixture will fizz quite a bit.
When an ordinary bottle is not enough
The idea of a foldable water container without a rigid wall is thousands of years old. Nations all over the world were already making water bags from the skins or bladders of various animals in the Paleolithic era. However, these were always just water bags, without a carrying system or storage space with a bite valve.
The inventor of the hydration bladder was a cycling enthusiast
The first predecessor of modern hydration bladders was created in 1988 at a cycling race in Texas, USA. One of the racers, Michael Eidson, was dealing with the dilemma of hydration during a hot summer race of 100 miles (approx. 161 km).
Michael was a paramedic by profession and a pragmatist. He therefore took an IV bag, hid it in his sock and clipped the tube to his jersey with a clothespin. The other racers laughed at him, but the improvisation served its purpose perfectly. Michael later founded a company called CamelBak, thanks to which we know hydration bladders in their current form.
