On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Brian Jernigan wrote: > Anyone have comments, experiences, etc. regarding water bags (I can't call > them 'hydration systems' without chuckling..) such as Camelback, Platypus, > etc.? I'd be interested in thoughts on their use in general or comments on > specific makes/models....Brian Ah, a topic near and dear to my heart. I'm very prone to dehydrating. I've blacked out a couple of times, from dehydration, while canoe and kayak racing. It's an experience worth skipping. My current system is to use a one or two of the camelbak style systems. I put one of the models with quick release buckles on the shoulder straps and strap the camelbak to my pfd. This way the camelbak is in the normal location and the straps don't go over my arms (which caused chafing the one time I tried it). If I'm taking 2 fluid resevoirs with my I wear one and put the other on the front deck under some of the deck lines. I haven't yet mastered a system for keeping the bite valve in a place where I can get it without using my hands. As for brands I currently own: 1 camelbak half back (35 oz) 1 camelbak ice back (70 oz) 1 camelbak insulated (70 oz) 1 platypus bladder with drinking tube. 1 blackburn race lite with bladder. The bladder on the platypus is the best, it doesn't leave a nasty taste. But the bladder is too wide to fit in a standard camelbak sleeve, or in the blackburn sleeve, fortunately the blackburn has a zipper compartment that the platypus bladder fits into. The bite valve on the blackburn is my favorite, it's spring loaded and you can put the valve into your mouth and open it by pressing it against your teeth. Unfortunately, the blackburn bladder is still giving off a lot of nasty taste to the water. The camelbak ice back works well for cross country skiing but during warm weather the fluids are body temperature by the time you want them. The blackburn race lite pack has comfortable straps, but it doesn't have quick release buckles so I only use it for walking/hiking. kirk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 29 1999 - 07:25:10 PDT
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