HikeArizona.COM

Hi,
I am very new to hiking but is looking to buy atleat a 3L hydration pak/day pak gear with a reasonable price tag. With your experience , what would you go and buy now?
:thanx: in advance.

I needed to upgrade to a 3 Liter bladder and just tested out my new Camelbak Antidote today. Zero taste. I did fill it up once and let it sit for a day and then a refill before use. Don't know if it would have been the same without the extra steps but it is just something I do. The Antidote does have a quick disconnect for the hose that either got jarred when I fell hard on my pumpkin or simply user error but I went for a drink and was sucking air. Had to open my pack and reset the hose. Worked awesome otherwise, very happy. I still carry two extra nalgene bottles with water but I am going to replace those with plastic bottles to decrease weight.

@New2hyk
Figure out what kind of hiking you're going to be into, and gear yourself to suit your comfort and requirements. The less I have to buy the less I have to worry about while out there. I use the good old canteen and water bottles myself. Never in a hurry to get somewhere, so stopping once in a while ain't going to hurt. Everyone has their own preferences, and you'll find yours. Just get out there and enjoy the creation. How ever you need to do it, take water! If you're that new to hiking, stopping and grabbing a pack-located water bottle will likely be easy. Stay hydrated, stay aware of your surroundings and stay heels down! Happy hiking!!

I just bought a Camelbak Lobo that came with the 3l Antidote. I had the same problem with air in the line and also had some small leaks at the quick disconnect. I've also notice that the water sloshes around a lot. I think all three of these problems are related to the quick disconnect. So far I'm not a fan of the antidote bladder but I'm going to give it a few more trip before I go to a different bladder. Of all the hydration bladders I own I like my 3L Osprey the best, it's a little bulky and a little heavy but I've never had a problem with it. I also like the magnet in the mouth piece. The magnet is so strong you can let the bite valve drop away from your mount and it will find the chest strap magnet. No need to tuck the hose back into a clip.

I also carry 1l Evian water bottles when I'm backpacking. The opening is a little bigger and stronger than most other bottles and they fit perfectly in the bottle holders on all my packs.

Hope this helps

I like the osprey magnet and design in general but I have gone through two this year. I just bough a 3L Platypus but haven't tried it yet. It seems to get better reviews than the osprey and camelbaks.

MSR bomb-proof bladders. Heavy but they won't leak, and MSR will replace them if they do.

Gatoraid bottles. Free, half the weight to Nalgene.

I've heard a few here having great luck on very old platypus (cascade designs) & MSR being replaced. Any such luck on Camelbak?

In 2011, CamelBak introduced the Got Your Bak™ Lifetime Guarantee for all reservoirs, backpacks, bottles and accessories. The Got Your Bak™ Lifetime Guarantee covers all reservoirs, backpacks, bottles and accessories from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product.

CamelBak will repair or replace at its discretion any manufacturing defect in these products free of charge. The Got Your Bak™ Lifetime Guarantee does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear, accident, combat damage, improper care or cleaning, non-standard usage or negligence. Product must be purchased from an authorized CamelBak dealer.

or do they ding you on the "normal wear" part saying 2 hikes a year is normal or something

joe bartels wrote:or do they ding you on the "normal wear" part saying 2 hikes a year is normal or something

anything more than that is considered combat damage. ;)

I found a quick fix for my 3L Antidote bladders leaking quick disconnect. I took the connector apart, cleaned and dried it. I made sure the "O" ring moved around. Then I added just a tiny bit of "food grade lubricant" to the "O"ring, just enough to make it shiny. No leaks, No air in the drink tube and No sloshing in the bladder.

Bradshaws wrote:I found a quick fix for my 3L Antidote bladders leaking quick disconnect.. Then I added just a tiny bit of "food grade lubricant" to the "O"ring, just enough to make it shiny. No leaks..

I know little about "food grade lubricants", but I do know that when I had the bright idea on a new Camelbak Antidote Bladder to add Vaseline around the O-Ring to make for a quicker disconnect/connect back when cleaning, I learned a lesson the hard way this past May'13 on my six day Sierra Ancha Camping-Hiking trip needing to once again learn to juggle quart water bottles due to the Antidote O-Ring totally disintegrating on my hiking Day #1

Grasshopper wrote:I know little about "food grade lubricants"

You can get it at most outdoor stores in the meat processing areas and some grocery in the canning area. It's 2-3 dollars. I use it on hand crank meat grinder to keep it from rusting ;)

I've been using Hydrapak's 3L shape-shifter bladder for more than a decade. Hydrapak designed, engineered, & manufactures their products in Oakland, CA; MADE IN AMERICA. Price is the same as Camelbak hydration systems. The entire HYDRAPAK system, bladder, tube, valve, all come with a LIFETIME WARRANTY & their valve doesn't leak. No having to suck air out of the tube each time B4 getting water like Camelbak. Hydrapak valve DOES NOT LEAK, suck air out of the tube once, thereafter all you get is water. Hydrapak has a slider top, is translucent, & you simply turn it inside out after a hike & let it air dry. Hydrapak makes bladders for Platypus & several other manufacturers then slap their label on the bladder.

AZClaimjumper wrote: ↑Aug 17 2020 8:27 am I Hydrapak valve DOES NOT LEAK,

Ny experience has been different. I have bought two hydration packs from Osprey, and the bite valves on both have leaked. The osprey hydration packs are made by hydrapack. I did call hydrapak and get a free replacement though. I do like the hydration pack, but it would be nice if they had a shutoff on the bite valve in the event that it was leaking.

Sometimes the best solution is the easiest.

For around $1 this comes pre-filled. It doesn't leak, and can be refilled hundreds of times over a span of several years. And in the end, you can recycle it!

It's a win-win-win!

@chumley
It's also probably the lightest container out there especially Refreshe which I believe the cap weighs more than the bottle.

@Alston_Neal
That's true on the Refreshe, although they are easily punctured by thorny plants when in a hip pack. "Why are my pants wet?"

They must meet or exceed everyone's need because I see them everywhere! On the street, on the sidewalks, on the gravel lawns, squashed flat by traffic, blowing down the Interstate, hanging out in the bush's, every where but in proper trash containers! I don't use them and never will as I will not pay for bottled water! I fill up at home and go with my trusty Camelback even though it leaks a little and I have to suck a little air now and then. California banned the straw, I say Arizona should ban bottled water!

@LosDosSloFolks
Depends....................on your adult diapers.

@SuperstitionGuy
Have you ever noticed that you'll never find a discarded Bud Light can near a discarded water bottle. Odd very odd indeed.

@Alston_Neal
I knew it wasn't that because the ones I use turn "liquid" into a gel.

@DixieFlyer
Osprey must have changed who makes them. I bought my first Osprey in 2012 and it leaked from a defect within a year, so they sent me another. I'm still using that one, so it's been over 7 years. You used to be able to "turn" the valve itself to shut it off, I guess they don't work that way anymore. I would contact Osprey directly and complain, if enough people do that, they may make some changes themselves. Otherwise they may not know there's a problem? I really have liked this bladder and will continue with Osprey until I don't.
@chumley The nice thing about that Aquafina bottle is that the Sawyer Squeeze fits it perfectly!