- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2023 from Bayonne.
Camino Podiensis & CF 2026
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Im wondering how often bladders need cleaning ?!!Have been grappling with this very same decision - between a 2.5 L Osprey bladder or two (very) lightweight 1 L Vapor collapsible water bottles - for my Camino next year, so will be watching this thread closely. I remember reading some feedback (maybe on this forum somewhere?) that hydration bladders require the kind of regular cleaning and disinfecting that might be difficult to maintain over a six week period on the road, and that the relative easy of finding potable water sources along the way for refills makes a compartively heavy hydration bladder system unneccessary to begin with. But from previous hiking experience, I know I like the convenience of being able to take regular sips of water without having to constantly hold a water bottle or take it out and return it to my pack. Will be interested to hear what others have to say about it!
I remember reading some feedback (maybe on this forum somewhere?) that hydration bladders require the kind of regular cleaning and disinfecting that might be difficult to maintain over a six week period on the road,
Im wondering how often bladders need cleaning ?!!
Personally, I prefer Platypus Big Zip hydration reservoirs.
This post is written to dispel myths which are commonly used to try and claim that reservoirs are either less sanitary to use, or are less easy to use than bottles.
I'm NOT writing this post to suggest that I and others who prefer reservoirs are making the best and most superior choice; I am doing this to preempt those who misstate facts to claim that using hydration reservoirs is the WRONG way to go.
1. Sanitation. Bottles have no advantage. Reservoirs stay as sanitary. They do not require cleaning every day, nor do they need to be dried.
As with plumbing, it is the change of water and water flow through use that keeps things fresh. With normal use, both bladders and bottles are constantly refilled and emptied That keeps them sanitary UNLESS contaminated water is introduced, or other fluids with sugars (juices, energy drinks, soda pop, etc) are put into either storage container.
While working for the local public health district, I did a review of the literature, which I again did in 2016. Comparisons of bacterial contamination levels between bottles and hydration bladders were indistinguishable -- both had equally low rates of bacterial contamination. And both were at about equal risk for developing significant levels of bacteria and mold if not cleaned and dried properly prior to storage. In the last few years, the hydration reservoirs have become more modular in nature and have wider openings to access the water compartments, making it much easier to clean and prepare for storage than previous generations of the product.
One study, from 2009:
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(09)70419-3/fulltext
When it is time to store bottles or bladders away for the season, they can be sanitized if desired with a bit of bleach added to the final rinse water during cleaning. It is not necessary, but there is no harm in doing so. Then they can be rinsed out and be allowed to dry.
Molds and other nasty things occur if either container is stored with water over a period of time, or have contained other fluids which might have sugars and not properly washed out prior to long term storage..
The key here is the time of year you are walking. Having done the Camino a few times in April/May, I discovered that most days, I did not need to carry any water at all. With a handful of exceptions, you are rarely more than an hour away from a water source, bearing in mind that the nearest one may be behind you! On the days where there is a long dry stretch, I just fill up my collapsible water bottle with whatever I will need for that stretch, which depends on the temperature that day. The collapsible water bottle comes in handy in some bars/albergues where the sinks are sooooo shallow that its hard to refill a PET bottle, although its really just a convenience.Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
You do not need it though, and every ounce of extra weight increases your chances of foot issues.
No! No! No! (I am shouting at myself) - don't get involved .. this subject has come up before, don't get involved ... so I won't, not at all.
It needs to be cleaned when you return home before you store it, provided you only use plain fresh water in it. Just like the pipes in your house don't require regular cleaning so long as fresh water is run through them, neither does your water bladder.Im wondering how often bladders need cleaning ?!!
Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
You can do all that with a bladderNo! No! No! (I am shouting at myself) - don't get involved .. this subject has come up before, don't get involved ... so I won't, not at all.
I shall not mention that with water bottles you can share with another pilgrim, nor that you can offer water to a thirsty cat or dog, nor that you can water dying plants .... nor that with a bottle you actually have to stop, shuck off the rucksack, enjoy the view as you drink, rather than banging along sucking at a tube and never stopping to, well, just be there .... nor that you can empty water out of a bottle over your head, or soak a neckerchief with it to wipe your skin, or soak your hat to keep you cool, or wash a wound, or even put out a small fire.. nor that a half filled clear bottle placed next to you in sunlight will keep flies away .... no, I will mention none of this ...
Nope!! - I will not mention any of these obvious virtues of a bottle over a bladder - nothing shall pass my lips, or be typed by me - this time I shall not get involved!!
So there!!
It is largely a matter of personal preference. I wear an Osprey belly pack with 2 one liter bottles. I do that because I refill the bottles every time I come to a water fountain. It is a quick and easy process, whereas the bladder is a bit more complicated and time consuming.Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
I use water bottles but after recent portuguese Camino when my friend used bladder. I am thinking of switchingHello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
I had the same debate a few years ago. I eventually decided I preferred a couple of .75 litre bottles. My issue with bladders is you do not know how much is left. With a bottle you can gauged how much you have with how far you have to go. There are plenty of fountains to fill up en route. I always drink at least half a litre before setting off in the morning and indulge at an fountain.Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
?????so the bacterial climate was optimum during most of the day ....
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up.
I checked out that system. Looks functional but how did you feel with that weight in the front?It is largely a matter of personal preference. I wear an Osprey belly pack with 2 one liter bottles. I do that because I refill the bottles every time I come to a water fountain. It is a quick and easy process, whereas the bladder is a bit more complicated and time consuming.
I will check that out. Thank youHello. I bought Raidlight water bottle holders that fit on the straps of my Osprey pack. I find this perfect!easy to clean and to refill. Worked on Via de la Plata.
Does no one use bota bags anymore?
meaning, ice cold for the most part of the day, and so ensuring bacteria would not proliferate.?????
Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
Unfortunately I could only afford to fill mine with water in the 80s. Used it for many years in various parts of the world, and still have it, the goat hair is a bit worn but, if it still works I'll take it next year on the frances, if not I'll buy a replacement. I might even be able to afford some wine this time.strictly for wine ....
I bought a beauty for 26Euro in a hardware store, resin lining...Unfortunately I could only afford to fill mine with water in the 80s. Used it for many years in various parts of the world, and still have it, the goat hair is a bit worn but, if it still works I'll take it next year on the frances, if not I'll buy a replacement. I might even be able to afford some wine this time.
I'm sorry, but I don't think that your method would hold up to scientific testing.meaning, ice cold for the most part of the day, and so ensuring bacteria would not proliferate.
The clothes in the backpack ensured insulation from the heat....
I found the inside clean even efter quite some days.
- As a comparison I have felt the inside when they were not "clean" from bacteria....
I use a bladder. However, I neglected cleaning while on the Portuguese. It became unusable due to an algae growthHello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
Looking to see where to source in Canada. Not available from Canadian amazon site.Hello. I bought Raidlight water bottle holders that fit on the straps of my Osprey pack. I find this perfect!easy to clean and to refill. Worked on Via de la Plata.
my Gawd, I was so wrong to post, I see that now, this is is a discussion of attrition.I'm sorry, but I don't think that your method would hold up to scientific testing.
It's also okay for some kinds of people.Filling up on the go is ok for some kinds of airplanes not for people.
Sorry if I sounded harsh.my Gawd, I was so wrong to post, I see that now, this is is a discussion of attrition.
Scientific, my foot. I know a cold, even icy water bladder goes longer before I need to clean it...
I just finished my 2nd Camino Frances. Last year from Sept. 5th to October 10, this year from August 28th to October 5th. Both times walked with Osprey 36 and both times with a 2.5 liter bladder. With my Osprey, it was next to impossible to get to a water bottle on either side in the mesh pockets. I had to take back pack off or have someone else get it out for me. The bladder was nice for several reasons - 1) Easy to drink from while walking. My hose has a magnetic button which sticks to pack's chest strap, making it easy to access and store when done. I would twist the valve to OFF when done with pack each day (to stop potential leaking on floor) and twist valve back to OPEN and leave open all day while walking.Hello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
My biggest objection to a bladder is that it does allow to sip water without stopping and that would mean I just go on till I drop.
Pain in the *** Only a couple of stretches where water not readily available. I carry one good water bottle then buy bottled water for long stretches to supplement. Bottled water can be refilled at fountains then disposed off (properly) after a couple of days. A couple of elastic cords attached to the shoulder strao pf rucksack keep the bottled water safe and handy to get at. Not sure how to clean out bladders but seems an effort more than its worthHello Camino community
I’m debating about buying a 2L bladder for my Osprey backpack or just bring a water bottle and fill up. Although most stages have easy access to potable water...a couple of stretches on the Meseta do not. I’m wondering about functional and practical features of both. Should I have both? For those who used the bladder did you find it easy to refill or a pain in the. I’m walking early spring ending mid may.
Your experience and feedback are invaluable in this planning stage of my Camino. Thanks to all
Yes it is: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003U9CUDI/?tag=santiagodec0b-20Looking to see where to source in Canada. Not available from Canadian amazon site.
I tried my Osprey pack yesterday and hiked for two hours for the first time. Could never have reached the side pockets to grab the bottle. Had a foldable bottle hooked to my front shoulder strap. Not ideal. Appreciate your input.I just finished my 2nd Camino Frances. Last year from Sept. 5th to October 10, this year from August 28th to October 5th. Both times walked with Osprey 36 and both times with a 2.5 liter bladder. With my Osprey, it was next to impossible to get to a water bottle on either side in the mesh pockets. I had to take back pack off or have someone else get it out for me. The bladder was nice for several reasons - 1) Easy to drink from while walking. My hose has a magnetic button which sticks to pack's chest strap, making it easy to access and store when done. I would twist the valve to OFF when done with pack each day (to stop potential leaking on floor) and twist valve back to OPEN and leave open all day while walking.
2) Easy to refill. Sometimes I would pull bladder out of pack and refill in sink, and sometimes I would refill while still in backpack. With just a little care this can be done with no spillage. Usually I would unsnap the strap which holds the bladder in place and pull the bladder up a few inches so the "fill neck" was easily controlled.
3) Never bothered to clean or even rinse out. Just added more water every morning. 2.5 liters weighs 5 pounds! This year I would only fill with 1.5 ish liters at a time and top off in afternoon to the 1.5 level.
4) By staying hydrated, I never had leg cramps (a common occurance at home, early morning in bed) and I never felt really hungry (lost 15 lbs each camino) and I was never super tired. Last year was definitely warmer than this year. Drank more last year. Also, discovered the joy of drinking a Radler in mid day. (1/3 lemon soda, 2/3 beer - about 3% alcohol and 100% refreshing!)
Thanks
what hits my box of incendiary flares is the queri for scientific backing, when in fact what we are doing here is dicussing best practise view points.Sorry if I sounded harsh.
I walked around 42 days on my Camino this year and never washed my water bladder. So long as you keep adding new fresh water daily you shouldn't have any trouble with bacteria, regardless of the temperature.
I’m a physician, retired, with considerable practical experience in diarrhoeal and other waterborne diseases. I used a bladder for over 6 years, without ever cleaning it, and with no ill effects. I did keep meaning to clean it....Im wondering how often bladders need cleaning ?!!
Some of us know our level of personal discipline and, where it is lower than we might like, use our decision making capacity to hack things to get us to do what we really want to do but may not have the discipline to do "in the moment" - like deciding to use water bottles to force us to pause.I understand that a reservoir makes it easy to stay hydrated; but, isn’t it an issue of personal discipline or decision making on how often one chooses to stop?
Fast forward, over six Caminos, to 2019. I rediscovered bladders. I now have a NEW style, WIDE mouth, Osprey 1.5 liter bladder system. It has design improvements which make it better than my original effort from six years before.
The wide mouth make it easy to fill, empty, and rinse. Cleaning is made SOOO much easier. The tubing also comes with quick disconnects, which makes refilling enroute easier, as only the bladder needs to be removed for filling, rinsing or cleaning.
Oh, the new bladder system weighs only 5 ounces when empty. This is a net improvement over the older system.
Hope this helps.
There might have been a rounding error. The 1.5 Osprey bladder (here) weighs 160 gm/5.6oz.I haven't been able to find this bladder that weighs 5 oz.
Do you have a link?
Thanks!
Great bladder, I’ve used an older model for years, the zip top, wide mouth makes it easy to clean. For most of the CF and CI it was the perfect size. On the longer legs, I pick up a bottle to carry/reuse.There might have been a rounding error. The 1.5 Osprey bladder (here) weighs 160 gm/5.6oz.
I don't know what this means. Can someone please explain it?I like to fill the bar under the mountain with cold beer and carry it with me until I want to drink it.
I have parked my bladder for a pair of old gatorade bottles for long hikes .my bladder became "musky" on long treks due to un clorinated water and heat from my back and the sun . On my Camino treks i never was able to rinse with desinfectant or even an evening rinse .Also i could never tell when i was low , the gatorade bottle are light weight ,reusable and free.Have been grappling with this very same decision - between a 2.5 L Osprey bladder or two (very) lightweight 1 L Vapor collapsible water bottles - for my Camino next year, so will be watching this thread closely. I remember reading some feedback (maybe on this forum somewhere?) that hydration bladders require the kind of regular cleaning and disinfecting that might be difficult to maintain over a six week period on the road, and that the relative easy of finding potable water sources along the way for refills makes a compartively heavy hydration bladder system unneccessary to begin with. But from previous hiking experience, I know I like the convenience of being able to take regular sips of water without having to constantly hold a water bottle or take it out and return it to my pack. Will be interested to hear what others have to say about it!
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