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I'm with Damien on this one, I tried the bladder, didn't like the taste it gave the water, always a problem getting it out of or into the bag during filling. I use the Smartube all the time now and just switch bottles when required.Done bottles. Done bladders. I know I'm like a broken record on this one, but I say SmarTube!
The thing about bottles is they are on my side in my pockets, and I'm like a turtle on my back trying to get at them. I ended up not drinking enough.
The thing about bladders is its kinda buried in your pack, and hard to get out. And because its buried, I didn't know my current fill levels (without taking off the pack, pulling that bad boy out, examining, etc). The great thing about bladders though is you can constantly rehydrate, without having to ask someone to help you out. But its a PITA to refill.
Now, the SmarTube allows me to use standard water bottles, and have that hose extending to my mouth, AND, best of all, I can more readily see how much I have left, and its easier to refill.
I don't comment much on backpacks, or shoes, or clothing, as there hasn't been a clear winner for me. But on this front. Go SmarTube.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GM6LWS/?tag=casaivar02-20
(...) if, like me, you dream you're a motor bike each evening (...)
Done bottles. Done bladders. I know I'm like a broken record on this one, but I say SmarTube!
The small inconvenience in refilling it is more than repaid by having water readily available on demand.
I brought a bladder and also discovered the inconvenience of trying to refill it. I ended up using a half-liter bottle with it. I would refill my bottle every chance I got, and would drink from the bladder when the bottle ran empty.
if your backpack doesn't have the pockets for water bottles then you have no choice!
Not sure if I would use the bladder again?
I think for many of us who use a bladder, it is our only water - NOT additional water. Suggesting that we wouldn't need to fill it doesn't make sense at all to me.I think that the only time you will need the bladder, or additional water is on the meseta. I used bottles (except on the meseta where I used my bladder), BUT, I am going to look at the Smart Tube. Thank you all for the information.
How do you clip it to a pack or your waist?
How do you clip it to a pack or your waist?
Sorry, I was thinking something complicated instead of obvious.with a simple carabiner....
Good point, Damien. I was also considering the bladder, but I can clearly see the difficulties of using it. So I will use ordinary bottles.
Not on the camino, but where I have been concerned about running out and having to treat water, I have carried an extra 750 ml or 1 li bottle. It is filled in the morning, and if I then drink all the water in my bladder, I can decant the water from the bottle into the bladder. At the next opportunity I then refill the bottle and treat the water with a water purification tablet. It is then available should I need to repeat the process. If I don't think I need to treat the water, it can go straight into the bladder, and depending on how much more walking I have to do that day, I also refill the bottle.I drank plenty with bladders because of the convenient hose to my mouth, but they are buried, and I ran out once or twice without knowing beforehand.
Holiday a lot in Spain from England over the years and always informed by holiday reps not to drink the water or have ice in drinks has this may cause upset stomach
You cannot put 2.5 liters in a 2.0 liter water bladder, but you can put 2.0 liters in a 2.5 liter bladder! The weight difference is minute, so consider preparing for a long stretch where you will want more water. There are regular spots to fill a bottle/bladder with good water, so many pilgrims just take one liter and show the discipline to top off at every opportunity. From experience I can tell you that there are few things more uncomfortable than walking in the heat without water. When you reach the dehydration point, you go downhill very fast. It can be dangerous (and Spain can be very hot).Skim reading through this, I'm um'ing and ah'ing on Camelbak sizes. We're walking in May- June and at the moment it's between the 2 and 2.5 litre sizes. As I'm trying to pack light, I'm wondering whether to get bigger so the water lasts longer or are there enough frequent places to refil that I won't need it?
I am embarrassed to say it but again the SmarTube is the way to go. I think instead of the pretty girl on the package they should show a picture of me, considering I pitch it so much...
Got mine on amazon.comVery interested in the Smartube but can't seem to find any stockists in Australia.
Did you order yours online?
Grateful for any tips please.
Got mine on amazon.com
Got mine on amazon.com
Blue desert drinking system might, or amazon.ca?They don't seem to ship to Australia
I really din't know because I don't the Camelback bottles. But if you know how wide its mouth is you can s'figure it out. It comes with three "lids". One is a wide mouth. The other two are for small mouths: the American standard size and the European size. To use it with a European bottle you need the two peices together.Do they fit CamelBak drink bottles?
I really din't know because I don't the Camelback bottles. But if you know how wide its mouth is you can s'figure it out. It comes with three "lids". One is a wide mouth. The other two are for small mouths: the American standard size and the European size. To use it with a European bottle you need the two peices together.
Sorry, meant to say I do not know the Camelback bottles, not that I din't like them. But with the Smartube all you do is buy a bottle of water when you land and keep refilling it. No need for a special bottle.Thank you. I have just measured and I don't believe any of the 3 available sizes will fit.
Curious why you don't like the CamelBak bottles?
What do you use?
Sorry, meant to say I do not know the Camelback bottles, not that I din't like them. But with the Smartube all you do is buy a bottle of water when you land and keep refilling it. No need for a special bottle.
BTW - the SmarTube does have a connector that maybe comes in the package that fits a wide mouth camelbak bottle. If not, they say one is available. I think it comes with, but I ditched it as I don't use the wide mouths anymore. Too heavy.
I bought the same SmarTube kit (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GM6LWS/?tag=casaivar02-20) and used the 63mm cap on a 1.5 litre opaque Nalgene bottle (which I liked because it is virtually unbreakable if dropped on cement, etc.). I was extremely happy with it. I carried a 500ml water bottle from the mercado as a back-up.
I also made my own mouth-piece cover which used elastic to keep it in place, for when my pack was inevitably and frequently leaned against unclean surfaces.
You can buy magnetic hydration tube kits for 1$ or so on Amazon to help keep your tube inplace. It just clips on your backpack straps.
I'm um'ing and ah'ing on Camelbak] I'm um'ing and ah'ing on Camelbak
Very interested in the Smartube but can't seem to find any stockists in Australia.
Not difficult to get to or put back if you bring your wife with you.
No, I didn't carry her but I was chivalrous anyway; we used up her water first.So you are not carrying your wife on your back. That's not very chivalrous of you.
Well, if she is walking with you I do hope you reciprocate by getting her essentials, whatever they may be, out of her side pockets.
I am embarrassed to say it but again the SmarTube is the way to go. I think instead of the pretty girl on the package they should show a picture of me, considering I pitch it so much...
The common wisdom seems to be: take 1 litre in an ordinary 1.5 fizzy drink bottle as there are many places to refill each day. Except on the meseta: so when there take 2 x 1.5 litre bottles filled up.
Look online. They cost peanuts. I found the Camelbak type systems became complicated when refilling enroute as you had to take it out of the pack, leave the pack open and unwatched when filling and repack when done. The 1.5 litre bottle goes in the side pocket and the SmarTube comes over your shoulder, just like the Cambelbak type systems.
does it not take tremendous suction on the tube to get the water all the way up to drink?
The common wisdom seems to be: take 1 litre in an ordinary 1.5 fizzy drink bottle as there are many places to refill each day. Except on the meseta: so when there take 2 x 1.5 litre bottles filled up.
Approximately, what is the greatest distance between two drinking fountains on the meseta? If it is less than 10km, flat, and 30+ C with no shade, I should be able to get by with around 2 liters. That's just me, my wife can probably get by with 1.5 liters under the same conditions.
They don't seem to ship to Australia
I have been carrying an extra 500ml bottle in the top of my pack on my recent pilgrimages to avoid running out on hot days. If there are plenty of places to refill, I will not completely fill the bladder instead, reducing the overall amount of water I carry but still having a reserve. This avoids being caught by the 'out of sight, out of mind' trap.Whilst I loved my bladder, I'm going to try smartube next time. The only downside of the bladder was not knowing how much water was left... ran out a couple of times. Yes I know I could probably have topped up, but not 'seeing' the water level was a couple of times at least a bit 'out of sight out of mind' and I thought I had plenty left.
For those using the smartube or similar devices (i ordered 2 different types to trial) do you carry the bottles in the side pouches or hang them on the front?
Hi all,
Newbie on here and just looking for advice from anyone who has walked the camino on using hydration bladder or bottles ? Do the hydration bladders need cleaning and do you need cleaning materials or is it just a case of rinsing out at end of day? Also is there plenty of places to buy bottled water? (Holiday a lot in Spain from England over the years and always informed by holiday reps not to drink the water or have ice in drinks has this may cause upset stomach)
Thanks
Like Lydia I carried a small, easily accessible, 250 ml bottle in addition to the usual larger bottles. Alas grandmother long gone so I bought a little mesh pocket from Zpacks that fitted onto the shoulder strap of my backpack. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/shoulderpouch.shtmlI have made two little pouches into which a 250 ml plastic water container fits. By means of a loop at the back these fit snugly onto the waist straps of my rucksack. so without stopping or even altering my step I can take a drink. I keep the rest of my water within my ruchsack so that it does not get hot
If you are not handy with machine and needle ask your old granny for help.
I typically use hydration bladders, but you don't really need to carry one given the short distances between towns. Most towns have public fountains to refill a water bottle as neededI used a collapsible bottle and Smart Tube. Initially I kept the bottle in the side pocket, but since it was pretty hot the first couple of weeks that I walked I ended up putting the bottle inside my pack to keep it cooler, similar to a hydration bladder. Since that system worked now I'm thinking that I should just get a dedicated hydration bladder, since they are easier to thoroughly clean than the collapsible bottle.
[/U], though spendy, looks really cool, because it has an attachment that makes it possible to fill the bladder through the drinking tube. And the tube is coated to keep the water cool.
First, I am curious what you think of as a short distance. Certainly a large percentage of the locations on the CF are within one hour's walk (at 5 km/hr) from the previous location, but there are enough that are not and where some care needs to be taken to carry enough water for two or three hours of walking.I typically use hydration bladders, but you don't really need to carry one given the short distances between towns. Most towns have public fountains to refill a water bottle as needed
What you will need is water. Cold water being a nice-to-have. I would stick with the bottle your first water purchase comes in.Hydroflasks? I have one and love it for bus/car travel, but that sucker is heavy! But it keeps water very cold. Is it worth it to carry the extra weight for a cold drink, July, on the Ingles?
Hi all,
Newbie on here and just looking for advice from anyone who has walked the camino on using hydration bladder or bottles ? Do the hydration bladders need cleaning and do you need cleaning materials or is it just a case of rinsing out at end of day? Also is there plenty of places to buy bottled water? (Holiday a lot in Spain from England over the years and always informed by holiday reps not to drink the water or have ice in drinks has this may cause upset stomach)
Thanks
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