In Defense of Water Bladders

If you are a regular visitor to the site, or have subscribed to the free version of my ebook, you know I'm not a fan of water bladders. I use simple plastic pop or water bottles when backpacking and never have had a problem with them. But sometimes we are biased by our own experience or lack of experience with something, so I thought it would be useful to have another perspective. Here is a letter sent to me by a reader of my ebook Ultralight Backpacking Secrets:

First, I have found your book to have excellent advice on ultralight backpacking. I rank this information right up there with Ray Jardine as far as giving advice that is clear, and practical. I think Ray provides more total information for ultralight backpacking than any other book I have read on the subject, including that from Backpacking light.com. So, at least from my perspective, that is a high compliment.

I also like the fact that you are opinionated, similar to Ray, and do not mind giving your opinion. I believe we all need to do this. Of course, I think Ray may be a little too opinionated about some things. This probably agrees with many people's opinions.

Your Quick Tips in each article are excellent and look forward to them. I have learned much from them.

I would like to respectfully disagree with some of your conclusions about the problems with water bladders and also offer another perspective on their use.

First, regards the weight of the bladder. SOME of them are heavy. I carry the Platypus brand and it is NOT heavy. In fact, it weighs LESS THAN SOME WATER BOTTLES. Yes, SOME brands are heavy and yes, this should be pointed out. But, that is the same as pointing out that Nalgene bottles are much than cheaper and lighter alternatives. I believe both points should be made.

Second, "they are hard to clean." Yes, and no. If all you do is carry water, no they are not hard to clean. It takes me no more time to clean my Platypus than to clean a water bottle. Yes, I know you can throw away a water bottle and get another, but that requires you to buy another bottle, another expense. I keep my water bottles for several months and wash them out. By the way, I do not know anyone who carries a cleaning kit with them.

Third, bladders do NOT puncture easily. I have had my bladder for about 6 years and never had a problem. I personally do not know of anyone that has had a water bladder puncture or rupture. They are generally much better protected than a water bottle because they are usually inside a pack. Second, most are quite tough. Backpacker.com recently published a video where they ran over a bladder with a large SUV with no problems. Try that with a water bottle. I do not believe it would fare as well. However, to be fair, I don't think my Platypus would stand up to that test either. It is a different type of material than the CamelBack that was used. I DO know people who have broken water bottles, including myself.

Fourth, they do NOT require use of a special backpack pocket. I simply slide my Platypus down the side of my pack and then pack my other equipment in with it. In some cases, I simply lay it on the top of the stuff in the backpack and close it. You might reply that it requires a special slit in the backpack for the hose. Not necessarily true. Most backpacks I come across, the tube can simply be routed out the top of the bag and over the shoulder.

Fifth, the valves break. Again, I have had my Platypus six years and never had a valve break. Maybe I am lucky, but I don't think my experience is much different from others. Especially since I am not especially careful with my equipment. I have even been described as being rough on it. This may be due to the fact that a klutz gets into all kinds of situations where the equipment often bears the brunt of the fall. I will concede that a valve is mechanical in nature and will break much more often than a bottle cap. But, I have mis-threaded more water bottle caps than I have broken bite valves.

They are expensive. Yes and no. Yes, they are more expensive than a water bottle you were going to purchase anyway. However, if you amortize the cost of my water bottle over 6 years (so far) AND figure the fact that I do not have to buy any more water bottles, they are not that much more expensive. By the way, I beg water bottles off people that do buy water and simply use them. I think I may be as cheap as you!

Another perspective on water bladder use.

My personal opinion is that people generally drink more water if they use a bladder than if they do not. Of course, this opinion relies on the concept that drinking more water is a good thing. I believe that the vast majority of hikers do not drink as much water as they should simply because it is much more difficult to drink from a bottle than from a bladder. And, yes, I carry both a bladder and an extra bottle. I rarely drink from the bottle. It is simply too much trouble. I can drink from the bladder without stopping. I find it difficult to drink from a bottle without stopping (reference the klutz comment above). I use the bottle as extra water in camp or I use it to refill the bladder and then refill the bottle and add water treatment so I do not have to wait before drinking. In short, I think the advantage of drinking more water with the use of a bladder trumps the disadvantages water bladders.

By the way, I have never lost a water bladder. I have accidentally left numerous water bottles behind at the camp or at the water hole. Another advantage to water bladders.

Problems with water bladders

If I was listing problems, I would add the following problem to water bladders. One cannot see how much water is left in the bladder. However, this is not really a problem because it only takes a trip or two to learn about how much water you are drinking and how much is left in the bladder and I always have my water bottle to fill it up if I do drain it.

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.