> I get that a camelback is very useful for day
> hiking/letterboxing. But I'm wondering if anyone has
> done any overnight packing using one?

Everyone I know that goes backpacking on a regular basis uses some
sort of water hydration system--typically a Camelback or Platypus.
It's nearly impossible to drink enough water otherwise. Hiking on
rugged terrain with a heavy pack, you NEED to drink a lot of water
to avoid dehydration--for more so than for day hikes--and pulling
out a water bottle every few minutes isn't very practical. Whether
you use a Cambelback or Platypus is a personal preference, but it's
one piece of equipment I'd recommend for any backpacker.

There's a poor man's version I saw while hiking the AT that I'd
probably try had I not already bought everything already. The guy
bought the bite valve and hose that comes out of it of a Platypus,
but for the waterbag he used an empty two-liter bottle of soda. It
seems the threads fit perfectly and it worked well for him. The
bottle needs to be stored upsidedown while in use since it doesn't
have the flexible walls of a normal Platypus bag, but it did work.
And if the water bag starts to get grimey or something, throw it
away and buy a new one. A pretty clever set up. =)

-- Ryan

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen"
wrote:
> > I get that a camelback is very useful for day
> > hiking/letterboxing. But I'm wondering if anyone has
> > done any overnight packing using one?
>
> Everyone I know that goes backpacking on a regular basis uses some
> sort of water hydration system--typically a Camelback or
Platypus.
> It's nearly impossible to drink enough water otherwise. Hiking on
> rugged terrain with a heavy pack, you NEED to drink a lot of water
> to avoid dehydration--for more so than for day hikes--and pulling
> out a water bottle every few minutes isn't very practical.
Whether
> you use a Cambelback or Platypus is a personal preference, but
it's
> one piece of equipment I'd recommend for any backpacker.
>
> There's a poor man's version I saw while hiking the AT that I'd
> probably try had I not already bought everything already. The guy
> bought the bite valve and hose that comes out of it of a Platypus,
> but for the waterbag he used an empty two-liter bottle of soda.
It
> seems the threads fit perfectly and it worked well for him. The
> bottle needs to be stored upsidedown while in use since it doesn't
> have the flexible walls of a normal Platypus bag, but it did
work.
> And if the water bag starts to get grimey or something, throw it
> away and buy a new one. A pretty clever set up. =)
>
> -- Ryan


When I bowhunt elk in late August I use a 100 oz. camelback and
carry a 1 quart GI canteen. That's my standard water load for any
warm wheather day hike. If I'm planning an overnight hike I also
carry a 2 quart GI canteen with a hose & bite valve. I like the army
surplus gear, it's inexpensive, easy to find & never breaks or wears
out. The 2 quart canteen is somewhat flexible & the hose fits all
the way in to the bottom. I always feel you can't carry too much
water, the extra wieght is self correcting. The only problem with
the soda bottle is that they are not very rugged, when mine came
apart in my pack, soaking me & everything in the pack, I went with
the GI stuff.