Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Love the smart water bottle idea! so would you just skip the bladder all together and use bottles only?

 

I like it!

 

I'm interested in how convenient or not it will prove to be. Hoping that the cantilever lid doesn't break!

 

That's what I did a few weeks ago when some buddies and I hiked Grand Canyon. They worked great, but the downside is that on my pack, I was unable to reach them, so one of the guys with me had to hand me my bottle each time I needed water. But I didn't have a lot of choice...the pack I used didn't have a sleeve for a bladder.

 

Not sure if y'all can see this, but if you're using Smart Water bottles, this guy makes a slick little holder that works pretty well and fits them perfectly. He sells them for $12.50 shipped for one.

 

I've used Camelbacks for years, riding MTBs and dirt bikes. Here's a little tip. Add several heaping spoonfuls of baking soda and some water and let it sit for a few days. Be sure the solution is in the tube also. This will take care of "most" of the funky taste/smell from the plastic.

 

You can speed up the cleaning by filling the bladder and tube and throwing in a generic "Polident" denture cleaning tablet. They're effervescent, so it foams up and speeds up the process.

 

I use Starbucks Via (Mocha is my preference) when I'm camping. All you have to do is boil some water and you are good to go. I usually have hot oatmeal for breakfast so that works our great for an easy breakfast.

 

Nice find. I'm going to see if I can make one out of some stretchy mesh.

 

That's correct. Reservoirs are reliable, in general. However I did have one pop and leak IN my pack. That was the last trip I ever used one on.

 

Piece of paracord around the neck and tied to the pack. Way cheaper and lighter.

 

I carry 2 of the taller Smartwater bottles (you don't always have to fill them all the way to the top) and I carry a Platypus bag for any additional water I would need to carry over longer spans between water sources.

I now use the Blue Desert SmarTube that screws onto the top of the SmartWater bottles and gives you a drinking tube like a normal hydration system. Stow your bottles in your pack's side pockets, and drink right from the tube. Every pack I own, with the exception of the Osprey Atmos 65, has water bottle pockets that take a gymnast to reach while the pack is still on. This solves that problem for me. When a bottle empties, I switch the cap over to the other bottle. No more wasted pack space with a bladder, and no more risking soaking your gear with a ruptured bladder.

When I don't have time to pre-filter water, I just use my Sawyer Mini filter right on top of the Smartwater bottle full of unfiltered water. Drink/filter on the go. The whole system is much more efficient and versatile.

 

Looks like he hasn't made/sold any since May.

 

If you message him directly he should be able to sell them to you. When I bought mine (looked it up and it was June 26th) it was that way.

 

Oh cool, I may do that. This would have solved a big issue for my wife's pack setup this year.

 

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Wish I'd known about this a month ago. I just ordered one from Amazon. I'm anxious to try it out.

 

Broke in the Exos with 8 miles and random stuff that added up to 23 ish lbs. So far it's fantastic!

 

Amazon has a good deal on the Camp Chef Explorer 2-burner stove - $63.74.

$150 Camp Chef Explorer Two-Burner Stove - Portable Camping Cooking Stove for Outdoor Cooking - 448 Sq In Cooking Area - 14"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VORDY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1