Anyone used a CamelBak or Hydration Pack in the parks?

[ahecht]

I am going to be in WDW in mid-August, and I was thinking of bringing a CamelBak-style hydration pack to bring to the parks (specifically this one). I would fill it in the hotel before leaving, and store it overnight in the fridge to chill it.

Has anyone had experiences (either good or bad) with using these in the park to stay cool or hydrated?

 

[tiggr33]

I wouldn't leave home without a hydration pack. I don't even worry about cooling it in the room. You can get ice for the asking at any quick service. I have a bladder with a wide mouth opening. The is the one thing I insist on on these types of backpacks. I like one I got at Costco (I forgot the brand), because it has a moisture barrier between the bladder section and the main compartment which protects my camera/ipod, etc.

 

[ahecht]

Does the moisture barrier really do anything in August in Florida? Last time I was there that time of year my sunglasses fogged up from the humidity every time I stepped outside, so I would think that simply having cold water anywhere in the pack would make the thing soaking wet by the end of the day.

 

[tiggr33]

It's a non permeable moisture barrier, therefore water (condensation) cannot get through it. Glasses or camera lenses fogging are due to temparature changes.

 

[OKW Lover]

There really isn't any need to carry your own day's supply of water with you in the parks. There are lots of fountains all around.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

I would take one but does it have to be water?!? IM JUST KIDDING, hubby used it when we went on a shore excursion from our cruise in mexico and said it helped out a lot.

 

[megveg]

i bought a camelback for my trip to the world. most camelbacks dont have much extra room for other things, just enough space for the bladder, if youre using it as your park bag too, make sure you have room, the one I bought is more of a backpack that happens to have roomfor a bladder rather than a bag only for a bladder with a tiny zip compartment in the front.

i cant wait to use mine!

 

[lauralana9]

I have 2 camelbaks and love them. We will definalty be taking one of them to the park. One is holds 2 liters of water and can carry a small amount of stuff.. I would say a light jacket and a couple of paper backs maybe (not that you would need the books but thats just the size), the other hold 3liters and is the size of a regular school back pack. You can get ones that also just have the bladder and a small side pocket for keys or an ID.

I would not get one of the ones at walmart, before getting the second for DH I looked for a cheap one at walmart. Was not sure if my dear city boy would like hiking. They were so cheaply made I just couldn't do it. I ended up springing for a 3liter camelbak one. Figuring if he didn't get the hiking bug I could always use another pack. This being said they do run $60 too $100+. So if your not going to get much use out of it I would try the ones a at Target. Someone on another thread said they were cheaper than the actual camelbak brand but of a much better quality than the ones found in walmart. I found the best deal for my second from http://www.backcountry.com/ I dont get kickbacks from them, just a good company.

 

[ahecht]

I have 2 camelbaks and love them. We will definalty be taking one of them to the park. One is holds 2 liters of water and can carry a small amount of stuff.. I would say a light jacket and a couple of paper backs maybe (not that you would need the books but thats just the size), the other hold 3liters and is the size of a regular school back pack. You can get ones that also just have the bladder and a small side pocket for keys or an ID.

I would not get one of the ones at walmart, before getting the second for DH I looked for a cheap one at walmart. Was not sure if my dear city boy would like hiking. They were so cheaply made I just couldn't do it. I ended up springing for a 3liter camelbak one. Figuring if he didn't get the hiking bug I could always use another pack. This being said they do run $60 too $100+. So if your not going to get much use out of it I would try the ones a at Target. Someone on another thread said they were cheaper than the actual camelbak brand but of a much better quality than the ones found in walmart. I found the best deal for my second from http://www.backcountry.com/ I dont get kickbacks from them, just a good company.

Not having much experience with these things, what exactly was the concern with the WalMart ones? Plasticky taste? Comfort? Leakage?

The one I purchased was actually an OutdoorProducts Mist (I had the model wrong in my original post).

I'm just trying to justify to myself buying a CamelBak brand one which costs 3 times as much as the OutdoorProducts one from WalMart.

 

[lauralana9]

Not having much experience with these things, what exactly was the concern with the WalMart ones? Plasticky taste? Comfort? Leakage?

The one I purchased was actually an OutdoorProducts Mist (I had the model wrong in my original post).

I'm just trying to justify to myself buying a CamelBak brand one which costs 3 times as much as the OutdoorProducts one from WalMart.

My problem was the bag itself. We get alot of use out of them. After seeing how my Camelbak was made then looking at the ones they had in walmart I quickly ruled them out. I didn't even look at the bladder (holds the water), so i can't comment on that. If you only plan to use it a few times then get the cheapest one you can find, but if you think you will want to use it often honestly I would get a better one.

I forgot about the plastic taste but thats fairly easy to take care of. When I have gotten new ones (the ones that came with that bags and 1 replacement cause of a small leak) I take one of the little boxes of baking soda dump the whole thing in fill with hot water and squeeze all the air out. Make sure you get some it in the tube as well, let it sit for a few days. I also do this if we forget to empty them and they get funky, once let one sit with water in it all winter that time I used bleach and water first, let that sit for a few days then did the baking soda. No more funk.

*Edit* Don't forget to check out the ones at Target, another Disser rec'ced them saying they were a little more money than the ones at walmart but quality was much better.

 

[DodgerMessa]

I use my Camel back on multi day hikes and when I am in the woods or tundra I can get past the taste. I was planning on taking it to WDW and I am not sure I can get past the taste there. Any ideas on how to get rid of the bladder taste for these?

 

[TIGGERGUY]

I carry a filtered water bottle with me. It keeps me lightweight and I can fill up anywere in the parks without that Orlando water taste. I got mine from Pure Water 2Go at http://www.************.com/. Make sure you order extra filters and allow your filters to dry after each day of use.

 

[lauralana9]

I use my Camel back on multi day hikes and when I am in the woods or tundra I can get past the taste. I was planning on taking it to WDW and I am not sure I can get past the taste there. Any ideas on how to get rid of the bladder taste for these?

In my post right above yours I posted how I take care of it. Both of mine are real camelbak's and it works for them. I don't know if a cheaper brand would use a different plastic that would be harder to get the taste out. Usually 2-3 days of soaking works for me.

 

[NMMickeymom]

We just bought 2 pink youth sized hydration packs from REI for our girls for hiking but plan to bring them to Disney as well. Fits them perfectly and encourages hydration with the novelty of it all. (Almost too much water consumed on our last hike! Watered lots of trees as well ) Enough room for trinkets but not so much that they will get too heavy. A small wallet and a few essentials would certainly fit in the adult versions. Seems a sturdy water bladder and barrier would be important especially if keeping cameras in the same pack. Ours came with Nalgene inserts. Replacement bladders are $15-$25 so it seems worth it to start out with a good one.

 

[ambroz4disney]

Great idea I'll bring mine on our next trip.

 

[cwestbrook]

Someone mentioned they don't hold much but you can buy all sizes of Camelbak and other brands of back packs with hydration packs. I have one I take on all day hikes and it's much bigger than a school backpack.

You can get them cheaper on places like ebay, www.sierratradingpost.com, www.campmor.com, www.rei-outlet.com. They might be last year's version but who cares?

 

[trustknoone]

My family Me DH and DD9 all use them. They each have a Camelback, and I have a MountainSmith lumbar pack. We love them, no worries about DD getting dehydrated and she has all her gear on her. (she is diabetic and has celiac (no wheat rye or barley) so she has lots of stuff. It also holds her raincoat and cellphone. She has never complained about the weight. I prefer the lumbar, can't stand the bag on my back, too much sweat. We wouldn't do WDW without them. I mean we are carrying bags anyway why not have water too. As for the "free" water in fountains, they can keep it, I lived in FL for years and I didn't like it then don't like it now. Got the Camelbacks at REI and the MountainSmith at backcountrygear.com. Have bought from both these sites several times never a problem.