Hydration/Camelpaks?

[DumboPrincess]

Anyone ever used a hydration pack for the parks? Especially in the summer heat? I am thinking about a July trip for my/my daughters birthdays in July 2010. Summer is about our only choice since older DD will be in school then. I thought it would be great to not have to lug a water bottle. But are the hydration packs big enough for other stuff, like a camera?

I will leave change of clothes/panties,snacks, etc in stroller bag. So camera, wallet, keys and emergancy diastat syringe is all that we need to fit in the bag that I would carry onto rides.

Thoughts?

 

[tzolkin]

We used hydration backpacks on our trip and loved them!

We had two that were a backpack style. They were compact, but there was enough room for snacks, cameras, wallets, and diapers/wipes. (The ones we had sit higher on the back than a regular backpack, so they were very comfortable and we usually didn't even take them off when we were on rides.) The Camelback ones are nice, but a bit expensive for me. We bought ours at Target for $25-30.

I had also bought some for the kids for hiking that were basically just a bladder with straps. (Like this- http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Inn-Liter-HYDR8R-Hydration/dp/B000JLY9AC). My DD9 wore one throughout the trip. Hers got her a bit wet because when the ice melted it had nothing to absorb the condensation. She didn't mind and said it kept her cool, but it would have bothered me.

We filled them with ice and a little water in the morning and then whenever we stopped at a CS restaurant we got a cup or two of ice and just added it to the water in the backpack to keep it cold/refill. They were fabulous especially with the little kids because they just wanted a few sips here and there throughout the day (especially in lines). It was also nice to not carry bottles of water or sippy cups throughout the parks.

 

[RF536]

We took one this past July and loved it. DH wore it most of the time and like PP whenever we stopped at a CS restaurant we asked for some ice water to top it off with. We camped and have a small counter-top automatic ice maker in our trailer, so we filled it each morning with ice and water. It was great not to have to lug water bottles around and since we didn't have stoller it was the easiest way to have water available for us. Ours was strictly the hydration pack and insulation, but I have seen them with storage space available.

 

[coastiewifern]

We love ours. We have a basic camelback from my husband's army days and it doesn't hold much extra's. We bought an upgraded camelback that has a good sized backpack to it and a bigger bladder. We fill the bladder part way and freeze the night before. Then fill with water in the morning. Works great! We also freeze some capri suns and put the in the backpack portion for variety.

 

[lila]

Question for everyone - I have a hydration pack compatible backpack (a kelty) and I just bought a camelbak hydration bladder (100 ounce) to put in it the special pouch. Is there anyway to get the bladder to stand up straight in the backpack pouch? Today was the first day I tried it out and it just sort of folds over on itself.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Thanks for all the great replies! It sounds like a go!

 

[NMMickeymom]

Last May my girls used their camelbacks with mixed results. We have the kid sized REI versions which have some storage space. My 7 year old wore hers every day. She liked having room for a few things and water whenever she wanted it. My 5 year old did not want to wear hers after the first day. One note, it was nice that they had a slim design as DD did not have to take her pack off on the rides. Have Fun!!

 

[MomofM&M]

How about a platypus water bottle? I have one that I use on our trips to DL. It's collapsible and folds up small when empty. They sell them at REI and you can look them up on their website to see what they look like. You can just throw them in your backpack and not have to buy a camelback. I just ask for a glass of ice water and fill it up. Just a thought.