Water Bottle vs. Water Bladder: What I Use for Hiking (and Why)
What’s the Best Way to Stay Hydrated on a Hike?
Before we started backpacking, I’d never even heard of a water bladder, or “hydration reservoir”, if you’re feeling fancy.
We always hauled around the trusty insulated bottles. The ones that keep water ice cold for days (okay, maybe hours but, we can dream). In the winter? Hot chocolate, baby!
Probably not great for the trail, but whatever. It’s cold outside!
Once we got serious about backpacking, we made the switch to Team Bladder. And now… I’m never going back.
Why My Bottles Got Benched: The Downsides of Hiking with Water Bottles
Doesn’t Hold Much Water
Most water bottles are only going to hold 20 - 32 oz of water.
You should be consuming around a half liter of water per hour when hiking. This will depend, of course, on the temperature and individual factors such as sweat rate, overall weight, and overall health.
To put it in perspective, 32 oz is only .95 liters. Not really enough water for a longer day hike.
Water Gets Warm or Freezes
Bottles are usually carried outside your pack or in your hand, soaking up the sun’s rays. Great for your tan, bad for your water. If it had ice, it’s gone in minutes and you’re stuck with warm water. Gross.
When it’s cold outside, it freezes into an undrinkable brick. Nothing kills morale like your hydration strategy turning into a frozen dumbbell.
Awkward Access = Less Hydration
Not everyone is flexible enough to grab their bottle out of the side pouch in their pack. That means asking your hiking partner to grab it for you, which is fine once, annoying five miles in.
I always drank less when I was on Team Bottle because of this.
Sure, you can just carry it in your hand, but my trekking poles already have VIP hand space. And what if I need to scramble over rocks? Nope. I need a hands free carry.
You Have to Stop to Drink
Big mouth bottles like most Nalgenes pretty much require a time out unless you want to wear your water.
I’m trying to make miles here, people. I don’t have time to stop just to sip.
If you’re carrying something with a smaller mouth, this obviously won’t be a problem.
Weight
This will vary depending on the type of bottle you are carrying. The light weight ones will be prone to the temperature problems described above.
The nice insulated ones that resolve the temp issues add weight troubles.
One liter of water already weighs 2.2 pounds all by itself. Granted most water bottles won’t even hold a full liter, but I don’t need to add another pound to that in just the bottle. Thanks.
Team Bottle’s Best Plays: The Benefits of Hiking with Water Bottles
Easy to Clean and Monitor Water Levels
Water bottles are super easy to clean. Most can just be popped into the dishwasher. Done. I don’t even mind putting flavoring or electrolytes in them since they are so easy to clean. I would never do that with my bladder (cleaning those is another story).
They also dry quickly and easily. Just pop the lid off and let it sit.
It is also very obvious how much water you have left because you can physically see the water if the bottle is clear.
If you are carrying a heavy insulated bottle you probably can’t see through it. But hey, it’s already in your hand, so why not take a quick peek.
Plenty of hikers are loyal to trusty Team Bottle, and that’s awesome. But for me…Team Bladder is where it’s at.
Why the Water Bladder is my MVP: The Advantages of Hydration Bladders for Hiking
Easy Access
Ah, the water bladder. A bag with a tube that wraps around your body bringing water mere inches from your mouth to an easy to reach spot on your chest.
Temperature Regulation
Nestled in your pack, that delicious cold creek water stays cool for hours, safe from the sun’s warm rays.
In the winter, the bladder doesn’t freeze snuggled up close to your back.
Pro Tip: Blow the water back into the bag so the tube doesn’t freeze. The kids have lost more than a few mouthpieces when frozen tubes built up pressure and popped them right off. You also can’t drink out of a frozen tube. This trick works when its hot out too, preventing you from getting that dreaded first sip of warm hose water. Again, yuck.
Hydration Without Stopping
It’s so satisfying to sip while trudging up the side of a mountain with a bladder. There is no chance of spilling.
I hydrate so much more with the ease of the water bladder.
Can Hold More Water
Water bladders typically come in 1 liter, 2 liter, 2.5 liter and 3 liter sizes. This means you can easily carry a lot more liquid gold pretty easily for longer hikes.
Remember, approximately .5 liters per hour.
Of course with this extra water comes extra weight. Quite honestly though, since it is carried in an ideal spot in the middle of your back, you will hardly notice it.
Team Bladder’s Weak Spots: Downsides of Using a Hydration Bladder
I obviously love my water bladder, but they do have their downsides.
Cleaning Can Be a Hassle
Cleaning them can be a major pain. Unlike a water bottle that you can just stick in the dishwasher, it’s a lot harder to clean a bladder.
I highly suggest a cleaning kit. They will come with a snake for the tube and something to help keep the bag open to assist with drying.
It’s very important to get the bladder fully dry before storing it. Storing anything damp will lead to mildew.
You can stick some paper towel in there if you don’t want to splurge on the cleaning kit, but the kit will make your life a little easier.
Dirt and Possible Leaks
If you just throw your pack around (I’m talking to you kids) the mouthpiece can get full of dirt. Annoying.
If you don’t close it properly, they run the risk of leaking all over your gear. We had an issue with the twist seal closure of three different Gregory bladders. After that we would tip them upside down and squeeze to make sure they were closed all the way.
We’ve never had an issue with the closure on the Osprey bladders. They’re a little pricier, but totally worth it to skip the whole five-second leak check.
Your call though, both are solid brands that get the job done.
The Final Showdown: Team Bottle vs. Team Bladder
Which Hydration Method is Best for Hiking?
At the end of the day, there’s no one right way to carry water, only the right way for you. Bottles are simple and reliable. Bladders are easy and efficient. Both get the job done.
For me, Team Bladder wins, hands down. It keeps me hydrated without slowing me down, and once I tried it, I never looked back. But you do you. Hike your own hike as they say.
The real bottom line? Stay hydrated out there. Whether you’re sipping from a hose or chugging from a bottle, your body (and your future trail self) will thank you.