I'm getting ready for my snowshoeing season! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Well, not really. But I am looking for a new backpack for use in snowshoeing day trips. I'm looking at the Osprey Switch 40+5 pack which can be connected to a bladder through insulated tubing. The tubing actually goes through a small insulated sleeve that goes along the pack's right shoulder strap.

I have been using Nalgene bottles in insulated parkas. I clip the parka to my hipbelt using a carabiner. The Nalgenes work well and the wide mouth prevents ice from forming and blocking the flow of water. The thing is, when I snowshoe with this new group I joined, those people are go fast and rarely stop. I think that a hydration system with a bladder and insulated tubing might be easier to use on the trail.

Does anyone have experience with these systems? Do you like them? How is it biting on a plastic valve to sip in some H20? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Some people swear by those, some don't care at all... ugh <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

My wife likes hers a lot. My dog likes it too, since she knows that means they're going on a long run, and she likes long runs.

I have used both bladders and the Nalgene bottles on snow shoe and cross country ski trips. The bladders are convenient when you're on the move, as long as you can keep the tube from freezing. Typically, they are running down a couple of clips on the shoulder strap of your pack somewhat exposed, but, you can also sometimes route them out the top of the pack and under your hood. If the hood's attached with snaps there is usually a gap, and you can route the tube through it, and have it inside your parka, where it won't freeze. I once also routed the tube through the pit zip area on a softshell jacket to keep most of the tubing out of the cold.

With the Nalgene bottles, when on the move, I find that the splash guards they sell help you get more water in your mouth, and less on the ground, or your clothes. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The splash guards fit tightly inside the wide mouth, and allow you to sip while walking, skiing, etc. The three different backpacks I use all have water bottle holsters on either side, which can be reached without having to take off your pack. I know my daypack is from LL Bean, and my largest pack is from Kelty. Most of the daypacks I see have some ability to hold a couple 1 Liter bottles on the outside.

With either choice, if it's really cold, you can sometimes avoid freezing situations by throwing a handwarmer pack into the sleeve that the bladder goes into, or into the pockets on the side of your pack that your Nalgene's are going into. It won't make the water warm, it'll just keep it from freezing for a few hours.

Overall, I find that I use the Nalgene bottles a lot more frequently, but, I think it's mostly because I hate cleaning out the bladder/tubing assembly after each use. The Lexan Nalgene bottles, on the other hand, just go in the dishwasher.

I have found that in colder weather I can never guarantee that the bladder hose or mouth piece will not freeze up even when insultated. Some things that will help are to add a bit of salt or gator aid to the water which will help lower the freezing point and you can also blow the water back into the bladder so that it does not freeze in the tube.

If I am doing an overnight trip I always use a wide mouthed bottle in a cozzy and store it upside down so that the ice forms in the bottom first.

I'm in Florida, so, I can't comment on the freezing part, but I just purchased a North Face Neutron 32. It has a seperate compartment for a 2L Nalgene hydration bladder, mine is on order. The bag has alot of versitility for a daypack. It has numerous external attachment points including a front bungee system, a "platform" for a bike helmet, tool hangers, 2 water bottle mesh pockets, an internal organizer, a main storage area, and the seperate compartment for the Nalgene bottle.

Right now it has 4 books (about 5 inches total), my North Face rain gear, hat, sunglasses, wallet, cellphone and still some room for an extra pair of shoes on the outside. It is probably only 50% loaded, but for a day trip of anything, I think it would be good. I paid about $100 for it. The bladder was another $30.