Why do any of us need half the stuff we talk about in the forums?

My guess would be that for one reason or another we find the item worthwhile, useful, and yeah, even cool.

I find my Thermobak 3L useful, worth the expense, and cool...
Hat trick...
Cool Beans.

I find it easier to carry 3 liters of water strapped to my back (or my pack) than it would be to carry three 1Q canteens, one 2Q canteen plus one 1Q canteen, or three 1L Nalgene bottles (or some other variation), especially on hikes of a duration longer than 1 liter of water?s worth of hydration.

Maybe I bought into the hype that 1L of water per hour while exerting one?s self is a good thing, and that constant hydration during that hour in smaller doses is better than tanking a liter in 5 minutes. I?m a sucker though.

I find the Camelbak worthwhile because I can just tilt my head, clamp down on the bite valve and then take a drink while on the move with my walking stick in hand, versus trying to retrieve a bottle and unscrew the cap with the stick in my hand. I also find the camelback is an excellent way to take a drink of cool, refreshing, rehydrating water while riding a bike.

Then again, I?m lazy and don?t necessarily want to stop, put down my stick for a few moments and then have to pick it back up again, or take my hands of the handlebars as the case may be.

And sure, I realize I could get a ?canteen straw system? that will give me something near the functionality of a Camelbak, but I tried it and didn?t think much of it, especially in the way it constantly wanted to suck air back down the tube.

I find it handy to take my Camelbak to the paintball field and use while I'm reffing so I don't have to lift up my mask and risk a shot to the eye as some trigger happy kid comes around a bunker and is suddenly rendered dumb and unable to determine that my black and white stripe jersey designates me as a ref.

But I have this thing about protecting my eyesight in case I might need it later. LOL

I like the idea that if I felt the need to add an inline microfilter instead of making use of my Katadyn Pocket Micro and Carbon Cartridge (which some folks might say was equally as bad a move expense wise) then by golly Camelbak makes one that will attach to the reservoir.

My Camelbak Thermobak 3L was a whole $40.00 and that included shipping. 3 New 1L Nalgene Lexan bottles and a carrier might have saved me a few dollars, and the equal capacity of military canteens and carriers might have saved me $10 unless I opted for the straw system, but I was willing to spend the extra dough. I?m a kook though.

And Yeah... Camelbaks are cool too, but as things go that thought was last on my list, way down past "Will this thing strap to my MOLLE gear easily" and "How easy is it to clean",

What I am trying to say, and I guess I was kind of a jerk about it, is that they are handy kit. So take it easy on your poor old forum members. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(Suddenly I feel guilty about some comments I made regarding the SAK Swissmemory... Ummm... Sorry folks...) LOL

I?ve got no beef with people who prefer canteens, bottles or anything else. I just found that the Camelback works for me. If something else works better for you, then cool beans. YMMV <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />