WoooHooo!

Went to REI today and picked up an insulated CamelBak hose.

I started with a water bottle, holder, pouch that slipped on my belt. That kept making my pants feel like they were falling down. Then I got a fanny pack with a water bottle holder. That was also uncomfortable. One time while I was mule deer hunting I took it off and left it by a big tree in a clearing so I could walk comfortably. I was able to find the spot and picked it back up. That taught me an important lesson: your water carrier has to be comfortable and convenient.

Now I have my PSK and water in a CamelBak Blowfish. The only issue I have is that there are times I would like to have something from the CamelBak and I am not willing to take it off while I am hiking. My wife bought CamelBaks for everyone in our family (6). We all have 2-way radios hooked to the shoulder straps. I also have a Petzl Tikka XP and a pair of binoculars attached to the straps.

Here in Phoenix we need to drink a lot of water. While hiking my wife does not like to stop and take breaks. She says it makes her legs tighten up from cooling off. So we have to drink on the move.

When my wife first bought some CamelBaks I thought it was a terrible waste of money. After all; you can just carry a bottle of water in your hand. I have been very glad to have the CamelBak. We take hikes that take several hours. A single water bottle is often not enough. However if I am on a popular trail and I will be gone less than an hour I will just carry a water bottle in my hand.

When my 14 year old son who is a Boy Scout goes camping he uses his CamelBak as his water bag. He fills the CamelBak, puts in several Nalgene bottles of water, and then puts that in his backpack. That way he can drink while he is backpacking, has water for camp, and use the CamelBak as a day pack for short trips from camp.