Alternatives to Condoms (Water containers)?

I noticed the archived discussion on this matter and was just wondering if anyone had come up with anything else recently? My main concern about Condoms is they can be a bugger to fill and I've heard that some purification tablets can cause the rubber to disolve. Anyone found any alternative easily compactible storage device that can hold about a liter of water?

Did you see Doug's review of breast milk bags? They hold about a half liter, but you can play catch with a full one. Quart freezer ziplocks work well too.

Platypus water container are, in my opinion, the best option. Lightweight, compact, easily filled and cleaned. Platypus here

Carrot:

I use plastic bags designed to transport fish from the pet store. They'll give you a few for free if you ask nice. They fold up small and are tough, but have no closure -- zip lock etc. (That's one reason why they fold up so small.)

I went one step further and ordered a case of 1,000 from a manufacturer. I'll send you a dozen or so if you send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope. E-mail me or PM me for the mailing address.

Bear

I have used the Platypus and its very durable but you'll NEVER get it in an altoid tin <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I have used the gerber bags and they are the best seal I have seen. I just wish they made a one liter bag. I have also used condoms and qt sized Ziplocks. Ziplocks are nice cause theyre almost exactly a liter. I suppose my ideal bag over all would be a 1 liter gerber bag.

For something that would fit in an altoid tin or simmilar, what about gloves? Poly or latex gloves would work, and have other uses, too. You can even get them rolled down to really small sizes. Easy to find, easy to fill, easy to pull over your head and blow up like a baloon...

Rena

for me when it comes to Altoids tins and other kits that size, the Gerber bags or the condoms win. Anything smaller than an Altoids tin is condoms all the way. Nothing packs down anywhere close to a condom removed from its wrapper and nothing anywhere close to its packed size hold nearly the same amount of water. There really is no comparison to the condom. I suggest getting over the social stigmata if you really want the most water storage in the smallest packed space.

I forgot Reynolds Oven Bags ... I have had great success with them in Altoid-sized kits. They hold 2-3 liters of water and pack down REAL small! Still nothing beats a condom removed form the factory package for a micro kit. That what is in the handle of my CRK shadow (which is micro kits size for sure) and also im my other (standalone) micro kit which I have just finished.

Oh, I don't know... I can think of three options that come pretty close in size.

Probably the best is the fish transport bags that David Chinell (dchinell) mentioned in his recent post. I still have several, and they are very flat and thin indeed.

Reynolds used to make their "oven bags" in medium and large as well as the big turkey bags that they sell now. I have a couple of boxes of the old medium size, and I've carried one in my wallet for a long time now. Don't even know it's there. As I recall, it was about a quart and a half.

I can tell you from my personal testing that both are amazingly tough in use. None of them will withstand sharp objects, but the bags withstood dropping, full, onto a flat surface much better than the condoms. Of course, in the forest, there will always be a twig...

You can always use a latex balloon, of course... they're compact and cheap, and thicker than a condom, but in the wild, it's much, much harder to fill than a condom or either of the bags. The condum will expand from just the weight of the water that's filling it much easier than a balloon will.

The argument is sometimes made that the bags can't easily be tied shut, and need a twist-tie or something, whereas you can tie the balloon or condom. This seems valid until you try to untie them to drink...

It's worth noting that exposure to heat will deteriorate latex condoms, the more heat the faster. When that happens, they just split as soon as you try to use them- not good. Those who store them in wallets and glove compartments often find this out at awkward times.

I hate to sound like a dissenting voice here, but as universal as bottled water has become, why not just add a liter bottle to your EDC, that way, you've already got water on stand-by, and a lot more durable, sealable, carryable, fillable container when you need it. There shouldn't be a problem with anybody looking at you strangely for carrying one, eccept for the occasionable person who snickers quietly about your paying so much for bottled water. This brings to mind a story about how bottled water got started... a bunch of French businessmen were sitting around the board room one day, and suddenly one of them said "You want to know just how gullible I think the American public really is..."
After that... just something to think about, spell Evian backwards.

Troy

P.S. No offence meant to our French friends, sometimes it's good to poke a little fun at yourself, and somebody had to be the villain.

they come close in filled size but do not pack down nearly as small.

ya um ... as soon as i can get a 1 liter bottle of watter in a 1" x 0.5" space and have it weight less than 2ounces then you've got a deal <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I recently read the idea of putting your PSK in a pair of socks. That way you will have a sock to support the condom full of water and not need to have 1 bare foot in your boots.

i read that idee many times, but wenn i was testing the idea of using a condom i really can't figure out how to fit a filled condom in a sock. Or how to fill a condom in a sock without a tap. My sock ain't very stretchy either so you proberbly can't fit as much water in it. Condoms also like to gain back there original size, so they it will try to force all the water out, making you wet. So you have to keep the opening much higer than where the bulk of the water is.

PC2K, I guess I should have added that I go with Doug's Breast Milk Bags for those very reasons, and a few more. But I thought it might help the "condom crowd".

place the condom in the sock then fill it using your psk container as the water "scoop" ... personally I prefer a bandana or simply a hole in the ground to hold a condom of water but the sock method works, atleast with sports socks and the above-mentions filling method.

breast milk bags dont pack down as small and dont hold nearly as much water

That's a good one .... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
As for EVIAN read backwards, I never thought of it.

It proves, if necessary, that there are indeed some cunning and inventive french business men ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

And let's say naive consumers can be found everywhere....

Condoms in my EDC are not for use as water containers.... <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
just because it's quite impossible to find non lubricated ones !

I have a few gerber bags (kindly sent by a member of this forum).
And infortunately, they are also a PITA to find here in France !!!!

Glad ya got a chuckle out of that Frenchy, by the way, how's the honeymoon with the Hennessy going? Have you had a chance to try any different rigging set-ups? Let me know if you come up with any new or different ideas.

Troy

unfortunately, I won't be using my HH until next spring ....
I just had a few opportunities to show it to some friends.
Most were quite impressed....

Frenchy:

Why is the animal rights group PITA opposed to gerber bags? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Pita in the Serbian language is a pastry rolled with meat, or fruit, or vegatables, and cut into squares the size of which would probably be labeled a "WILL FEED 12" using standard American food labeling.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

youd thing PITA would be happy we're pulling milk from our own species rather than the poor cows <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Never tasted serbian pita.... just know the name.

As for animal rights ... well... I guess someone had to make that pun ....
And you are the one, as usual <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />