What I meant by the “best compromise”…
One thing is that I hate to have just one water container, and like to be able to carry at least three liters and sometimes four of water. I don’t normally carry that much, but it happens often enough that I like to be able to most of the time.
The combination of cold weather and cold fingers can make it pretty challenging to securely close a big zip. I’ve twice walked for five or six hours on little or no water because I couldn’t get the zip to close securely. That certainly didn’t kill me either time but it isn’t an experience I’d like to repeat.
I used to carry a small (1L) platy bottle and a big zip with a hydration tube. I switched to carrying an aquafina bottle largely because the aquafina bottle was much easier to fill and much less expensive.
Another good argument for carrying two water containers is if you are using AquaMira or Iodine. It is pretty straitforward to alternate containers and be drinking from one while the other is, um, brewing.
The one thing I miss about the platy bottles (I still use them for winter ski trips because they pack so well) is that when the cap gives out you can cut the bottom out and make an *excellent* bowl. (the one I use right now weighs in at 0.4oz and carries nicely inside my cookpot). I suppose I could just buy a new bottle and cut the new bottom out, but it sort of goes against the grain.
