Collapsible Water Bottle Battle!

Soft bottles can be used as pillows (2 one-liter or 1 two-liter).

Soft bottles will fall out of the side pockets of some packs.

Soft bottles take up less room when less than full than a bottle.

Soft bottles cost more than bottles.

Soft bottles might be more prone to damage.

Soft bottles are often harder to fill in small streams.

Most soft bottles have small cap openings (Nalgene canteen is an exception).

More and more I am using recycled sport drink or water bottles.

Best thing is to try both and see which works best for you. If you do not want to invest the money to test soft bottles, then stick with the free bottles. I do not see a clear cut advantage of one over the other.

I use both. I carry two 1L aquafina bottles on my shoulder straps for drinking while moving (or inside the front of my jacket in winter). I carry a 2L Evernew (sometimes 2, depending on the situation) in case I need to 'water up' for the night's camp (when I'm not camping near water). I fill the Evernew at the last water stop, and use that water for dinner and breakfast, so I still have water after eating to start the morning's hike with.

In a pinch, I once used a large OPSAK to carry water when we were having a lot of trouble finding water on our route. Put like three liters in it, if I remember correctly. Put it in my outer mesh pocket on my Starlite. Carried it for a good part of the day with no problems.

i use both too.
my ULA packs have the loops, so a 20oz Gatoraid bottle fits well there. then, a 2+ liter Platy comes along when in the deserts, and flat if not needed until camp.

I also use the lil nipper style from rumrunner flasks, to hold about 8oz of booze, or a bigger size for "Angeritas" (trail margaritas 'invented' by our buddy Angelo)

rum runner flasks are by far the best economical option in the bladder category.

How are these flasks? How much do they weigh?

Anyone?

I have an 8oz on I sometimes use for alcohol and it weighs a less than .4oz.

Ron-
The Rum Runner 8oz Flask weighs .4oz? Because if that is true, the 32oz may weigh 16oz? My math correct?

Your other thread was great!

I have a one liter platty bottle I use when I fly. Drinking from it inconvenient, so we don't take it on the trail.

Mark – I can't say for sure but it should be less than 1.6oz for a 32oz flask, it does not take 4 times as much material to increase the volume by a factor of 4.

My math was off. I emailed Rum Runner asking the weight of the 16oz and 32 oz flasks.

This was their response:
"Good evening Mark:
The 16oz Flask weighs 12 grams and the 32oz Traveler weighs 22 grams.
Thank you, Jim Desmond"

That seem right? 12g=.4oz and 22g=.7oz. Does that seem a bit light?

Gonna order some later and weigh them.

at mpackgear.com used to be the lightest bladders (I could find) though it looks like Rum Runner squeeks in lower! Will did a review here and there is a user review at http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Hydration%20Systems/Bladders/MPACK%20Aquaflo%20disposable%20Hydration/Owner%20Review%20by%20Hermes%20Handon/
Since that review I've had a couple fail but after months of use – just keep an eye on the seam where the opening is attached to the bladder.

@ Mark:
i had one that developed a leak after about 10-12 uses. the other is still going. i guess storing them flat, as opposed to rolling them up and folding/unfolding plays a part… right?

anyway, at 1/3 the cost of platypus and dang near the same design, its worth it. plus, they ship from Phoenix so to my door it takes about a day.

When I was long distance skateboarding I used the 10 oz. Gsi flask because it fit in my small mountain smith fanny pack.It pretty tuff and and light and thin profile.
http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/10_fl.oz._flask/partyware_flasks/

Rolling is better than folding (which is more likely to cause creases)?

I finally got the "Stadium Special" for Christmas. Three of the 8oz variety that I'll be using this next season. One will be for alcohol of the edible variety, and the other two will be for stove alcohol. The 0.4oz weight that others have mentioned is pretty spot on. But the capacity is not 8oz from my scales. I put it at roughly 6.75oz following their instructions of warming up the bladder with warm water first.

Eric, that capacity… are you dealing with weight in ounces or fluid capacity in fluid ounces?

Two different things.

–B.G.–

I thought there wasn't a difference for water but I'm likely wrong.

So my 6.75oz "weight" would mean I have even less at 6.5oz "volume" if my math is correct.

fluid ounce "volume" * avoirdupois ounce = average ounce "weight"
x * 1.0425 = 6.75
x = 6.47 fluid ounces

Rum Runner advertises them as 8 fl oz.

I use two small 1L hard bottles (Juice bottles) with a wide mouth because I prefer to drink from a hard container and the larger mouth makes them easier to fill from streams. They fit in my pack pockets nice too.

I use a 2L collapsible because I can tote a lot of water when needed. It is nice to tank-up and have the water available for camp. I use it for "dirty" water in that it isn't treated. If I want to camp on a ridge or just get away from a camp (most are near the water) and get some privacy having the ability to carry enough water for dinner and breakfast is nice.

The complete set-up…. two 1L bottles and the 2L collapsible is 4.3oz in weight.