Enthusiast III
On another thread we got to talking about water bags instead of water jugs. I use both in my kit. I have several 6- or 7-gallon blue plastic jugs with the reversible spout. A lot of people use those. They crack easily, the lids crack if you look at them wrong, the breather hole lids get lost easily. The corners eventually wear down. I have used a lot of duck tape on a c
I'm more interested in the water bags I have.
I have a red 6-L and a 4-L MSR Dromedary bag. I've had these bags for about 10 years and have taken them on every kind of overlanding trip imaginable. I've hiked them to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I've filled and frozen them to keep a cooler cold while on a weeklong geology field campaign in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park and through the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. I've strapped them to my back to hike over Imogene Pass. I've tossed them in the back of the truck as "just in case" extra water for a few weeks (and then used that water). I've taken them woodcutting and thrown them on top of large rounds of wood and thrown a large round of wood on top of them (once, while cringing when I realized what I'd done, but the bag was only partially filled so it flexed instead of broke).
They have scuff marks and have very clearly been used. They have water stains. The 6L still has its grommet! They still hold water as well as they did on the day I bought them.
I've read that some people find the taste of the water stored in these bags to be foul. I don't remember that it was terribly foul when I started using these more than ten years ago, but I'm still using them so I don't think it was foul enough to make me want to get rid of or stop using them. Tastes fine to me.
They're the only bladders that I've used that haven't sprung a leak. Most (camelbak, etc.) fail after six to twelve months. These MSRs have lasted me 10+ years. I'd buy more but I really don't have a need for another since these are still going strong.
(Pictures of just the 6L because that's what's handy.)
I'm more interested in the water bags I have.
I have a red 6-L and a 4-L MSR Dromedary bag. I've had these bags for about 10 years and have taken them on every kind of overlanding trip imaginable. I've hiked them to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I've filled and frozen them to keep a cooler cold while on a weeklong geology field campaign in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park and through the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. I've strapped them to my back to hike over Imogene Pass. I've tossed them in the back of the truck as "just in case" extra water for a few weeks (and then used that water). I've taken them woodcutting and thrown them on top of large rounds of wood and thrown a large round of wood on top of them (once, while cringing when I realized what I'd done, but the bag was only partially filled so it flexed instead of broke).
They have scuff marks and have very clearly been used. They have water stains. The 6L still has its grommet! They still hold water as well as they did on the day I bought them.
I've read that some people find the taste of the water stored in these bags to be foul. I don't remember that it was terribly foul when I started using these more than ten years ago, but I'm still using them so I don't think it was foul enough to make me want to get rid of or stop using them. Tastes fine to me.
They're the only bladders that I've used that haven't sprung a leak. Most (camelbak, etc.) fail after six to twelve months. These MSRs have lasted me 10+ years. I'd buy more but I really don't have a need for another since these are still going strong.
(Pictures of just the 6L because that's what's handy.)
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