Retro-fitting a water bladder to a pack

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
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Has anyone done this before? I didn't quite like the prices on the hydration packs I was seeing at various places, but found that they do sell various brands and sizes of bladders by themselves. I'm thinking of just attaching a hookup to the inside of my jansport daypack to hold the bladder, and cutting a whole in the top 'headphone' pocket to put the tube through. There is already a hole for the headphone cord in the top of the pack to the outside which the tube could fit in after that.

I've been running through a few designs in my head, but was curious who else had done this. There are two things that worry me the most. The first is that there will be no dedicated compartment for the bladder, it will just be sitting in the main compartment with the rest of the gear. I don't know how durable these things are. Secondly, I don't yet know how to secure the bottom, just in case it starts wanting to 'flop around' while I'm hiking.

Thoughts?
 
I never done it myself but i see no reason why it wont work. To keep the bladder safer why dont you take some old pants and cut the leg pant of it to fit the bladder. I would think that would give you some points to hook the bladder in the pack. I love using parts of the pants to make packs and what ever else i need.

Sasha
 
buy a camelbak. it will be a very very good investment, seriously. The price of camelbaks (which include the bladder) is unbeatable, and they last forever.
 
You might look into the Platypus bladders. They are reportedly less-likely to leak than others. You might at least make (sew?) a pouch for the bladder and also provide a cardboard seperator, cut to fit between your gear and the bladder. A leak on your stuff would be no fun.
 
I agree about using old pants for such tasks. I made a very handy nalgene holder out of one, and it seems like a good idea. I can't think of many ways to make a full divider in the pack that will keep things from being silly.

I like the camelbacks that I saw, but I'm not looking to spend $70 to $100 right now. I'm still considering it a bit, since the bladder itself (even for Kelty brand)was almost $20 for a 2-liter size with tube and mouthpiece. I've never even used a bladder system first hand.

I'll have to go back to Sportsman's Warehouse and see what looks good. If it's to be a Camelback, I'll have to save up for a while.

I saw the Platypus bladders Stretch, but they did not have any tube that they sold. It was only sold as a bladder/canteen. They sure were cheap, though.
 
Sasha, I really like your pants leg idea as a sleeve for the bladder. I am going to try that sometime. Good thinking!

And I'll have to agree with spyken as far as Camelbak items being a good investment. I have several, and have found all the baldders (1st gen snap caps, second gen screw tops, and current Omega-types) to be 100% reliable and leak-proof. The only moisture problems i had in packs was when i loaded resevoirs up with ice + water which = condesation.

If you can spare about $30, I'll highly recommend the Camelbak 100 oz Unbottle. It's a bladder inside an insulated and durable cover. There are D rings on the cover so you can lash it to the outside of a pack as an alternate to it riding inside the pack. Keep only water inside it, and clean it after use, and it'll serve you for a long time.

I have had Platypus containers and one hydration bladder, too. I had one container break on me. I think I set it down (full), accidentally knocked it over on something sharp, and it punctured. The plastic material used to make the Platypus containers is harder and not as pliable as the Camelbak material. I still have a few Platypus items, but I don't use them too often.

Another group of decent bladder products out there are the MSR Dromedary and Dromlite units. I had Dromedary bag years ago, and found it to be tough and durable (before being recalled by MSR). I recently purchased a 6-liter Dromlite to use as a central water supply in camp for the more lightweight trips.

Sorry about all the bladder blabber. But whoever came up with the bladder/drinking tube idea was brilliant. Hydration bladders certainly changed the way I hike, bike, and enjoy the outdoors.
 
+1 for Camelbak.

I use the Omega/HydroLink system from Camelbak. This is a rugged bladder designed for the firefighter/military user. You can incorporate a filter or a pump into this system. The bladders are very strong and I don't think leakage will ever be a problem. They also aren't cheap. I have a 2L,3L, and a 6L bladder so I can carry as much or a little water as I need. The filler neck has a hook so you can run webbing or cord through it and tie it off to the frame to keep the bladder pretty much upright.

What ever you do, it is still nice to have a Nalgene bottle to mix gatorade or treat raw water in.
 
You can get the CamelBak unbottle with has some d-rings and a protective cover. You can hang it inside your pack or lash it ouside. I have punched holes in the corners of a Platypus bladder and hung it inside a pack with a string run through the holes. Smaller Platypus bladders can be hauled in side pockets like a Nalgene too.
 
To retro-fit a bladder into your pack and isolate it from the rest of your gear:
1. turn pack inside out
2. sew separating fabric panel to side & bottom seams already in place on pack
2a. use optionally insulated panel (either foam or batting) for cooler longer drinking
3. turn pack outside out again
4. insert bladder in newly-sewn pocket & thread hose to where you want it
5. drink up and enjoy.

Platypus 1-liter to 3-liter bladders with hose can be gotten here in the $25-$30 range. Those are the nice Platy's with wide ziplock type openings, which make it easy to put ice cubes in the bladder at the start of your day. (I haven't dealt with this vendor, just found them via our friend Google.)

Paying up to a $100 for a Camelbak isn't necessary, unless you insist on one of the large capacity models that is new. The mil-surplus equivalent of the Mule model goes for $25'ish at local gun shows, sometimes with new bladders installed (mouthpiece still in plastic wrapping). Your local milsurplus stores may also have these used (but often not very worn/frayed) hydro-packs for good prices. There are a ton of Camelbaks on eBay for well under $50... many in the $30 range.

HTH and have fun with the project. DIY gear is doubly satisfying -- once in the making/modding and the second time in the using.
 
About the bladder. I think its a great idea for one main reason i drink more when hiking as i dont have to stop and get the bottle out. To take care of it when i come back from the hike i drain as much of the water i can out and leave the cap off, roll it up and put it in the freezer. This way i never get mold and its always fresh.. Its not my idea but i dont remember who did mentioned it before. The best way to take care of the bladder.

Sasha
 
+1 for platypus bags. I've used many for a long time, never a leak or puncture even after the plastic layers appear to separate. The new ones even have liter marks for measurement/purification purposes.

J.
 
There is a reason Camelbak's command a higher price, they are the most durable bladder system and will last forever. I have a first generation 70oz bladder that I purchased in 1995. I still use it all the time. I have migrated the bladder to another non-camelbak pack but it's been upgraded with a neoprene insulated tube and new generation bite valve. "You get what you pay for" holds true in this instance.
 
I like Camelback packs, but I despise the bladders. I have tried using them multiple times over the last several years and even the taste-free newer versions taste awful to me. I'm also pretty sure that not everyone can taste the plastic taste like I can (my daughter can, but my wife can't). I have tried all of the suggestions from the camelback co, and none of them work. So, I retrofit all of my Camelback and other packs with Platypus bladders. Even when abused, they have never leaked. If I were worried, I would probably just slip it into a stuff-sack. As far as retrofitting an older pack, what I have done is just drop the bladder in the main compartment and slip the tube out the top of the main zipper. Usually the pack shoulder straps have something to slide the tube through or clip it to (such as the base of the sternum strap) so that it is fixed in position.

The other advantage of the platypus bladders is that they are significantly lighter than other brands - 2/3 the weight of the MSR bladder, for instance (even though they are now owned by the same company). If you are trying to go ultralight, every ounce counts.

Lastly, platypus sells little patches that seem to work very well with their bladders should you ever need to fix a leak. I'm told duck tape works well also.
 
I've got two points:

If you want a decent Camelback cheap, look at the discount retailers and buy last year's model. Try Sierra Trading Post, REI-Outlet (it's a separate site from the regular REI site), Campmor, etc. You can easily find them in the $30-50 range.

Second, Nalgene bladders are very good.

I use the Camelback ones until they wear out, the swap them with Nalgene ones. The Camelback bladders make your water taste funny!

Make sure you get the clear Nalgene, they have the least amount of flavor. The hose is detatchable on the the Nalgene -- without water leaking -- which also makes it much easier to install on most packs.

Here's the Nalgene that I'm talking about (and it happens to be $10 off right now):
http://www.rei.com/product/749067

Also, the Nalgene has holes at the top that you could use to tie it inside your pack. You may have to sew in some D-rings or ties into your pack, but that would take about 15 minutes.
 
The leg of an old pair of jeans and some velcro worked great for mine. Great idea on freezing the bladder. I dry mine out by bending the triangle of a coathanger to fit down the fill hole. Bend the wire so it holds the bladder open with the hook protruding and hang it in a closet to dry. I noticed you can actually BUY a plastic thingy that does the same thing !
 
Thanks again for the all the thoughts, folks.

I went to the store today and picked up a Camelback Unbottle, which was only 4 dollars more than the plain bladder. I liked this option because if I rig it inside a pack, the bladder is protected from puncture/scrapes better. I can also rig it to the outside of a pack if I need to. The dedicated bladder packs were nice, but I already have a couple of packs that size to fill that niche, and don't really want to add another.
 
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