Climbing with a Camelback?

Viking

Viking

Location
Columbus Ohio
With the hot months soon to be here, Im wondering if anyone climbs with a camelback system?

I over heat VERY easily, and suffered heat exhaustion 3 times last year which was scary. Stopped sweating all 3 times. I know all about proper hydration, and was drinking plenty of water when I could on those hot days, but wasn't able to be consistent with hydration throughout the day because Im in a tree. I was getting water tied on, but only when I was dying of thirst, and it still became a real hassle.

Im think of experimenting with a camelback this season, and see pros and cons. One more thing to snag, LOTS more weight, but if it means I can properly hydrate throughout the day in a tree, it could keep me from getting burnt out LITERALLY.

Thoughts? Experiences? thanks my doods!
 
I started wearing a camelbak last summer. Yes it is goofy. Yes it makes you look like a fireman. Yes it adds a bunch of weight (I use a 3 liter).
I am a sweaty monster and I loved that thing. Grab a sip here or there instead of chugging a liter and getting a bellyache. I would refill at lunch. There were a couple of scorchers here and I think it saved me from serious problems.
On cooler days, just fill it with less water.
oh, and I got snagged a couple times pretty good. I wear suspenders for my saddle, and combined with the camelbak straps there was a lot going on...
do it
 
When I worked for Joey Cornell in LA a hydration system was not only mandatory...but it had to have water in it bra. Anyway I had been using one for a couple years before that so it wasn't a big deal and I've come to really dig having it even on the ground. All those trips to the Igloo where the handling and filling procedures are questionable???
 
I started wearing one last summer...I got used to it and love it on hot days when I am going to be aloft for a good spell. Mine had a bungee cord thing for adding extra stuff to it, and I promptly took that off, and I rarely even know it is there...except when I need a drink :)
 
I use my camelback in the trees. I also have one of the bottle holder carabiners. Works well. But never a good idea to go aloft without water.
 
Can't survive with out one. In the summer when I ring out about 6 shirts a day, I drink about 8 litres to match it, its handy to have 2 litres right on your back for quick access. You get yelled at if your standing around drinking water for a couple seconds too long. I find that mine never really gets that caught up on stuff, my lanyard is still the most frustrating thing.
 
OHHHH MAN Whiz!!!! this brought back some gnarly memories of my first job. In HS I worked grounds for a private golf club. One of the morning gigs was "ice and water". Two doods would drive the cart up to the ice chest, fill up the back of the cart with ice and water and go around to all the igloo stations. I SAW SOME SCARY STUFF go in an come out of those coolers, that hundreds of golfers drank from every day.

I was like 17/18, had no clue or real concern about hygiene, safety, or really anything else except playing drums, music, and chasing girlies. It was common to just chuck the ice bags into the bed of the rusty, dirty Workman and get it done. There would be blue tracker all over the place (where there is blue tracker dye, THERE IS HERBICIDE) dirt, clippings sticking to the bags, then getting into the igloos. I know that none of those guys washed there hands either!

It was a DISASTER!!!! I found a dead mouse bobbin' one day, where someone didn't get the lid closed all the way. And bugs were always a given.

Ever since that summer I avoid those drinking coolers LIKE THE PLAUGUE!
 
I've been using one for six years. On a hot day I always make sure I have it with me. Look around, they make a lot of different types. The Camelback brand is expensive! Walmart or Kmart have their own brands for half the cost. Just make sure the type you get has a chest clip to hold the shoulder straps tight.
 
Pretty much standard attachment for my rig but not automatic.

If it is gonna be a long prune definitely. But for a long takedown since we have to run the lines up and down I prefer to have the crew send me up a liter bottle I can drink and toss back. Saves weight on the old man's bod.
 
I use them in winter and summer, not as much in winter. A bottle attached to me isn't enough. Wore them all the time in the ARMY, and since returning from Iraq, I became one of those guys that sweats buckets, so I need more water. I add the elixer tabs because water is boring, and beer's not such a good thing on hot days, or on the job, LOL Well worth it, and ditto on the 3liter one. Usually fill 2/3 water/ 1/3 ice. If I am at a spot in the tree that I will be soming back to, or get to without a hassle, I will girth a sling and biner to a branch and hang it there.
 
I use one that my wife bought me during the Summer months and it is much better then adding more weight to the harness.

The only down side in my opinion is trying to clean all the mold that builds up. Even in the drinking tube. I believe Camelbak makes a cleaning kit has anyone tried it out?
 
I only put water in mine. Sometimes I'll add electrolyte replacements too.

In the evening I rinse it out and run water through the tube too. I've never had any crud in it.

You can bend a wire coathanger into a form to hold the bladder open. Another coathanger can be run through the tube with a small wad of cloth to clean out the tube.
 
I have a 3 liter that ive worn very rearely, but i have 3 different sizes of the camelback bottles, and i almost always take one up or at least have it on the ground where a groundie can send it up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I only put water in mine. Sometimes I'll add electrolyte replacements too.

In the evening I rinse it out and run water through the tube too. I've never had any crud in it.

You can bend a wire coathanger into a form to hold the bladder open. Another coathanger can be run through the tube with a small wad of cloth to clean out the tube.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's how I clean mine out when it takes it's off season in the winter.
 
last summer I bought this: http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Packs/2011-Hydrobak.aspx

best investment ever :)

I have a bad habit of not drinking even with a bottle on my saddle. with this, it is always handy, and I found myself sipping constantly.

very small and light and I can wear it with my Treemotion without it interfering with the backpad.
easy to toss down and have refilled if needed too.

I love mine, going to use it for trail-running this season too.

camelbak is the way to go, but buy another mouthpiece, mine got knocked of by a limb once, my groundy found it, but you never know ;)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I only put water in mine. Sometimes I'll add electrolyte replacements too.

In the evening I rinse it out and run water through the tube too. I've never had any crud in it.

You can bend a wire coathanger into a form to hold the bladder open. Another coathanger can be run through the tube with a small wad of cloth to clean out the tube.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds like a good idea. The way I have been cleaning it is to thread fishing line through the tube and tie it to a piece of cotton.

The wire coat hanger sounds like it would be faster.
 
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