Bottles or Hydration packs for hiking?

Bottles or Hydration Systems... Or Both? For hiking bottles are a reasonable option. Unlike running and cycling where bottles are cumbersome and difficult to get at and put back, hiking and trekking is at a slower pace. Your also likely to be carrying some sort of rucksack anyway.

That said, in recent years hydration packs have become more and more popular for hikers. They are just really convenient for sipping without having to stop, get your pack off and then get started again. A typical hydration pack will have a bladder that will sit in the back pack and a tubes either coming over your shoulder or around your waist giving you easy access to fluids.

It is possible to by bladders with tubes to fit into your own backpack. However, there are some really excellent hiking hydration packs with it all built in. Dakine, Camelbak and Platypus all make first rate hydration packs for hiking and trekking.

Many people will fill their hydration packs and also a bottle to refill it with en route. Either water, a sports drink or your own favourite mix.