Key Points
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Finding the right flaps to open on a zip-top bladder can be difficult, as it's not like a sandwich bag.
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Most hydration bladders with screw-on lids are cross-threaded.
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Hydration bladders are prone to freezing in cold weather, so always blow water in the water tube back into the bladder to prevent this.
Hydration bladder manufacturers must compete to see who can make the opening as confusing as possible. There are only two openings: the zip-top and a screw-on lid. That is basic enough, but the zip-top especially can be cryptic to open. My Outdoor Gear wants to take the mystery out of filling and carrying a hydration bladder.
How To Fill a Zip-Top Hydration Bladder
Finding the right flaps of a zip-top hydration bladder to pull apart is the most challenging part of filling the bladder. The first time you try to open it after storing your hydration bladder can be frustrating.
Let's eliminate the frustration with these quick and easy steps:
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The water tube secures to the hydration pack with Velcro or buckles. Ensure the water tube is free to be removed from the hydration pack with the bladder.
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Unzip the top of the hydration pack.
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The hydration pack is hung inside the hydration pack by a strap. Unbuckle the strap and thread the strap out of the hanger. The hanger is part of the slide.
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Remove the bladder while fishing the water tube through the side opening.
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Put the hydration pack aside and remove the slide at the top of the hydration pack.
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After unfolding the top, you will see what looks like a zip-top sandwich bag. However, the bladder does not open like a sandwich bag. The fold resembles a sandwich bag, but it isn't the opening. The stiff plastic flap at the top of the bladder — and the opposite soft flap — is what peels apart.
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Separate the top of the bladder by peeling apart the soft flap from the stiff flap.
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Assuming the hydration bladder is clean, fill the water bladder to the fill line. Do not overfill the bladder. Otherwise, you'll get wet when trying to close the bladder. An overfull bladder will leak or tear a seam.
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Once the bladder is full of water, fold the flap and put the slide back on.
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There is an easy way to prevent water from sloshing around. Turn the hydration bladder upside down. Holding it in the air with one hand, suck the air from the bladder from the bite valve. Sucking the water from the bladder will create a vacuum, and your water is secure inside the bladder.
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Put the bladder back in the hydration pack. Carefully thread the water tube back in place.
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Buckle the hanger opening of the slide to the hydration pack.
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Secure the water tube to the hydration pack and zip the top closed.
Keep reading if you want to fill a hydration bladder with a screw-on lid. If not, skip to the "How To Carry a Hydration Bladder" section for helpful tips and tricks.
How To Fill a Hydration Bladder With a Screw-On Lid
A hydration bladder with a screw-on lid is much easier to remove. It's putting it back on that you have to be cautious about. Cross-threading the lid is easy when you put it back on.
To eliminate the possibility of cross-threading the lid, follow these steps:
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The water tube secures to the hydration pack with Velcro or buckles. Ensure the water tube is free from the hydration pack.
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Unzip the top of the hydration pack and unbuckle any straps that will keep you from removing the hydration bladder.
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The hydration bladder is hung inside the hydration pack by a strap. Unbuckle the strap and thread the strap out of the hanger. The hanger is often part of the slide or lid of the bladder.
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Remove the bladder while fishing the water tube through the side opening.
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Put the hydration pack aside and unscrew the lid from the hydration pack.
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After ensuring it's clean, fill the water bladder to the fill line. Overfilling the hydration bladder will likely get you wet and could cause leaks or tear a seam.
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Once you fill the hydration bladder with water, screw the lid back on. The trick is to start by twisting the lid to the left, usually the direction to remove the lid. Once the threads line up, you will feel and hear a click. Now, twist the lid to the right until it's tight.
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There's an easy way to prevent water from sloshing around. Turn the hydration bladder upside down. Holding it in the air with one hand, suck the air from the bladder from the bite valve. Sucking the air from the bladder will create a vacuum, and your water is secure inside the bladder.
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Put the bladder back in the hydration pack. Carefully thread the water tube back in place.
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Buckle the hanger opening of the hydration pack.
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Secure the water tube to the hydration pack and zip the top closed.
Below are a few tips and tricks to make carrying a hydration bladder easier, including got-to-have features if you're shopping for a hydration pack.
How To Carry a Hydration Bladder
A hydration pack is easy to carry, but you can make carrying a bladder in a hydration pack or backpack easier. There are decisions to make before any trip, and some can make carrying your water bladder more comfortable.
These tips and tricks can make carrying your water bladder more comfortable:
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Don't carelessly throw your hydration pack to the ground when taking a break from your activity to prevent the bite valve from collecting dirt and debris.
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Ensure you always secure the top of the bladder to your hydration pack or backpack. Otherwise, the weight causes it to fall to the bottom.
by Gregory
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Always fill and replace your hydration bladder before filling your backpack. It's difficult to stuff a full bladder into a full backpack. If your hydration bladder has a stiff back and a long handle on the front, like the Gregory 3D Hydro, putting your bladder in a full backpack is much easier.
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If you're shopping for a hydration pack, ensure it has a separate pocket for the hydration bladder. Osprey has a full line of hydration packs with this feature. Removing and replacing the hydration bladder is much easier when the hydration pack is full of gear if the hydration pack is in a different pocket.
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Bite valves are notorious for leaking but are easy to replace. Keep an extra in your pack.
by Sawyer Products
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It can be a pain for hikers to remove an empty hydration bladder from a full pack, filter and refill it from a creek, and then replace it. Keeping a few Smartwater bottles and a Squeeze Water Filter with you is much easier. Filter water from the creek into the Smartwater bottles and use them to refill your bladder while it's still in the backpack.
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Always blow the water in your water tube back into the hydration bladder. The experts at Sierra recommend blowing the water from your tube will keep the bite valve and water tube from freezing in the winter. They say, "[m]ake sure that when you're blowing water back into the hydration bladder that you don't blow too much air back in; otherwise, you'll get a sloshing sound.
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Start with hot water in the hydration bladder if you plan on hiking in extended cold weather. Hot water in the bladder should keep the hydration bladder frost-free for hours. Also, cover your water tube with an insulated sleeve.
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When filling your backpack, store clothes closest to the hydration bladder. Keeping clothes against the bladder separates gear like tripods and camping gear from gouging the bladder.
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Never put soft drinks or hydration mixes in the hydration bladder. Soda and mixes will make the bladder difficult to clean, and the sugar causes mold to proliferate.
Fill, Carry, Drink!
Manufacturers may compete to keep the process of filling and refilling a hydration bladder a mystery. Still, you're solving the puzzle with the abovementioned tips and tricks. Every adventure has its mysteries, but how to fill and carry a hydration bladder doesn't have to be one of them. Once you fill, refill, and use your hydration bladder during your trip, it'll be even easier the next time.
From choosing the right hydration pack to preventing mold, let My Outdoor Gear guide you in creating the adventure of your dreams. Subscribe today!
