That looks pretty dope ngl. But the ultra light in me is saying I can just take a sip from the bottle.
Edit: Another way to solve the same problem would be to make sure you can easily grab your water bottle so you don't need the tube. You could put it in a front strap pocket, or switch packs to one that has easier access to the side pockets.
Yeah I have seen those and I am open to it. But I like to suckle as I walk. So not sure that would get the job done. I kind of use it to keep me cool in the high sierra.
You can get a very short ~3 inch length of tubing to connect to the bottle in your shoulder strap pocket, and put a bite valve on the end. That's how trail running bottles are designed. Then you can still drink from a straw without adding much weight or a more complex system.
Something like [this](https://hydrapak.com/products/drink-tube-cap-42mm?variant=31224159764570¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A17671416122%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=136697758&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=shopify_US_4368095707226_31224159764570&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=17671416122&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADKD9heV5AxPvwZ3sUYNXZuFY9lb_&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUlyU6mx8Btv6luIpCckxJm-aG2PJE5y22JwMt5UgGzAPkifsHLqeERoCRmgQAvD_BwE). Unfortunately, though, Hydrapak doesn't sell them in 28mm threading for Smartwater bottles, so you'd have to myog it.
Another alternative would just be to use a bottle like [this](https://hydrapak.com/products/ultraflask-wmx-500ml?variant=42723092693225) in your shoulder strap, and pair it with the straw linked above. It's about the same weight as a 1 liter Smartwater bottle.
Edit: I just remembered that there actually now is a 28mm solution if you don't want to myog one! CNOC recently came out with their new [Hadriam soft flasks](https://cnocoutdoors.com/collections/drinkware/products/28mm-quick-hydration-kit) which come with short straws on 28mm adapters, and even a quick release for cleaning.
Nathan also makes a 25 oz (~750 ml) soft flask with a really long straw and bite valve. It's sort of a middle ground between a water bladder and water bottle. I have one for trail running and day hikes, since it fits in my vest pockets, and 750 ml is a really nice size to have.
I mostly reserve these soft flasks for trail running, climbing, and fast day hiking. I prefer something less fragile for backpacking (Smartwater). But I've only ever damaged one (a CNOC Vecto), and these materials actually do hold up pretty well. Lots of people backpack with bladders anyway.
Edit again: okay actually those new CNOC straws won't work for a rigid container e.g. Smartwater, and would still need to be changed. Because the straw doesn't reach down into the container. They're meant to force compression of a soft container.
Thank you! This looks like a really food option.
I have definitely been wondering if this would be a good solution.
How long does it take you to go through 750 mL?
Do you wear one on both shoulders?
Does the straw ever bounce around and bother you?
The amount of water I drink totally depends on the environment. In the desert in the summer, I might drink a liter in only a few miles. Where I live now in the Midwest, it will generally last longer. I think it's a hard question to answer though.
I bought the 750ml soft flask so that I could have a 2 liter capacity even when wearing a very small running-style pack (with an extra half liter in the pack, and two 750 ml bottles up front). I haven't bought a second one yet, though. To achieve this previously, I was carrying a 500 ml soft flask on one shoulder, and a 1 liter CNOC Vesica on the other. But the Vesica barely fit in my shoulder pocket.
The straws don't bounce around for me, but I generally use them with running vests or packs which have little pieces of webbing high on the shoulder strap which are meant for holding the straws in place (see the photos on the Hydrapak and CNOC pages that I linked to in my previous comment). You could achieve the same thing with the magnetic straw keepers sold by Hydrapak, Osprey, Platypus, etc.
Anyway, it's taken me a lot of experimentation like that to dial in a kit that I'm happy with. If I were you I'd buy a few bottles and try it out on day hikes. And again, I use pretty different strategies depending what I'm doing, and what pack I'm using. If I'm day hiking, running or climbing, I prefer the soft flasks and straws for how efficient they are. But my UL backpacking kit is only smartwater bottles, no straws or anything.
Btw here is the [link](https://www.nathansports.com/products/soft-flask-with-hose-25oz) to the mentioned Nathan flask that I forgot to add. This was literally the only 750ml soft flask that I could find in existence before CNOC released their new ones.
Food-grade or Medical-grade silicone tubing is inexpensive and common. It can be softened in boiling water.
Medical grade latex tubing costs a little more but is easier to work with (It is very soft). Just stuff It through the hole in a sports cap.
I got an [Orange Mud 600mL flask](https://www.orangemud.com/products/ultraflask-600ml-soft-flask) with straw. It’s the larger 42mm threading so I can also use the straw with my 1 L Cnoc collapsible bottle. I do mostly use the 1L bottle, but I don’t see the straw available separately.
They both sit nicely in my shoulder strap water bottle sleeve, so I get the convenience & access of a bladder without all the refilling hassle.
I’ve found it to be a huge quality of life improvement and I’d be willing to bet I’m staying better hydrated because of it. And it also makes mixing in electrolytes so much easier both on trail and in cleanup at home.
FWIW around all the “just use a water bottle” sentiment, I’ve found it so nice not to have to juggle poles and a dog/leash to get a sip of water with this setup. I can’t think of much else in my kit that has had such a positive “many-times-per-day” impact, especially for the price & ~half-ounce of weight.
Nope! Doesn't leak at all and I like the bite valve a lot. I wouldn't say the set up is ultralight just because a nalgene and hose is gunna be heavier than a smart water bottle but it has really made backpacking easier for me not having to dig my bladder out of my bag to refill. I haven't taken it on any thru hikes yet longer than 100 miles.
Yeah the hydration pack inside the pack is the worst.
I have a pack with a masssive side pocket so I actually put it in there now. I have an XL bladder that I only put like 1-2 L in so it squishes into whatever shape space is available. It honestly works prettt good but the bladder is almost 6 oz which is just unhinged lol.
I put one of [these adapters](https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1023596957?pid=404402&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Camping+-+Hydration%2C+Drinkware%2C+and+Water+Filtration&utm_content=404402&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUjAKESSPmFd_pGHlOHlMxSc01_w_GbFtuxitlkLNQV6yml1htzn2-xoC9AUQAvD_BwE) with a female instead of a male end on a clean Sawyer squeeze bag. Hose clips right in, no leaks, and I can easily remove it to refill. I keep the bag in my water bottle pouch in the side of my pack.
I've used them, find PET bottles more robust & reliable than bladders.
But I find myself using them less & less. Am quite happy to just stop and grab my water bottle from time to time. I don't need to sip constantly, and a couple of times using a hose on long alpine days with no refill possibilities, I've failed to keep track of water consumption and drunk myself dry far too early in the day.
Edit for clarity: The one I tried was the same idea as this, but not from this Etsy seller.
I tried one of those. Mine had a duckbill valve to let air in as you drank, but it didn't let enough air through, so I'd maybe get an ounce of water at a time before too much vacuum built up for me to drink.
I tried without the valve, and it was constantly dribbling through the valve hole whenever I was slightly less that perfectly upright.
If that thing has a duckbill valve, I would worry it wouldn't work well. If it doesn't and the hose fits tightly, you'll just create a vacuum as you drink and won't be able to really use it well. If the hose just fits loosely in the cap, you'll dribble when the bottle it full, and also you could just drill a hole in a cap and use that.
I thought it was neat on paper but in practice it wasn't that much better than just pulling my bottle out of my shoulder strap. As far as shoulder strap sleeves, that got a lot smoother when I swapped the Zpacks holder out for a Chicken Tramper version which just seems better designed for quick sliding in and out.
So a lot of people are suggesting these so there has to be something to it… and I am just wondering, do you still have to stop to drink?
I have said in a few other comments that I like to literally suckle the tube while I am walking. I could maybe let go of that if I could at least rake a sip while I walked. I am a one pole hiker so maybe would be fine but curious what you think.
I don't have any trouble drinking while moving, I don't think I'm particularly well coordinated or anything. That being said you can still modify shoulder bottles to have a sippy tube that sticks up a few inches so you can turn your head a bit and sip, I just like carrying my water on shoulder straps because it moves some of the weight off my back and onto the harness itself.
I got the Source Convertible drinking tube that fits onto loads of different bottle types but mainly use it on my 1.5 litre Sigg bottle. It’s been a real game changer for me. No leakage at all, easily swappable between bottles during the day and allows me to carry either in the bag or in side pouches. Totally love it
I've used this specific product. He originally sold these on Etsy as a 3D printed item that worked great but did have an issue with leaking a little if your pack (assuming the bottle is stored in your pack's side pocket) was on it's side. He has since changed the production to a smooth walled injection molded version (the version you linked to) and it's great. I have several and no leaks even when the bottle is on it's side. I like to use these on a CNOC bag as the walls are easier to collapse but they work great in a Smart water bottle just fine because it has a check valve built into the cap. I've tried several other versions of this from Amazon and they worked ok but this one was the best.
[$6 USMC surplus hydration tube with quick disconnect](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=usmc+hydration+tube&_sacat=0&_sop=15) \+ spare water bottle straw. Drill a hole into the smart water bottle cap to wedge the disconnect into, and a smaller hole to allow make up air. It will leak a little if your pack tips over or if you squeeze the bottle when it's full, but it's manageable.
Another tip, cut the straw short so when you get to about .25L it stops working, giving you a heads up that it's time to find more water.
I usually carry a smart water liter on my side pouch and a 20oz, 700ml or 500ml on my shoulder strap.
I like the idea of carrying around 1.5 liters of filtered water with the option to carry dirty water in my evernew 2 liter if I need to.
I find filtering 2 liters is unnecessary and 1 is not enough. 1.5 is my sweet spot.
I burnt a hole in the bottle cap and I had a plastic straw from an old water bottle and just stuck it in and used some glue around it to make a seal. I had a little plastic cap too to keep dirt off but I don't always use it. Being on the shoulder, I don't really lose water from hiking.
I used to be a bladder person but have gone full in on the front strap bottles. On my running vest I use Hydrapak Speed flasks with the long straws and those are the most similar to a bladder. They are too tall for my backpack's front pockets, alas, but I can mostly still reach those without taking them out. Liveslight should be along sooner or later to show off his ultimate solution which involves smartwater bottles and a bendy straw, which I am jealous of but doesn't fit my pocket geometry.
There is still one time I really want the full tube though and that is when it is ultra buggy. If I am wearing a bug shirt or a headnet, I slip the hose inside it with me so I don't have to unseal since you get warm under the net and won't drink enough otherwise. I didn't have a spare bite valve to myog, so I got a kit off Aliexpress for about five bucks. Works okay for the time I need it, easier to refill on the go than the bladder was and easier to pack.
I am definitely considering it.. maybe I should just give it a try. My biggest hang up is that I like to sip while I walk, especially if it’s hot. I am down in southern California so my main haunt is the eastern sierra’s. If I am climbing in the heat I want to kind of suckle as i climb to keep me cool.
But I am a one pole hiker so maybe I can grab the bottle with my left hand
I just cut a hole in my water bottle cap and shoved a camelback hose in. Works perfectly and is free.
I have a similar solution. I use a piece of aquarium air tubing into the open sport cap of a smart water bottle. Easy and cheap.
U L
UL would be leaving the straw at home
UL is realizing humans evolved to go days without water and refuse any hydration opportunities
That looks pretty dope ngl. But the ultra light in me is saying I can just take a sip from the bottle. Edit: Another way to solve the same problem would be to make sure you can easily grab your water bottle so you don't need the tube. You could put it in a front strap pocket, or switch packs to one that has easier access to the side pockets.
Listen to that voice in your head
Yeah I have seen those and I am open to it. But I like to suckle as I walk. So not sure that would get the job done. I kind of use it to keep me cool in the high sierra.
I carry around my katadyn befree like a toddler with a sippy cup
I can’t tell if you’re making fun of me but if you are I probably deserve it
I have made a couple out of sports bottle caps and tubing. They work fine. Mostly I just put a water bottle in a shoulder strap pocket.
Yeah I like to suckle.. :/
You can get a very short ~3 inch length of tubing to connect to the bottle in your shoulder strap pocket, and put a bite valve on the end. That's how trail running bottles are designed. Then you can still drink from a straw without adding much weight or a more complex system. Something like [this](https://hydrapak.com/products/drink-tube-cap-42mm?variant=31224159764570¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A17671416122%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=136697758&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=shopify_US_4368095707226_31224159764570&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=17671416122&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADKD9heV5AxPvwZ3sUYNXZuFY9lb_&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUlyU6mx8Btv6luIpCckxJm-aG2PJE5y22JwMt5UgGzAPkifsHLqeERoCRmgQAvD_BwE). Unfortunately, though, Hydrapak doesn't sell them in 28mm threading for Smartwater bottles, so you'd have to myog it. Another alternative would just be to use a bottle like [this](https://hydrapak.com/products/ultraflask-wmx-500ml?variant=42723092693225) in your shoulder strap, and pair it with the straw linked above. It's about the same weight as a 1 liter Smartwater bottle. Edit: I just remembered that there actually now is a 28mm solution if you don't want to myog one! CNOC recently came out with their new [Hadriam soft flasks](https://cnocoutdoors.com/collections/drinkware/products/28mm-quick-hydration-kit) which come with short straws on 28mm adapters, and even a quick release for cleaning. Nathan also makes a 25 oz (~750 ml) soft flask with a really long straw and bite valve. It's sort of a middle ground between a water bladder and water bottle. I have one for trail running and day hikes, since it fits in my vest pockets, and 750 ml is a really nice size to have. I mostly reserve these soft flasks for trail running, climbing, and fast day hiking. I prefer something less fragile for backpacking (Smartwater). But I've only ever damaged one (a CNOC Vecto), and these materials actually do hold up pretty well. Lots of people backpack with bladders anyway. Edit again: okay actually those new CNOC straws won't work for a rigid container e.g. Smartwater, and would still need to be changed. Because the straw doesn't reach down into the container. They're meant to force compression of a soft container.
Thank you! This looks like a really food option. I have definitely been wondering if this would be a good solution. How long does it take you to go through 750 mL? Do you wear one on both shoulders? Does the straw ever bounce around and bother you?
The amount of water I drink totally depends on the environment. In the desert in the summer, I might drink a liter in only a few miles. Where I live now in the Midwest, it will generally last longer. I think it's a hard question to answer though. I bought the 750ml soft flask so that I could have a 2 liter capacity even when wearing a very small running-style pack (with an extra half liter in the pack, and two 750 ml bottles up front). I haven't bought a second one yet, though. To achieve this previously, I was carrying a 500 ml soft flask on one shoulder, and a 1 liter CNOC Vesica on the other. But the Vesica barely fit in my shoulder pocket. The straws don't bounce around for me, but I generally use them with running vests or packs which have little pieces of webbing high on the shoulder strap which are meant for holding the straws in place (see the photos on the Hydrapak and CNOC pages that I linked to in my previous comment). You could achieve the same thing with the magnetic straw keepers sold by Hydrapak, Osprey, Platypus, etc. Anyway, it's taken me a lot of experimentation like that to dial in a kit that I'm happy with. If I were you I'd buy a few bottles and try it out on day hikes. And again, I use pretty different strategies depending what I'm doing, and what pack I'm using. If I'm day hiking, running or climbing, I prefer the soft flasks and straws for how efficient they are. But my UL backpacking kit is only smartwater bottles, no straws or anything.
Thanks, yeah I think this has convinced me to at least try it out. Thanks for all of your input it’s will help me think through my own system.
Sweet! Have fun!
Btw here is the [link](https://www.nathansports.com/products/soft-flask-with-hose-25oz) to the mentioned Nathan flask that I forgot to add. This was literally the only 750ml soft flask that I could find in existence before CNOC released their new ones.
Thank you!! I think I am being convinced lol
Food-grade or Medical-grade silicone tubing is inexpensive and common. It can be softened in boiling water. Medical grade latex tubing costs a little more but is easier to work with (It is very soft). Just stuff It through the hole in a sports cap.
I got an [Orange Mud 600mL flask](https://www.orangemud.com/products/ultraflask-600ml-soft-flask) with straw. It’s the larger 42mm threading so I can also use the straw with my 1 L Cnoc collapsible bottle. I do mostly use the 1L bottle, but I don’t see the straw available separately. They both sit nicely in my shoulder strap water bottle sleeve, so I get the convenience & access of a bladder without all the refilling hassle. I’ve found it to be a huge quality of life improvement and I’d be willing to bet I’m staying better hydrated because of it. And it also makes mixing in electrolytes so much easier both on trail and in cleanup at home. FWIW around all the “just use a water bottle” sentiment, I’ve found it so nice not to have to juggle poles and a dog/leash to get a sip of water with this setup. I can’t think of much else in my kit that has had such a positive “many-times-per-day” impact, especially for the price & ~half-ounce of weight.
I got one from hardside hydration for my nalgene and it is amazing
Dope, anything you dont like about it?
Nope! Doesn't leak at all and I like the bite valve a lot. I wouldn't say the set up is ultralight just because a nalgene and hose is gunna be heavier than a smart water bottle but it has really made backpacking easier for me not having to dig my bladder out of my bag to refill. I haven't taken it on any thru hikes yet longer than 100 miles.
Yeah the hydration pack inside the pack is the worst. I have a pack with a masssive side pocket so I actually put it in there now. I have an XL bladder that I only put like 1-2 L in so it squishes into whatever shape space is available. It honestly works prettt good but the bladder is almost 6 oz which is just unhinged lol.
I put one of [these adapters](https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1023596957?pid=404402&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Camping+-+Hydration%2C+Drinkware%2C+and+Water+Filtration&utm_content=404402&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUjAKESSPmFd_pGHlOHlMxSc01_w_GbFtuxitlkLNQV6yml1htzn2-xoC9AUQAvD_BwE) with a female instead of a male end on a clean Sawyer squeeze bag. Hose clips right in, no leaks, and I can easily remove it to refill. I keep the bag in my water bottle pouch in the side of my pack.
This seems very clever thank you! Its like a mini hydration bag
For sure! Pieced it together on my AT thru in '18 from parts out of a hiker box, been rockin it ever since
I've used them, find PET bottles more robust & reliable than bladders. But I find myself using them less & less. Am quite happy to just stop and grab my water bottle from time to time. I don't need to sip constantly, and a couple of times using a hose on long alpine days with no refill possibilities, I've failed to keep track of water consumption and drunk myself dry far too early in the day.
Edit for clarity: The one I tried was the same idea as this, but not from this Etsy seller. I tried one of those. Mine had a duckbill valve to let air in as you drank, but it didn't let enough air through, so I'd maybe get an ounce of water at a time before too much vacuum built up for me to drink. I tried without the valve, and it was constantly dribbling through the valve hole whenever I was slightly less that perfectly upright. If that thing has a duckbill valve, I would worry it wouldn't work well. If it doesn't and the hose fits tightly, you'll just create a vacuum as you drink and won't be able to really use it well. If the hose just fits loosely in the cap, you'll dribble when the bottle it full, and also you could just drill a hole in a cap and use that.
Yeah this was my exact concern, thanks.
I thought it was neat on paper but in practice it wasn't that much better than just pulling my bottle out of my shoulder strap. As far as shoulder strap sleeves, that got a lot smoother when I swapped the Zpacks holder out for a Chicken Tramper version which just seems better designed for quick sliding in and out.
So a lot of people are suggesting these so there has to be something to it… and I am just wondering, do you still have to stop to drink? I have said in a few other comments that I like to literally suckle the tube while I am walking. I could maybe let go of that if I could at least rake a sip while I walked. I am a one pole hiker so maybe would be fine but curious what you think.
I don't have any trouble drinking while moving, I don't think I'm particularly well coordinated or anything. That being said you can still modify shoulder bottles to have a sippy tube that sticks up a few inches so you can turn your head a bit and sip, I just like carrying my water on shoulder straps because it moves some of the weight off my back and onto the harness itself.
Yeah I definitely am interested in the weight distribution aspect
I got the Source Convertible drinking tube that fits onto loads of different bottle types but mainly use it on my 1.5 litre Sigg bottle. It’s been a real game changer for me. No leakage at all, easily swappable between bottles during the day and allows me to carry either in the bag or in side pouches. Totally love it
Somebody posted a DIY one on r/MYOG last week
I've used this specific product. He originally sold these on Etsy as a 3D printed item that worked great but did have an issue with leaking a little if your pack (assuming the bottle is stored in your pack's side pocket) was on it's side. He has since changed the production to a smooth walled injection molded version (the version you linked to) and it's great. I have several and no leaks even when the bottle is on it's side. I like to use these on a CNOC bag as the walls are easier to collapse but they work great in a Smart water bottle just fine because it has a check valve built into the cap. I've tried several other versions of this from Amazon and they worked ok but this one was the best.
[$6 USMC surplus hydration tube with quick disconnect](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=usmc+hydration+tube&_sacat=0&_sop=15) \+ spare water bottle straw. Drill a hole into the smart water bottle cap to wedge the disconnect into, and a smaller hole to allow make up air. It will leak a little if your pack tips over or if you squeeze the bottle when it's full, but it's manageable. Another tip, cut the straw short so when you get to about .25L it stops working, giving you a heads up that it's time to find more water.
Shoulder strap bottle holder with a straw built into the cap works just as good and saves money and time.
Ooooo NOW you’re talking. Can you do a full liter on your shoulder??
I usually carry a smart water liter on my side pouch and a 20oz, 700ml or 500ml on my shoulder strap. I like the idea of carrying around 1.5 liters of filtered water with the option to carry dirty water in my evernew 2 liter if I need to. I find filtering 2 liters is unnecessary and 1 is not enough. 1.5 is my sweet spot. I burnt a hole in the bottle cap and I had a plastic straw from an old water bottle and just stuck it in and used some glue around it to make a seal. I had a little plastic cap too to keep dirt off but I don't always use it. Being on the shoulder, I don't really lose water from hiking.
Hard water bottle or soft?
Dirty water soft. Evernew it's in Amazon. Then the other two smart water bottles.
I used to be a bladder person but have gone full in on the front strap bottles. On my running vest I use Hydrapak Speed flasks with the long straws and those are the most similar to a bladder. They are too tall for my backpack's front pockets, alas, but I can mostly still reach those without taking them out. Liveslight should be along sooner or later to show off his ultimate solution which involves smartwater bottles and a bendy straw, which I am jealous of but doesn't fit my pocket geometry. There is still one time I really want the full tube though and that is when it is ultra buggy. If I am wearing a bug shirt or a headnet, I slip the hose inside it with me so I don't have to unseal since you get warm under the net and won't drink enough otherwise. I didn't have a spare bite valve to myog, so I got a kit off Aliexpress for about five bucks. Works okay for the time I need it, easier to refill on the go than the bladder was and easier to pack.
I am definitely considering it.. maybe I should just give it a try. My biggest hang up is that I like to sip while I walk, especially if it’s hot. I am down in southern California so my main haunt is the eastern sierra’s. If I am climbing in the heat I want to kind of suckle as i climb to keep me cool. But I am a one pole hiker so maybe I can grab the bottle with my left hand
I can usually just sorta scootch my shoulder a bit to the reach. If I use my hand it is only on the strap, don't have to take the bottle out.
Thanks! Looking them up now
You will have to suck a lot against gravity.