Water system for a kid

I have a 35oz (1L) Camelbak (5oz weight) for my one kid.

Looking to buy something for kid 2, and think that a 1L/34OZ Platypus Softbottle with a Duckbill drinking tube (3oz total) is an alternative. It should be lighter by a bit, and some of you have spoken highly of Platypus products.

However, I've read through some posts over the last two years (yes Tom, I searched) that indicated that the Platypus soft bottles are prone to springing leaks.

For those of you who like the Platypus gear, would you put it in the hands of a 6 year old, or am I better off using the slightly heavier Camelback gear?

I think you'd probably be ok Steadman. I have had my platy's leak on occasion - but I'm pretty rough on them. if you have your kid treat them with any amount of respect they should last a good long time.

My Platys have held up for year, plus a patch kit is available.

That said, for a 6 YO, I'd probably go with disposable water bottles attached to the pack's shoulder straps. You COULD drill a couple of holes, one really small to hold a valve, the other for a drinking tube that reaches the bottom of container. Actually, some water bottles are made this way, so you could attach a bag to hold it to one shoulder strap.

IF your 6 YO can use and prefers a hydration tube/system, that can work, but I took a 16 YO out who kept chewing my spare bite valve, rather than holding it open and sucking. Until I know how a kid adapts to new things, I'm sticking to basics.

CamperMom

When the Camelback first came out, I bought one. Mine is basically a really small pack with the bladder in it. I used it a few time before relegating it to my closet. I then bought a winterized Camelback bladder and it met the same fate - a good idea in the store, not so good in practice, for me that is.

For a kid, I think Campermom has the right idea. I would suggest a water bottle in a holder on a belt. Easy to use, low cost and if the bottle gets lost, easily replaceable. I have various water bottles I've bought or picked up at trade shows for free, but I often just use something like a Snapple bottle or bottled water bottle that I can toss in a daypack or the car and not care too much if it gets misplaced. Some bottles have the sports top you pull up to drink and with one of those, he won't likely lose the top and it is about as simple as it gets.

I finally - after three years - replaced the bite valve on my Platy because it was starting to drip. The rest of it is fine even tho it's spent its life being jammed in a backpack behind a bear can. I have some older bottles. However, a new 1 liter Platy I just bought leaks from the cap if I let it lie on its side!

I'm with campermom - unless the kid can suss out the bite valve or just can't stand not having the same thing the "other guys" have I'd give him water bottles, or maybe a SIGG. The hydration bladder would be pretty useless if the kid mangled the bite valve til it leaked constantly or just didn't work.

Understand the value in a cheap bottle over an expensive hydration system, but we're wedded to the hydration systems.

The kids drink better with the hydration systems, and they seem to be emotionally attached to them.

Question is, which system is the better of the two.

Depends on who you ask. Some people like one or the other. I prefer platys - quick connects with water filter, and with the big zip you can undo the zip on top while you filter to keep the pump from blowing up the platy like a balloon. The big zip has a large opening on top that allows you to clean without using a coat hanger apparatus. I've abused mine, pretty much, no leaks.

I have an older Camelbak but wouldn't get one again because it requires another person to hold it while i'm filtering water into it.

I've mastered putting my bladder on my lap, and pumping clean water in it. At least with my kids along, I have extra hands...

I don't intend to use Platypus's bladder; I want to use a 1 L softbottle with their adapter to turn it into a hydration system.

IF the connection between the bottle and the tube is bad (it will be inverted) we're screwed. The physics of that connection is what bothers me - because we'll have to open and close it...

I couldn't hike without my camelback.

One of the beauties of the Platypus system is that the fitting works very well with caps from many water and soda bottles, such as Coke or Pepsi. If the water bottle cap fits a Coke, etc., bottle without leaking, you should be all set. Most Poland Springs bottles seem to have caps that are just a little smaller than Platys and soda bottles, so their bottles probably will not work with a screw-on Platypus connector.

CamperMom

Although not statistically significant, all three of my camelbacks have leaked. I don't buy camelbacks anymore. My son has a bladder that came with the kelty starfish. It has never leaked and he has liked it, and not broken it. He has used other cheap bladder systems with success. Anyways, I don't think it matters, which brand. Get the one you want, they will all work.