Water bladder - F-stop Loka

I will be doing a 1 week trek to Kilimanjaro and plan to use the Fstop Loka as the backpack. I will restrict camera gear to one SLR + 1 lens (maybe 2 if I can manage) and a P&S.

For the trek, I will need a 100 oz water bladder. I have reviewed some Camelback products and like the reviews that there are no leaks and hold up well to even falls.

I need your inputs on:
- are there good bladders that can be attached to the backpack on the outside rather than being kept inside the backpack?
- any specific models to recommend (inside or outside models)

Here is your answer.
http://shop.camelbak.c​om/unbottle-100-oz/d/1199
it also have a 70 oz version

I have been looking at that too - can it be attached to the outside of the Loka instead of keeping it inside? Where will it fit? Any images?

I have had really good luck with MSR and Platypus water bladders... Unlike the all too common CamelBack's MSR and Platypus are both actually tasteless (its pretty annoying when your water always tastes like plastic.) I have put my MSR through hell and the only reason I replaced it was because I snagged the hose on something after 4 years... Something to definitely make sure of is that you have a valve to turn off the bite valve when you set your pack down (that will make way more sense when you actually start looking at water bladders). I have since replaced my MSR bladder with one of the Platypus ziplock style bladders and it has been flawless over ~50 miles of hiking and even more car camping abuse...

looking at pictures of both, it appears that they made it really easy on you. the camelback has 4 strap-mount points plus a loop with a clip. the Loka has two horizontal straps on the "face" of the backpack. clip the mounting tabs to those straps and you're good to go! you may have to partially remove it to get at the front pocket, but this appears to be the best way to go about it.

kram wrote in post #16017150
I have been looking at that too - can it be attached to the outside of the Loka instead of keeping it inside? Where will it fit? Any images?

Anywhere, but best place is on the side so back f the straps you can use to hauld tripod etc. other stuff.

I would REALLY suggest that you get an internal bladder... One of the big lessons I have learned backpacking is that you want all your heavy stuff as low and close to your back as possible so as to not negatively impact your center of gravity. If you put your bladder 2L (70oz or ~4.4lbs) or 3L (100oz or ~6.6lbs) on the back of your pack it's going to throw off your center of gravity (A water bladder tends to slosh around causing your weight to shift unexpectedly)

I will say that for me hiking usually involves some sort variation of rock hopping through creek beds, scrambling up hillsides and mild climbing and having a pack that is weighted properly has saved me, my camera gear and my ankles many times...

If you are worried about a leak just throw it in a trash bag inside your pack... The only leak I have ever had was from setting a pack on the bite valve without first putting the valve in the off position...

Get an internal bladder and put it inside one of these:
http://fstopgear.com …ation-sleeve#.UbZp8ZzLIjs

I will get the Camelbak unbottle - think it gives me the option to keep it inside or outside.

Given this will be my first hike with a backpack in some time, it may be added issue to keep a sloshing water bottle behind the backpack

that's one advantage of a bladder, if you suck the air out, there's no sloshing!

steelbluesleepr wrote in post #16020904
that's one advantage of a bladder, if you suck the air out, there's no sloshing!

+1. And if it's inside your pack up against your back (as others have recommended), the pressure from the other stuff helps the water get up to you. Small bonus. Seriously though, unless there's some big reason for storing it on the outside, put it inside against your back.

It sounds like you've made your decision, but just in case, I'd recommend the Osprey Hydraulics reservoir. I've owned just about every bladder out there, and this one is the best I've used by far.

Hi Neil, I just checked the comments on the Osprey - looks like people are less than satisfied with it after some recent 'upgrades'!!

kram wrote in post #16021037
Hi Neil, I just checked the comments on the Osprey - looks like people are less than satisfied with it after some recent 'upgrades'!!

Could you point me towards those? I guess I don't own the current one (mine's not blue).

Camelbak, get one of the new Antidote ones if you can. better anti-baterical material and no funky taste.

i've been using camelbaks for YEARS and taken some nasty spills onto mine mountain biking and they never leak.

Check out the reviews on this guy HERE... I really wish MSR still made bladders IMO they were the best around... I have yet to find a camelback that didn't taste like plastic chemicals or mold which is a shame because they outsell all the other brands 50 to 1.

Also never ever put beer in a camelback... Don't ask me how I learned that lesson :P