The Kilimanjaro Kit Diaries: Hydration bladder

Posted by Alison Westwood on 21 September 2009

Platypus Insulator

This insulated hydration pouch features a padded insulator sleeve that keeps water from freezing (or getting hot). A thick rubbery cover also keeps water in the tube from freezing, although in the low temperatures on Kili’s summit at night the bite valve could still freeze up.

Tip:
To defrost it, keep the valve in your hand or mouth for a minute or so. If you can remember, blow back into the tube after drinking.

A big zipper-style reservoir makes filling, emptying, and cleaning the bag a cinch, and D-rings make it easy to attach it to your pack. The tube snaps on and off the bag, making it much simpler to remove the reservoir from a daypack for refilling. SlimeGuard antimicrobial treatment ensures water tastes good and a special cover keeps the bite valve from getting mucky in dirt and dust every time you put your pack down.

One thing to note is that, with the insulation tube on, it may not fit through the exit holes of all packs (although it did fit through ours).

Weight: 351g
RRP: R560

Ray’s tip: Be a whale & blow back! If you choose to go the bladder / reservoir route, remember that a small body of water freezes far quicker than a larger body. So, be sure to clear your pipe by blowing back & clearing it of water… this will help prevent the tube of freezing & you being unable to get any water from your bladder.

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