How do you carry drinking water on the river?

[robcasey]

Per hydration, do you use a hydration pack?  or stowe a water bottle, if so, how? 

Also, do you use a first aid kit, and what do you put in it?

anything else you carry on the river, or in your pfd? 

thanks!

[mountainpaddler]

On flats, a camel back. On class III I usually have a kayaker along and they can carry it.

h

[corran]

All around me

Face in water

purse lips

suck

swallow

surface

Bingo

Corran

[kwhilden]

Hey Corran, how do you strain out the giardia and bacteria? your teeth?

I put a camelback device in a carry pouch that attaches to the back of my Kokatat PFD. Works like a charm.

[Lobes]

If your river runs through an area that contains a lot of eucalypt trees then the dead leaves in the water can sterilise the water to an extent by dispersing their oil. Nevertheless unless its a pristine environment I'd still recommend carrying your own water.

I work in disaster relief here in Papua New Guinea and we include in our emergency packs these things called lifestraws. They can filter almost any impurities out of water. They will produce about 8 litres of drinking water an hour.  Maximum use is about 20'000 litres.

http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw.htm

[corran]

Hey Corran, how do you strain out the giardia and bacteria? your teeth?

I put a camelback device in a carry pouch that attaches to the back of my Kokatat PFD. Works like a charm.

South African Immune system!!!

When I did the raid gauloise I was amused by all the teams that were boiling water and treating it to drink. The Angolan Special Forces guys and I were just drinking straight from the rivers lol... never got sick from it.

Dunno... lucky I guess. But I know thats how I drink water... face in, lips pursed... drink.

Corran

[Easy Rider]

To answer the OP - - I use a Camel Back - waist pack. 

Have tried the "back pack" types - and didn't like the restrictive feeling - the waist pack is great.

http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/hydration-packs/2010-flashflo.aspx
not the pink one   

[PonoBill]

I use a camelback, and I toss or squeeze everything in it. iPhone for music, PFD if I decide to carry it, a couple of bars if I'm going far (30+ miles, otherwise "harden the @#*K up").

I agree with Corran though, it's a good thing to get a splash of rasty water in your guts every now and then. I'll probably regret it someday, but I used to be able to eat the street tacos in Mexico. You need to wake up the immune system every now and then and give it a couple slaps on the face. I haven't had Giardia yet, but there's probably a dead beaver somewhere with my name on it.

[AZriver]

I use NSI deck attachment w/ spectra loops.  DO NOT buy the cooler from NSI its not very good.  I use a maxcooler, mid size.  works great!  i can post pics if you need.

[mrod]

"but there's probably a dead beaver somewhere with my name on it. "

now we're having fun, sketchy , but fun!