Been getting a little thirsty lately during my sailing sessions and started thinking about getting a backpack with a bladder of sorts- and also have some room to hold my gps. Any suggestions on a decent model that's realistically priced? Basically just trying to avoid those painful runs in for a quick drink, but don't want to feel like I'm carting a swag on my back...
Cheers for any info.
Neil Pryde do a hydration pack that attaches to their impact/flotation vest, which is a well designed one that fits with harnesses and doesn't ride up. The hydration pack (2L?) clips on and you can take it off easily when it is not required. Having the hydration pack on does add a couple of kilos and is a bit like wearing a weight vest. It does make your shoulders tired if you are not used to it.
Otherwise there are heaps of models available at camping/hiking stores. Just make sure it is going to stay snug and not hang off you when you are leaning back against the sail.
Sailing with a camel pack is well naughty
sailing hard in summer I can drain a 3L one in a couple of hours.
Even venture into the surf with one saves the trek back to the car for drink,
A 3L one gives 3kg of extra weight for speeding when blowy but has neutral buoyancy in the water
Big W - caribee (spelling?) Around $50 although zippers are metal. 2litre bladder with front pocket that I used to put a small screw driver and nick nacks until zipper corroded. Eventually stitching tore to base of shoulder strap so I cut them off and have it permanently tethered to my NP vest. My bladder compartment also holds a spare harness line, screwdriver, and sometimes I'll throw a fin in (<36cm) or carry flares if going out wide. It's worse for wear but does the job.
And as Elmo said it adds some weight if sailing in stronger winds.
saw a guy with this one on the beach the other day :
http://www.side-on.fr/product.php?id_product=406
has got a large pocket in the back to accommodate a water pack, and a pocket on the shoulder for a gps or phone.
80 $ locally
bonus you get an impact vest !!
Most important add on is a "Big Mouth" Nozzle, saves getting the feeling of sucking a bowling ball through a hose trying to get some fluids out when sailing
I have a Camelbak, holds 2 liters and has a few pockets for extra line, small downhaul tool and can even stretch to hold 1-2 fins (no bigger than 36cm)
Only thing, just remember to give it a rinse in fresh water so the zips dont corrode.
Cool. Camelbak it is. Just spotted a few on Ebay around $80 delivered. Cheers guys.
Not only does it hold 2L of water you can also wear it backwards (on you belly) under your shirt to the cricket for a few full strength refreshments. 
Select to expand quoteelmo said..
Most important add on is a "Big Mouth" Nozzle, saves getting the feeling of sucking a bowling ball through a hose trying to get some fluids out when sailing
memories...?
Be careful about putting the gps in a pocket though, if the material absorbs water at all, it can block the satellite signal. I tried one in mine and it worked fine until I fell off and got it wet, absolutely no signal after that.
I've been running 2 x 3lt. In the one backpack. 1 water and 1 sports drink .works well for those long trips
All good and thanks for the info guys. I ended up getting a 2 litre Cambak. It has a few small pockets so should hold the gps and some spare rope etc. I don't do too many miles but I'm a bit over coming in for a drink so this should see me put a few more kays in per outing. Will keep an eye on gps signal through the pack.
I got the camelback 2L, really good, fits well and you can use it running, swimming, moto riding
The Camelback is the only choice. They pattented the non taint plastic when they first brought out the Camelback. Hence the Camelback is the only water back pack where the water tastes ok. With all the others the water tastes like plastic.
I just got a bladder with a a coating / cover and then tied it onto the back of my Neil Pryde vest. the only time I notice it is when one of the ties comes undone and it flaps around.. Don't know how anyone sails without one.I usually work upwind before I have fun so to have to lose all that ground to come in for a drink is a waste of effort!
It's amazing how much water I end up drinking sailing..
Thanks to some good advice on here I got myself a Camelbak last week. And I have to say it's one of the smartest purchases I've made for windsurfing. I got the Camelbak Rouge- which is a 2 litre capacity model- and used it for the first time sailing Town Green at Port Macquarie a few days back. It was sunny, warm (30 degs) and a long way from the nearest tap. At first I thought, "Great, another bloody thing I got to cart around", but I ended up totally forgetting it was on my back. Not once did it slip, move or annoy me, and surpringly I drank a litre of water in only a 2 hour run.
So, if you've contemplated buying a backpack for water and a little storage, but thought in some way they'd be a hassle or would effect your sailing, don't fear, they are as snug as an impact vest. You will totally forget you have it on, and once you feel your mouth drying out, you'll be so greatful a nice drink is only inches away. This one little thing is going to make life so much easier this summer. I'll now be able to rack up more kays per outing which is sure to improve my over-all sailing skills.
on hot sunny day I use a 1.5l camelbak, I never run out of water .
you can use it for bush walking, mountain biking etc ...
they 're great get one .
I dragged out a camelback last night after reading this thread. Went for a kite today with it, the rehydration was good but because I didn't need to gulp water when I came in the first thing I drank was a beer. Now that was priceless.
I can go through 2 ltres in a sail on a hot day. They are also good to add a little weight to your body in strong winds if your a flyweight like me..
I didn't like the camelbak I tried a few weeks ago, it didn't have a chest strap so it bounced around a bit. I poked around on the net and thought the camelbak 'Molokai' might be worth a try, the design intent was for SUPers and metal free so nothing to corrode.
It's had a couple of runs, but without a roll of electrical tape handy it's no good for kiting (and I assume windsurfing). I needed to tape the loose ends of the four straps down to stop them coming loose in a good stack and also had to tape right around the body of the whole thing to stop the flap over the filling port coming loose (the bladder is then only held in with a small Velcro strip that also came loose in subsequent stacks).
Though once it's all taped down its pretty good, it's sits high on the back and clear of the harness and you barely notice it's there until you want a drink.
