Touring - Transparent or white water bags?

Hi Bikers,

I've been considering the MSR Dromedar or Ortlieb water bags, however, would prefer that the bags are either white or transparent. Any of you know of similar quality bags (with attachment straps preferably) that are transparent or white? I'm looking for bags with a 4 - 6 liter capacity.

Best regards,

Jesper

Platypus.

http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/filtration-and-storage/platy-water-tank/product

if you are going to be storing water in the bags for any amount of time, get a bag sunlight cannot penetrate. Sunlight will cause bacteria, and mold to grow rendering yoir water unsafe to drink. That's just somethink to think about.

I like the Platypus bags, particularly the ones that can stand up.

That said on tours where I will use them for only shortish parts of the tour, I just reuse sports drink bottles or bottled water bottles and dispose of them when I don't need them.

On tours where I take my filter I am more likely to carry the Platypus. I typically just use the 2+ liter one and supplement it with Gatorade bottles when I need more capacity. I carry the Gatorade bottles either under pannier flaps or in the panniers (they stay way cooler in the pannier than under the flap if it is hot out).

if you are going to be storing water in the bags for any amount of time, get a bag sunlight cannot penetrate. Sunlight will cause bacteria, and mold to grow rendering yoir water unsafe to drink. That's just somethink to think about.

There are plenty of bacteria that can grow without sunlight, and mold cannot photosynthesise. If anything, sunlight would reduce the growth of mold. I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor.

if you are going to be storing water in the bags for any amount of time, get a bag sunlight cannot penetrate. Sunlight will cause bacteria, and mold to grow rendering yoir water unsafe to drink. That's just somethink to think about.

Not sure where you get your info, but they are currently using solar purification in Africa. Sure, if there is nitrogen in the water algae could grow, but algae also needs oxygen, and I wouldn't think there would be enough O2 in a closed container. And anyway you wouldn't really want to drink water with that much nitrogen present.

Solar water disinfection - the SODIS method - is a simple procedure to disinfect drinking water. Contaminated water is filled in a transparent PET-bottle or glass bottle and exposed to the sun for 6 hours. During this time, the UV-radiation of the sun kills diarrhoea generating pathogens. The SODIS-method helps to prevent diarrhoea and thereby is saving lives of people. This is urgently necessary as still more than 4000 children die every day from the consequences of diarrhoea. http://www.sodis.ch/index_EN
http://www.electricitybook.com/solar-water-purification/sodis.jpg

I would make the choice based on which kind of plastic leaches fewer chemicals into the water. If you have the opportunity to try any of these out, put water in the bag for 24 hours, then drink it. Whichever bag adds the least chemical flavor to the water is the one you should use.

Hi all,

- appreciate your suggestions & comments. The Platypus looks like what I was thinking of so thanks for that tip. I guess in time I will be using the bottles from mineral water or the like as well but would like something more stable.

@Gorshkov: Hmmm... I don't have the possibility to try out the water bags but what you mention is indeed a consideration of mine. Do you know of any companies that really takes this into consideration? I guess filtering the water before drinking it could be a solution (carbon filter)...

Best for your evening :-)

Jesper

I use a platypus soft bottle and it never leaches any flavors. I like them quite a bit, but the are only one liter and don't have loops to strap them on to anything. Sometimes I just stuff them under my bungee net on my rear rack, only dropped it once like that.
If the large platypus container is made from the same material as the soft bottle then I wouldn't imagine you would get any off flavors in the water.

As someone who worked in the Hydroponics dept. of Americas largest hydroponic tomatoes greenhouse for a spell, Trust me, you want bags that light will not penetrate.
Dramatically less algae and bacteria grow in darkness.

The best water bags, hands down, are the MSR dromedary bags, not just because they are light-proof, but also for the fact that unlike they platypus bags, they do not develop cracks, tears and leaks.

I use both the Dromedary and Platypus bags. Both are plenty robust and neither contain the "tempest in a teapot" BPA. Both must be carefully and frequently rinsed out then disinfected with dilute Chlorox. The advantage of the clear Platypus is that you can see if the water you're about to drink is dirty: with the Dromedary the advantage is that you can't see whether the water is dirty.

I use both the Dromedary and Platypus bags. Both are plenty robust and neither contain the "tempest in a teapot" BPA. Both must be carefully and frequently rinsed out then disinfected with dilute Chlorox. The advantage of the clear Platypus is that you can see if the water you're about to drink is dirty: with the Dromedary the advantage is that you can't see whether the water is dirty.

I don't get it. The stuff (bacterial cells, parasites etc.) that will actually cause illness cannot be seen with the naked eye.

the color of the water is irrelevant- safe water might be yellow-brown due to tannins from a grove of ash trees upstream

light is necessary for most microbial growth, ergo, a light-tight bottle will harbor less gunk.

basic science.

I also have both Platypus and Domedary. We take the Dromedary on tour, because the only thing we use it for is camp water and it's sturdier and larger. Less carrying back and forth. I also like the three sizes of opening choice. Occasionally, we have used it to carry extra water. It's very sturdy, yet light enough that we take it even though we are some of those people who pare the ounces. Hiking, we carry both, the Dromedary empty, Platypus full. The Platypus is lighter than the liter bottles it replaces.

I use Platypus bags, mostly because I got some for really cheap a while back, and they haven't given me much trouble. I only notice a plastic-y taste with water that has been sitting in them for a long time in hot weather.

I still think the whole bacterial growth issue is not that big of a deal in bag choice; whatever bags you get, you should rinse them with dilute bleach every few days anyway (more often if you are suspicious of the water source you filled them from).

Ultraviolet light is a common microbiological growth control method in some industrial processes, typically used in materials where you can't use cheaper, more effective chlorine gas, chlorine dioxide or proprietary microbiocides (for example - foodstuffs, health products, some expensive bottled water - products which are ingested or contact skin).

If you wanna grow some slimy stuff, leave it in a warm, dark area.

However, I think opacity is a minor point in choosing bag-type water containers. Choose based on capacity, weight, size to fit application, and suitability to task. The MSR Drom is the toughest you can buy, but it's heavy. You can use them for showering with heated water. If you just need to carry water in a pannier, any of the lighter ones will do the job.

I bought an Ortlieb water bag last year on sale from Wiggle, less than 20 bucks. It's surprisingly tough considering it's relatively light weight. 4L of capacity for 130g.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/us/ortlieb-4-litre-water-bag/

If you're touring anywhere in the developed world, there should be no concern about harmful bacteria in the water you are using to fill your containers. If you are touring where water quality is questionable, you need to be treating it before drinking it anyway. So I think the debate about the color of the containers is largely unnecessary.

Hi all,

& thanks again for replying.... My reason for preferring a transparent or white bag is mainly that both will not heat up that much and also I can see what is inside the transparent bag. But given your feedback it appears that either the Platypus, the Ortlieb, or the MSR Dromedary are good choices depending on the needs I give priority (will be driving in hot climates most likely with less than optimum water quality). As I think about it now probably I will need two bags....

Greetings from Denmark,

Jesper

I use the bladder out of boxes of wine if I need extra water.There tough,free,come in all kinds of sizes and if you like wine,fun to get.I hate wine,so I get them from my friends that like it,if/when they ever get one.

They don't have a fancy name,you won't get style points but they work well.