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Once a year in the clear of summer I spend about twenty days out in the high desert of Northern Nevada.
Gets pretty hot out there, it's dry as hell.
I use one of the large camel back type outfits, I think mine's a genuine article from the camel back company. It carries five liters of water.

One of the good things about carrying a camel back is that you can ice the water, and as a system it'll help keep your body temperature down by having that bladder full of iced water close to your body, the backpack shading your back.

Mine's got quite a bit of cargo space as well. Outrageous dust storms and sudden rain showers happen out there and it's good to be able to keep eye and respritory system protection safe and sound in the pack, out of the dust.
I also keep one of the ultra light weight mylar blankets in the pack just in case I need the cover, to signal for help, set up water stills...

Still with all the basic survival gear and water in there, I still have room for my 1911 .45 and a couple of spare magazines, a handful of power bar energy sticks or whatever light food items I might want to pack, and room on the outside to rig whatever else I'd need on a short hike away from the base camp.

I've had a small folding chair on one side and a camera tripod on the other and wasn't bothered at all with the load while hiking into the foothills or trails.

A great accessory for the camel back is an insulation slip for the drinking tube. They're typically made of something resembling wetsuit material and keep the water in the tube cool. It beats a hot mouthful of water, the insulation insures a tube full of cool drink.

Also note some of the bladders these days come with a large fill hole. They're great if you can find them, it's just a little easier to get a handful or two of ice through a large fill hole than it is a small one. It won't cost you more money and it'll make a difference.

--Tinker

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--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--

"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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