To camel back or not to camel back?

[WDWRookie2009]

Hello everyone!

2019 we went end of May into June during a record breaking heat wave. (My luck lol) We survived but man it was intense! We are from far west Texas where its normal to see 110 - 115 degrees during certain months HOWEVER it is dry heat. Humidity heat is a totally different ball game. My husband suggested we take camel backs (He swore by them in Iraq) but the thought of having to carry something on my back all day when I am already hot and sweaty... I just don't know. We are going mid June this time. I did buy neck fans for this trip!

So if you guys use them, certain brand? Tips? Tricks? I am all ears.

 

[elaine amj]

I've used them before. Works for quick and easy access to water and constant sipping. So if you're already planning to carry water, a camelback is a good ergonomic way to carry a lot of water for the least shoulder strain.

Nowadays I have switched to a crossbody water bottle strap so I just sling a water bottle over my hip. No bag check required lol. I also have a large running belt that can hold a water bottle easily. Yes, I can get a cup of water at QS places but I like to drink when I'm thirsty rather than hunting out places to stop for water.

Why don't you plan for him to carry a camelback since he likes them? You can share or toss an extra water bottle in his bag for yourself.

What I personally found helped me the most were cooling towels. Easy to slip under your shirt/around your neck and wonderfully cooling.

Other than that, we just suffered as necessary. Usually we were having too much fun to worry to much about being so hot. And ducking into stores with AC helped a ton

 

[Bobb_o]

I agree that the cooling towels can make a big difference in how you feel. It doesn't replace staying hydrated but you probably will be more comfortable. I've used Frogg Toggs towels but I'm sure there are other brands that do a good job as well.

 

[DisArmyWife215]

My husband has used a camel back, cheap one not sure on the brand. He liked it, I didn't. I prefer cold water and carried an insultated bottle with a cap strap. It was small enough to sit in a side slip pocket of sling bag but large enough for me to use for a few hours hydration. I'd rather refill a bottle all day then wear a camelback. Side note I saw a vlog that just showed Disney's new reusable line of items and they had an adorable roll up style refillable bottle. I plan on buying on for use and souvenir on our next trip. Only available in the parks currently.

 

[FCDub]

Seems like overkill to me. Preparing for Disney World like it’s war is a no from me.

 

[JJReddawg]

We’ve used Camelbacks before, but it was more of a hassle than anything else. Now we use the Brita filtered water bottles. You can just fill up at a drinking fountain or water bottle filling station. The filter completely takes out the sulfur taste.

 

[WDWRookie2009]

I've used them before. Works for quick and easy access to water and constant sipping. So if you're already planning to carry water, a camelback is a good ergonomic way to carry a lot of water for the least shoulder strain.

Nowadays I have switched to a crossbody water bottle strap so I just sling a water bottle over my hip. No bag check required lol. I also have a large running belt that can hold a water bottle easily. Yes, I can get a cup of water at QS places but I like to drink when I'm thirsty rather than hunting out places to stop for water.

Why don't you plan for him to carry a camelback since he likes them? You can share or toss an extra water bottle in his bag for yourself.

What I personally found helped me the most were cooling towels. Easy to slip under your shirt/around your neck and wonderfully cooling.

Other than that, we just suffered as necessary. Usually we were having too much fun to worry to much about being so hot. And ducking into stores with AC helped a ton

Thank you for the reply and tips! My biggest thing is lugging it around. I will look into the crossbody water bottle strap you said you use! That def sounds more appealing.

 

[WDWRookie2009]

I agree that the cooling towels can make a big difference in how you feel. It doesn't replace staying hydrated but you probably will be more comfortable. I've used Frogg Toggs towels but I'm sure there are other brands that do a good job as well.

Thank you for the reply and tips about the cooling towels. We are def going to be carrying those as well!

 

[WDWRookie2009]

My husband has used a camel back, cheap one not sure on the brand. He liked it, I didn't. I prefer cold water and carried an insultated bottle with a cap strap. It was small enough to sit in a side slip pocket of sling bag but large enough for me to use for a few hours hydration. I'd rather refill a bottle all day then wear a camelback. Side note I saw a vlog that just showed Disney's new reusable line of items and they had an adorable roll up style refillable bottle. I plan on buying on for use and souvenir on our next trip. Only available in the parks currently.

Thank you! I am thinking my husband will be solo on the camel back thing. I don't like lukewarm water! Awesome about the roll up style! I will be on the lookout!

 

[WDWRookie2009]

We’ve used Camelbacks before, but it was more of a hassle than anything else. Now we use the Brita filtered water bottles. You can just fill up at a drinking fountain or water bottle filling station. The filter completely takes out the sulfur taste.

Brita filtered water bottles! Thank you! I will look into this!

 

[DLgal]

We use them all the time! They are great, and actually you can get some with some insulation that will keep your water cold for HOURS if you put ice in it. The additional benefit is that they feel cold against your back.

I don't know if the ice machines are working at the hotels right now, but if they are, it's a good trick to getting filtered water at WDW. Fill the Camelback ALL the way with ice at night. By morning it will be melted. Add additional ice to fill the reservoir up and you now will have ice cold, tasteless filtered water.

I use a women's specific model, and have the kind with the largest reservoir (100oz) and that is enough water for our family of 4 for most of the day, I refill it once using ice water from a CS lunch or dinner. If you each carry one, you won't even have to refill in the parks.

Mine also has lots of additional storage for all the other random stuff I take, like ponchos, sunglasses, hats, sunblock, hand wipes, etc.

 

[DLgal]

Brita filtered water bottles! Thank you! I will look into this!

These will not keep your water even a little bit cold, and they have a small capacity. We tried these and didn't like them.

 

[elaine amj]

Thank you for the reply and tips! My biggest thing is lugging it around. I will look into the crossbody water bottle strap you said you use! That def sounds more appealing.

I ended up buying the cute Mickey water bottle strap. It has a little rubber ring that fits over the neck of a regular disposable water bottle. I have adapted it to use with refillable bottles with a carabiner but often use a disposable bottle (and refill it) for the parks as it is lighter and smaller plus I can toss it if it gets annoying.

To make it crossbody, I took an old strap from one of my ither bags and sewed it up and attached it to the water bottle ring. I would have sewed two lanyards together but decided a wider strap would be more comfortable for my shoulder for extended hours of wear.

Note: if u want your water cold, u need to use an insulated water bottle, which is slightly heavier.

 

[amyg1]

Thank you! I am thinking my husband will be solo on the camel back thing. I don't like lukewarm water!

Fill the Camelback with ice and then water in the hotel in the morning. As the day wears on, the ice melts and you have cold water.

 

[DLgal]

Fill the Camelback with ice and then water in the hotel in the morning. As the day wears on, the ice melts and you have cold water.

This doesn't work with the super basic camelbacks that are just a bladder surrounded by a thin layer of nylon. It works with the insulated packs that have a thick foam layer inside. The basic ones will get body temperature within an hour.

 

[Kobebeef]

We go every June since we have teachers in the family and it just doesn't work well for other times of the year. What we do is freeze water bottles at night then wrap them in the bottom of my backpack in cooling towels and regular washcloths. As the ice melts you get cold water and the condensation from said melting bottles dampens the towels with cold water to wrap around your neck or just use to wipe face and cool down.

 

[thornton0511]

Hello everyone!

2019 we went end of May into June during a record breaking heat wave. (My luck lol) We survived but man it was intense! We are from far west Texas where its normal to see 110 - 115 degrees during certain months HOWEVER it is dry heat. Humidity heat is a totally different ball game. My husband suggested we take camel backs (He swore by them in Iraq) but the thought of having to carry something on my back all day when I am already hot and sweaty... I just don't know. We are going mid June this time. I did buy neck fans for this trip!

So if you guys use them, certain brand? Tips? Tricks? I am all ears.

I don't have an answer to your question, but I did want to say that we were there that week in 2019 (also from Texas), and had the same reaction to the heat. That was the most intense temp we have ever experienced on a Disney trip and it was miserable lol, and we have been going to Disney for 10 years in all seasons. I am crossing my fingers that when we go back in 4 weeks we will have normal May Florida temps.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

DH uses a Camelbak at Disney. Fills it with Gatorade and ice and is cold all day. And we do not have the super insulated one. It does stay cooler on his back. He likes that when he has a mask on her can slip the tube under his mask without having to move away for a drink. We actually just bought another one for myself as the humidity along with outdoor queue lines and mask wearing will be more intense. Also remember as far as cooling down in stores, currently there is a limit on guests in many of them, so you may not be able to just pop in to cool off. Good luck and have a wonderful vacation.

 

[BayGirl22]

I use a Camelback for hiking and totally agree with your DH on the benefits. However - my unpopular opinion - I don't like wearing a backpack in amusement parks, cities, or for day to day stuff. It bugs me to have to take it on and off to reach anything, on and off for rides, and I feel less secure in a crowd. In the cases where I do wear a backpack in a place like Disney I will also wear a small cross body wallet with my valuables on my front. (All of this is less of an issue for hiking when I'm alone in the wilderness and don't need my wallet or phone, and my outfit may have better pockets.)

For Disney I tend to carry a cross body bag and a medium size water bottle that I refill. Cold water is less important to me. If I want filtered I use a Bobble - they are very light clear plastic with a sports top filter. I can find them even at our local grocery store, but I think I got mine online. https://waterbobble.com/

 

[_19disnA]

Thought at first it was some kind of animal ride, but sounds like some sort of clothing accessory. Honestly, when the temperature is a 3 digit number, no amount of water/clothing/hat/etc. will make it seem any more comfortable. People in Vegas talk about low humidity, but when you walk outside it feels like walking into an oven. At least in Vegas the casinos are indoors with good A/C. We would never go to Disney in June/July/August since it is HOT along with lots of people who can only go when their kids are out of school for the summer.