Re: RC: Water bottle holders for ZES

[DESERTRYDR1@aol.com]

An alternate to waterbottles is a camelback type backpack.  It holds about 2 
liters of water.  Mine (not camelback brand) has an insulated cover that is 
big enough to slip a flexible cold pack in, and has padded shoulder straps, 
and waist band and also a sternum band, which takes weight off the shoulders. 
 Full, it weighs less than 5#.  It has a mouthpiece that is positioned right 
by your mouth for no-hands drinking, and I have used the mouthpiece, which is 
a long piece of flexible tubing, to drizzle water onto my horse's neck and 
shoulders, or wet a sponge.  I think some types come with a bigger reservoir 
also.  It can be used in addition to water bottles, or instead of.  On 
training rides,which for me are 2-3 hours, I have never used all the water, 
even when using part of it on my horses.  I have been using it on training 
rides for a month, it has not hurt my back or shoulders.  I barely notice its 
there.  I was worried about it bouncing, but the sales guy said he uses his 
for Motocross, and he was right, it does NOT bounce!  The biggest downside so 
far is that my back sweats some under the pack.  They are about $20-80.  Mine 
was $30. and I like it better than some of the more expensive ones.  They are 
available in sporting goods stores like GART or Big Five.    jeri