| Staying hydrated is extremely important whether | | | | However, you need to remember that carrying |
| you're backpacking or doing other sports. Drinking | | | | too much can be uncomfortable no matter how |
| early and often helps and studies have shown | | | | well padded your pack is. |
| that athletes drink more when they use a | | | | Harness and strap |
| hydration pack. | | | | Most hydration packs come with padded shoulder |
| A hydration pack can either be a backpack or | | | | straps and adjustable hip and sternum straps. But |
| waist pack that functions as a hydration system. | | | | if the pack is too close to the body, it can get |
| Inside you'll find a reservoir made of rubber or | | | | too hot and uncomfortable. |
| flexible plastic suitable for storing drinking water. | | | | Fit and adjustability |
| You fill water through the capped mouth and the | | | | Straps and hip belts should be adjustable for a |
| attached hose allows you to drink hand-free. Most | | | | perfect fit. Some are made specifically to fit |
| hoses feature a bite valve that opens when you | | | | women. Female versions are shorter and have |
| bite down on it. | | | | narrower shoulder straps, shaped to go around |
| While hydration packs first became popular among | | | | the bust. The sternum strap is also higher, and |
| mountain bikers and motocross riders, it started | | | | the hip belt is made for the flare of women's |
| to cross over to other sports when it was shown | | | | waist and hips. |
| in scientific studies that athlete drank more and | | | | Padding |
| perform better when they use them. That's why | | | | To enhance protection, some manufacturers |
| you see a lot of athletes from all sort of sports | | | | incorporate body armour-style padding and plastic |
| using this type of hydration system. | | | | plates into their packs. This may be useful for |
| Capacity | | | | sports with a lot of impact like mountain biking. |
| Capacities vary from as little as one liter to as | | | | Reservoir cover |
| much as three liters. How much you need to | | | | Bladders of a hydration pack use a variety of |
| carry depends on a few factors including the | | | | closures where you fill in the fluid. The most |
| nature of the activity, temperature, humidity, and | | | | common type of closure is the screw cap and it |
| the availability of a water source. However, | | | | usually comes with a tether to keep the cap |
| getting a hydration pack with a bigger capacity is | | | | attached to the bladder. Less common is the |
| never a bad thing. | | | | roll-top closure which uses Velcro or an external |
| Reservoir access | | | | clamp to keep them closed. Wide-opening |
| You you get to the bladder varies in different | | | | reservoirs are particularly useful for easy filling and |
| models and brands. Some have the reservoir | | | | for adding ice cubes. |
| inside the main pack, while some have its own | | | | Maintenance |
| compartment. | | | | A drink container should always be kept clean so |
| Bite valve | | | | it needs to be emptied immediately after use and |
| As an integral part of the hydration pack, you'll be | | | | hung out to dry. Some hydration packs have |
| using it every time you take a drink, so it justifies | | | | drying inserts to keep the internal surfaces apart |
| looking into it a little bit more carefully. Bite valves | | | | while some even have coatings on the reservoir |
| made of soft materials are comfortable to bite. | | | | to prevent the growth of mold. You can also use |
| Some bite valves flood out water when you open | | | | sterilizing tablets to clean it. |
| it and some only trickles water. You might also | | | | Other features |
| want to check if the bite valve leaks when it is | | | | Some have special features like insulation (to keep |
| closed. | | | | the water warm or cold), special pockets for |
| Cargo | | | | sunglasses, mp3 players, etc, hoops and hooks |
| A hydration pack that can hold your other stuff | | | | for keys, gear and more. All features are stated |
| like keys, tools, penknife, etc is pretty useful. | | | | in the detailed specifications. |