hydration systems (Hiking/Walking Equipment in general)

Member Name: hp98ttb

Product:	Hiking/Walking Equipment in general
Date:	05/04/01 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ease of use, convenience

Disadvantages: the 'bite valve' can drip

Well, since I couldn't really tell where else to put this opinion on this site, here is a good enough place.

The orginal 'hydration system' as far as I can see was the Camelbak from America. Then came Platypus and others, which have got better and better as time has gone on.

Originally I thought, heck, I've got a water bottle that doesn't leak, why get a hydration system?- its something fancy you can put in the pack and then bit the valve, and hey presto, you have water. Ok, its easier to drink from, you don;t have to keep getting your water bottle out of your bag, but thats about it.

Yes, that may be about it, but it really makes a difference. Now when I am running up a hill, pelting down one on a bike, or off on a massive expedition, instead of having to stop, take off my pack, unzip a pocket, take out a bottle, drink, put it back, zip it up, put the pack on again and try to get it comfortable, until the next drinks stop, I just suck on a tube and I get water- hey presto- hydrated, no fuss. Great.

I have an aerobak, which is a .75litre sac with a reflective carrier that straps to my back and clings there like a clingy thing, it is also reflective, it doesnt look like it in the day, but in the darkness it is really seeable- a driver would have tp be blind to miss it- or rather, hit it. The carrier is good for runs or bike rides where I'll just need water, not food, if I go on a longer ride then I take the water pouch out of the carrier, fill it and stick it in a rucksac. The great thing is that the pouch moulds itself to the rest of the stuff in the bag so that it takes up as little room as possible, instead of having to find that sigg bottle shaped hole in a rucksac of stuff to stick your bottle in.

Hydration systems, whatever make you buy, they are worth it. As camelbak say, Hydrate or Die. These things just make it a whole lote easier

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