Hydration is very important and Osprey have a well thought out solution to help with this ~ the Hydraulics 2L Reservoir, writes Mike Gormley.
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As we probably all know, adequate hydration is a must when active. A hydration bladder if often the most convenient way to achieve this. On your back, in your pack and easy to access bite valve enables you to hydrate on the move whenever you need to.
This set-up from Californian backpacks producer Osprey, who turn 50 next year, has some good features. To fill a bladder can sometimes be a bit of a trick when out and about. This one has a full opening top with a slide seal top sealer. I like this as it makes it much easier to fill and to pour from if needs be and, importantly, easier to clean.
The reservoir or bladder itself, which is made for Osprey by HydraPak, has a lightweight plastic front grab handle and rear reinforcement panel to afford support when filling and porting and also to allow for easier insertion into the rucksack or daysack pocket; total weight when empty is just 201g. The 1/4” or 6.35mm hose is jointed with bayonet units to ease removal. There is a neat magnetic fixing to enable you to secure the tube to the most convenient place on your rucksack straps but speedily ‘click off’ when you need to drink. Just a note here if you are using a compass don’t hold it too close to the high strength magnet, which will also affect a pacemaker.
Made from tough TPU material, the reservoir is able to deal with hot and very cold water. I am not sure if I would want hot water in a my drinks reservoir inside my daysack, but I guess in a very high ambient temperature the water could get pretty hot.
[© MG]
I reckon 2 litres (70 oz in US parlance) is a good capacity; you don’t have to fill it right up, of course, but there are smaller 1.5 litre and larger 3 litre versions to suit needs and fit different pack sizes.
[images © Mike Gormley unless otherwise noted]
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