Different kinds of hydration water packs

Hydration water packs are just backpacks, waist packs, or other gear that is especially designed to carry water – or any fluid – with you and allow you to drink hands free without stopping. These packs were initially popular with people engaged in strenuous outdoor sports where time was of the essence, but so was hydration. The idea of stopping to get a drink meant losing time, so being able to carry your water in a pack with you and drink it hands free through a tube with a mouth operated bite valve offered a clear advantage.

The idea took off and now hydration water packs are used by all kinds of athletes as well as the military, special police units and others that need to be able to drink on the go while using their hands for other things. Even when time is not essential, hydration water packs are incredibly useful when you are in a situation where stopping or using your hands to drink is impractical or impossible, like while rock climbing. Since hydration water packs have become so widely used, now there are a variety of basic types that are available and each is offers its own advantages and disadvantages.

Dedicated hydration water packs

These are hydration water packs whose primary function is just to carry the water and little else. Like all water packs, they come in various sizes, but in general a dedicated pack only has room for the water bladder. There may be a couple small pockets for additional items, but these are very small. The idea is to keep the pack as small and light as possible. These are great for people just going out bike riding for a few hours or taking light day walks. If you want to carry a lot of water with you, but not much else, this is the type of pack you want.

Hydration water day packs

These are basically like any other day pack, but they have an integrated water bladder with the hose and bite valve. If you do need to carry other gear with you, but do not need too much, this is probably the better option to make. As with all hydration water packs, the actual size of the bladder – the amount of water it can carry – varies by model, but the rest of the bag is the equivalent of a normal day pack. This means you have enough room for some basic tools, some food, and other gear, but it they do not provide enough room to pack for a major expedition.

Hydration backpacks

This is exactly what it sounds like, a hydration water pack that is designed like a backpack and has a comparable amount of space in it. These are great for large multi-day expeditions or other endeavors where you need to bring a lot of equipment and supplies with you. The water bladder is integrated into the pack, with the hose emerging from it, so if you are hiking or riding a bike you do not have to stop and dig through your backpack to access your water supply. In fact, you do not even have to stop to have a drink.

 Hydration water packs for winter sports

The hydration water packs designed for winter sports are essentially the same as those designed for other sports and come in all the varieties described above. However, they frequently employ special materials that are resistant to the cold and the hose and bite valve include special insulation to keep water from freezing. Since many of the same people that like summer sports also like winter sports, there are specialized kits produced by most makers of hydration water packs that can convert summer packs into winter ones.

Hydration water packs for other parts of the body

The most popular hydration water packs are backpacks that fit onto the back by means of shoulder straps, a waist strap, and sometimes a chest strap. However, there are other alternatives available. Waist packs have been popular with some bicyclists – especially racers – as well as runners for some time because they attach to the center of gravity and are easy to run or cycle with. Another alternative are hydration vests, which help keep the water closer to the body to prevent freezing in winter time.

Sport-specific hydration water packs

With hydration water packs becoming so popular, there are now a wide range of packs that are specifically designed for various sports, ranging from the older models that focused more on mountain biking and motocross riders to new ones designed for long distance swimmers, runners, and skydivers. If you choose to shop around, you can probably find a hydration water pack that is specifically designed for whatever sport you do, though these sport-specific packs may not satisfy your personal preferences.

Hydration water packs for the military

Hydration water packs have also become standard issue in many militaries of the world, especially since the onset of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, where hands-free hydration is very important. As a consequence, most of the leading makers of hydration water packs have developed models that meet military specifications, most of which are also available to the general public. Some of these military models are specifically designed to keep the water safe from external contamination (like chemical or biological weapons).