Intelligent Hydration with the Camelbak Flow Meter^TM

Knowing how much water you are drinking, or how much water you have left, can be an excellent ability for people engaged in various sports, especially those that involve endurance over a long period of time. While there are many "intelligent hydration" systems out there that can help people with make this determination, the Camelbak Flow Meter^TM works with almost all of the company's famous hydration systems, turning them all into intelligent hydration systems.

The Flow Meter^TM is a small electronic device that fits to the hydration pack reservoir tube and includes a sensor that monitors the current fluid levels. Although Camelbak sells a number of water tube with the Flow Meter^TM already installed, it can be installed on any Camelbak water tube, though this involves cutting a small hole in the tube. The device is attached using barb connectors which should ensure that there are no leaks after installation as long as the installation instructions are followed precisely. Obviously, cutting a hole that is too large can result in leaks, so it is important to be precise when installing a Flow Meter^TM yourself. The advantage, however, is that you then have the option of placing the Flow Meter^TM at any location along the hose that you prefer, as opposed to dealing with the predetermined locations that are part of the pre-installed versions.

Once the Flow Meter^TM is installed, it has to be programmed. Again the instructions that come with the device are very precise and easy to follow, so most people should not have much difficulty. One of the great features of the Flow Meter^TM is that it is programmable in order to help athletes accomplish their personal hydration goals: calculating the desired intake of water through the programmed period of time. Therefore the Flow Meter^TM can help people keep their hydration levels at their preferences and can help them ration their available liquid appropriately while on the move. The device also allows the user to determine their own units of measurement and set their own intake perimeters. All said, the Flow Meter^TM is highly customizable, so it can be used in many different ways, depending on the athlete's needs.

Although the Flow Meter^TM is water resistant, sealed against water and moisture, and can survive light rains and the like, it is not designed to be fully submerged in water. Similarly, the device is not designed to withstand temperature extremes, either hot or cold. Though the Flow Meter^TM is designed to be tough, it does contain some sensitive components; users should avoid extreme impacts or physical shocks as much as possible. Subject to these terms and warnings, the Flow Meter^TM does come with a warranty which may or may not be administered by your local retailer.

Although the cleaning instructions are not included with the basic installation and operation instructions, they can be found on the Camelbak website (www.camelbak.com) in the FAQ section of the product description. Further, the cleaning instructions - especially for the sensor - may be included on a separate sheet when you purchase the Flow Meter^TM.