Unconventional Uses For Your Hydration Pack

Anyone involved in endurance and off road sport knows that hydration packs – backpacks that carry water and allow the wearer to drink without stopping or using their hands – have become very popular in recent years. From competitive runners and mountain bikers to non-competitive hikers and hill runners, hydration packs have become a largely standard piece of gear. Moreover, though the earlier models were difficult to clean out thoroughly and were consequently only really suitable for water, most modern models are designed to be easily cleaned out and therefore can be used to carry sports drinks and other beverages as well.

In view of this, it can come as no surprise that people have begun using hydration packs in less than conventional ways. For example, hydration packs have suddenly become popular with long distance swimmers, though many long distance swimming competitions and authorities do not allow them. However, a hydration pack provides a long distance swimmer with a considerable advantage over competitors that use the more traditional methods of refuelling while swimming (receiving food from people on pontoons and backstroking to get it all in their mouth without getting it contaminated with water).

However, there are also some less sport related unconventional uses as well. I recently read a blog about a fellow that was thrown out of a pub after it was discovered that the hydration pack he had with him was actually filled to the brim – a full two litres – of vodka that he snuck into the establishment. Not surprisingly, the idea of using a hydration pack as a means of smuggling in alcohol to places where it is not allowed has been quite popular and has even led to the creation of its own little side industry that creates what are essentially hydration packs specifically for use with alcohol, for example: www.thebeerbelly.com

The adoption of hydration packs for military applications in Iraq and Afghanistan have also led to abuses, particular of soldiers using their hydration packs to bring beer and other alcoholic beverages out into the field with them. There was a report some time back of a whole squad that did this regularly, with one member bringing beer and the others carrying water and everyone sharing. Obviously having intoxicated soldiers with live weapons in the field is not a good idea so the military has been aggressive about stopping this behaviour.

 Among one of the more bizarre uses of a hydration pack that has been reported online was the use of a small one by a nursing mother to carry breast milk for her baby. Needless to say, I doubt the infant could use the bite valve, so precisely how she did this – or why she did this – remains a complete and utter mystery. One would think that keep the natural breast serves as the perfect “hydration pack” for infants without additional assistance.

As hydration packs continue to increase in popularity, it is inevitable that more and more people will find interest new – and largely unconventional – uses for them. Who only knows what the next creative application will be.