The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

80 The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

Hydration

reservoirs

Daniel Neilson reviews convenient bladder systems

for drinking water on the move

S

SO WHAT’S WRONG with a bottle, you may be thinking? As a

receptacle for liquid, it’s been a pretty successful medium for, well,

almost two millennia. However, over the last couple of decades, the

hydration reservoir or bladder has become hugely popular among

mountain bikers, trail runners and paddlers. It makes sense; these

are all activities where the need to drink on the move, hands-free,

is required. In this sense, the hydration reservoir was an important

innovation. There was no longer the need to stop, unzip a bottle

and drink; instead you merely whip the hose into your mouth, suck

out the water and let it go again.

Hillwalking is generally enjoyed at a slower pace, and stopping

for a glug of water is no hindrance. But in bad weather, when

scrambling or when you've really got into your stride, sometimes

the thought of pausing to grab a drink isn't just annoying; it might

not even enter your head. With the hose of a hydration reservoir

hanging over your shoulder, however, water is always right there,

readily available and without the need to break your stride.

I deinitely drink more regularly when I use these systems. And

we all know that, when someone is lagging, a gulp of water is often

transforming. Therein lies the critical advantage of the hydration

Features

reservoir: it can keep you more hydrated. Small sips of water

throughout a trek also feel a more eficient means of hydration

than big, occasional gulps.

Pretty much every backpack these days is compatible with

hydration reservoirs; indeed, some even come bundled with them,

or at least with an option. There is usually a sleeve against the

back that a hydration reservoir will slip into, and then a small hole

on one or both sides around the shoulder where the hose can be

poked through. The backpack will usually have a small clip for the

hydration reservoir so it doesn’t slip down. And all the reservoirs

have something that can be hooked.

So what to look out for when buying a hydration reservoir?

They’re not perfect, of course: criticisms levelled against them

include the hose freezing easily, the water sloshing around, the fact

they leak, they’re hard to clean, you should only use water, they

taste of plastic... But they are improving all the time to eliminate

some of these annoyances (and that’s all those are, really). It should

be noted that all models here are BPA-free. Finally, they usually

come in different capacities. Consider what your intake is over a

typical day in the hills. Two litres is usually the perfect size for me.

Gear comparative review

1. Opening
   The opening is where you’ll be illing the
   bladder with water. It needs to be broad, easily
   accessed and secure. Along with the hose
   attachment, it’s a weak point where leaks
   could happen – although when it’s happened
   to me, well, let’s say it was human error!
   Openings generally fall into two types: a fold
   over with a sealing strip or a circular screw top.
   Another factor to consider is whether they
   are wide enough to clean. They’ll need regular
   cleaning, and if there’s anything other than
   water in them, it’s essential every element is
   cleaned (I’d recommend sticking with water
   after past experience!).


2. Size and weight
   A backplate and closure can add up to make
   a reservoir heavier than a water bottle.
   The proile of the reservoir is also worth

considering. If it balloons up both sides, it can

be tricky to get into a full pack after reilling,

and on smaller packs could be uncomfortable

against the back. The wider the reservoir, the

less it will bulge. Some have a hole or a bafle in

the middle to minimise the proile.

3. Mouthpiece
   Any mountain biker will recognise the
   feeling of water dripping through their
   shirt from a leaky mouthpiece. Fortunately,
   the issue has nearly been eliminated, at
   least in the reservoirs on the test. Another
   factor is to consider the low. You don’t
   want to be sucking on the mouthpiece like
   you would a McDonald’s milkshake. It should
   be nice and smooth.


4. Construction
   Has the manufacturer taken every possible
   opportunity to eliminate leaks? Along with the
   mouthpiece and the opening, the part where

the hose attaches to the bladder is also a weak

point. It should be easy to remove the hose,

but it must be securely fastened too. Are all

the components well- built?

5. Ta s te
   A common criticism is that the water can taste
   bad. Some go a long way in adding a ilm or
   treatments to the polyurethane to eliminate
   a bad taste. One way to reduce the lavour
   apparently is freezing the bag with a solution
   of water and lemon juice.


6. Other features
   Most manufacturers offer a range of
   additional features, such as a cleaning and
   drying kit, magnetic clips to attach the
   mouthpiece to where you want it on your
   bag, and tube insulators. If you’re walking
   in temperatures even approaching 0°C,
   then a fully insulated tube is essential;
   they freeze very quickly.