Keeping properly hydrated while exploring the outdoors is one of the most important things you can do to keep you healthy so that you can enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, this message hasn't gotten to all adventurers. On top of this, carrying water is one of the more difficult tasks to do. Water is heavy, it takes up a lot of space, and it can get too hot or cold (and freeze). While plastic water bottles are the most popular way to carry water, they may or may not be the best way to carry water.
To make carrying water easier, many companies offer hydration bags (essentially plastic bags designed to hold water). They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are often more convenient than the traditional plastic bottles because they generally weigh less, are easier to pack, and can be connected to a tube so that you can drink from them without having to stop and open a bottle to drink from it. Research has shown that it is better to drink a little water, more often, than drinking a lot of water, less often. The ability to drink while moving is one of the greatest benefits of hydration bags.
One of the best hydration bags on the market is the UnBottle from Camelbak. Essentially speaking, it is a plastic bag that fits inside an insulated protective cover, and comes with a tube to drink from. But this simple description belies these other important features that make the UnBottle world class. They include:
- The UnBottle is virtually leak proof. Other than stabbing it with a knife, it won't leak.
- As mentioned before, the UnBottle has two layers. The inner, plastic layer, is where the water is stored. The outer layer provides insulation and protection.
- The UnBottle can be stored in a pack's hydration pocket, if it has one, or it can hang off the pack from D-rings that are attached to the UnBottle. There is also a handle to make it easier to carry. One of the advantages of a hydration bag like this is that carrying one in you backpack, whether it has a hydration pocket or not, is that is can fit into odd spaces, making it easier to pack.
- The UnBottle has a very wide mouth. This makes it easier to add water, to add powered drink mixes, and to clean.
- The tube that you drink from is long enough to reach from the UnBottle stored in your pack to your mough. Excess tube length can be stored in the UnBottle's insulation bag. To drink from the UnBottle, you bite down on the mouthpiece and suck the water. As an additional way to prevent water from leaking out of the mouthpiece, there is a valve next to the mouthpiece. In practice, you will leave the valve open while moving, and only close it when storing the water. The mouthpiece, by itself, prevent most water from leaking.
- The UnBottle weighs just under 12 ounces, empty.
The Camelbak UnBottle is well-suited for hiking, backpacking, climbing, and trekking. |
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