BORELLI CONSULTING: Tactical Equipment Reviews

BlackHawk HydraStorm Force 5: Hydration + Storage
By: Frank Borelli, 17 January 2005

The first thing I need to do is thank Blackwater for the fantastic treatment in our working relationship across the past two years. Thanks, once again, to their focus on getting the job done, and the dedication they show in "carrying for the troops", we will continue to bring you equipment reviews that are written in plain English with a no-holds-barred approach. That said... This week we're taking a look at the Force 5 Backpack / Hydration System from HydraStorm, part of the BlackHawk Products Group family.

When I started searching through my gear looking for a pack that I could wear / carry through SHOT Show at the end of the month, I realized that I didn't have anything I felt was 1) of the proper size, and 2) would carry a hydration system. Since, from what I've been told, covering SHOT Show involves walking the seventeen miles worth of floor plan, I felt a hydration system and snack food would be mandatory. In all fairness, I do have a large pack / hydration system, but I felt that it was too big to carry around SHOT, and I didn't want to have to pull all of my tac gear out of it just to have to repack it when I got back. So I gave HydraStorm a call to see what they might have that would be just the right size. After having some conversations with the Brand Manager, I settled on the Force 5 in Coyote Tan.

As you can see from this picture the Force 5 is available in black, OD Green and Coyote Tan. Not pictured is the version available in Desert Camouflage. Let's take a look at the characteristics of the pack itself and then we'll discuss the hydration system - or, of greater interest, the upgrades that HydraStorm has incorporated into all their hydration systems.

The Pack:
Constructed of heavy-duty cordura nylon and double-stitched at every juncture/seam I can find, the Force 5 offers 2,240 cubic inches of storage space. That space is broken up into the main compartment (approximately 1190 cubic inches) and the secondary compartment (approximately 420 cubic inches). There is also a pocket on the outside of the secondary compartment that will conveniently hold maps, thin books, or other compressable materials (about another 600 cubic inches of space). To carry whatever you choose to fill that space with comfortably, the Force 5 has padded and contoured adjustable shoulder straps and a padded waist belt. Mine came with the sternum / chest strap attached, but it's removable for you folks who are just so broad that you can't close it anyway and it ends up being an inconvenience if left in place. I should mention that the waist belt is also removable, but I can't (off hand) think of a situation where I would want to take it off because it adds so much to the comfort of carrying a full pack.

On the top of the pack is a rubberized carry handle, and where it has been triple-stitched onto the pack, HydraStorm designed in a little extra space in the webbing so you have attached points for D-rings, or anything you might want to tie on. On each side of the pack there are two compression straps with fastex-buckles so that once you've filled the pack you can tighten them down and make a slimmer profile. Speaking of filling the pack, the main compartment opens via the heavy-duty zippers (#9 YKK for those of you who understand that), each zipper with a "Sure-Grip" pull. Sure-Grip pulls are short lengths of nylon / paracord with rubberized ends that are easier to grab with wet hands or gloves than are the normal metal / plastic zipper pulls. The main compartment is of clam-shell opening design, so that you can lay the pack flat, unzip and open the main compartment, and have access to the majority of the storage space. Note: Once you've filled the pack, you have to stand it up to get the hydration bladder in and out. Pack the pack first and then fill the hydration system so that you can take full advantage of the designed storage space.

If the internal storage space is insufficient for your needs (for whatever reason), BlackHawk sells side pouches that can be attached via the Force 5's integrated adjustable side straps and compression straps (to hold the pouches close once they're attached). Measuring 15' x 5", each side pouch adds an additional 300 cubic inches of storage space. Add two and your total storage space on the Force 5 becomes more than 2,800 cubic inches! If you need to add your sleeping bag (or pancho liners) to your load, BlackHawk offers a compression stuff sack that measures 29" x 9" and attaches to the bottom of the Force 5 by way of fixed hard rubber strap slots. The compression stuff sack, no matter what you're filling it with, adds an additional 600+ cubic inches of storage space bring the Force 5 (with accessories) total to over 3,400 cubic inches.

Now when you're carrying that much equipment / gear, and humping it any distance at all, you tend to sweat. This is especially uncomfortable if everything you're carrying is pressed right up against you and there's no room for ventilation. To help alleviate some of that discomfort, BlackHawk designed their Intercooler Ventilation System, or IVS for short. The IVS is a padded foam panel that has airways built in so that there is constant ventilation between you and the pack. Additionally, due to the thickness and design fo the IVS system, the padding provides a shaped support system that decreases lower back strain when carrying a loaded pack for extended periods of time. You can see the shaped design of the IVS below.

So, now that you have an idea of how much gear you can carry in the Force 5, and at least a description of the features that would make it comfortable to wear / carry, let's take a look at the incorporated hydration system. No matter how easy it is to carry your load, you have to stay hydrated or eventually fall out.

The Hydration System:
Built into the Force 5 pack is the HydraStorm hydration system with all of the new upgrades. The bladder holds 100 ounces, or 3 liters, of liquid. The drinking tube is directed over either shoulder (dependent on your preference) and held secure by threading it through the tube routing sytem: a series of small D-rings attached to the shoulder straps. (These small D-rings also come in handy as attachment points if you're not using them to direct your drinking tube.) My first question was, "What upgrades?"

The hydration system incorporates four upgrades:

1) New Fill Cap Design - using a wider mouth / opening, the bladder is easier to fill. Leakage is never an issue, but HydraStorm accomplishes this without an o-ring so you have one less piece of equipment to worry about cleaning, maintaining or replacing. And now the caps themselves are color-matched to the carrying packs that have external fills. While that doesn't apply to the Force 5, it is a nice feature to have your fill cap not stick out like a sore thumb because it's a different color than the whole rest of your hydration pack.

2) Quick Disconnet Delivery Tube - the HydraStorm drinking tube can be disconnected from the bladder without having to worry about spillage or leaking. That means you can switch out bladders easily and without having to change your whole drinking tube / routing system. At the attachment point, where the tube hooks into the bladder, HydraStorm has designed in a swivel design that allows 360 degree rotation so that your tube doesn't get twisted (causing restricted liquid flow to you) or disconnected (due to torque on the connection point as a result of the severely twisted tube).

3) New Bite Valve - Still having an easy to use on / off function, this bite valve can be grabbed by your lips / teeth from any direction and you've got liquid access. Unlike the old bite valve that required specific placement in your mouth to drink from, the new bite valve just gets stuck in and is designed to help you intuitively (by touch of your lips / teeth) bite it in the right spot. Additionally, since some of us like to apply a lot of pressure, HydraStorm incorporated a post in the center that keeps you from biting the valve shut. Unless you literally chew this apart, you cannot bite hard enough to cut off your liquid flow.

4) Last (and arguably the most important) is the MICROBAN Antimicrobial Product Protection - The antimicrobial treatment prevents the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew, all of which taste bad and can make you sick if ingested in sufficient quantities. The MICROBAN antimicrobial treatment is applied at the molecular level to each bladder so that you can't wash it off / out, and it lasts for the life of your bladder. The antimicrobial technology is applied to the bladder, drinking tube and fill cap. Just for those who wonder about molecular treatments to bladders holding drinking liquids, the technology has been approved by the FDA, EPA and the National Sanitation Foundation.

With all of those points made, let me say this in simply language:
The bladder is easy to get out of the pack, fill, and put by into the pack. I don't have to take the whole hose out to do it and I don't have to drag the pack up onto my kitchen counter (if that's where I am). The bite valve is comfortable and simple and provides fluid at a decent rate. It's not like sucking through a thin straw. HydraStorm will soon have available disposable bladders that will enable all of us to carry and drink sugared liquids (can you say Gatorade?) without having to worry about cleaning the bladder. Once it's empty, throw it away (or burn it because it burns clean). I'm looking forward to those.

The Force 5 retail price on the HydraStorm webiste is $119. If you've looked at "tactical" back packs lately you know that's a pretty good price tag. The accessory pouches are about $20 each. The Compression Stuff Sack is listed at $33. How much space you want to add is your choice, and put together as you see fit.

My Force 5 has proven comfortable so far and I look forward to using it on the floor at SHOT. FYI: Blackwater and BCI anticipate doing a review of SHOT Show this year. Look for Blackwater and BlackHawk on the floor at SHOT Show. Look for our listing of, and general comments on, the highlights of SHOT on Monday, January 31st!

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