BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews

HydraStorm Disposable Bladders +
By: Frank Borelli, 22 August 2005

OK, so some folks might be wondering what this review is doing in the Camping & Backpacking section of our Recreational Equipment evaluations. It's here for lack of a better place to put it in the recreational reviews. Virtually all outdoor (and some indoor) activities can make you sweat, and sweat or not, you need to stay hydrated. As a Cub Scout lo those many years ago I learned that I was supposed to always have a canteen with me anytime we hiked, camped, or did anything else that required us to spend time walking.

I remember kids getting dysentery because they didn't keep the old metal one-quart canteens clean. Plastic canteens came along and things didn't change much. When hydrations systems - soft bladders to carry liquid spread out on your back rather than in a bundle on your hip - were developed the cleaning challenge didn't go away. In fact, it got a little more difficult. Now we had tubes to keep clean and bladders that weren't easy to reach into. Special cleaning kits were made and are useful for maintenance. However, I have come to the belief that the absolute best way to have a fresh clean bladder every time is to use a new one. That can be expensive - unless you're using the BlackHawk HydraStorm Disposable bladders.

Specifically designed to create a cost effective hydration bladder and drinking tube system, these disposable systems provide you a few truly desireable characteristics / features:

1) Cost: If you have to replace a reservoir with a standard reservoir kit, you're looking at spending close to $30. The disposable 100 oz reservoir retails for $4.95 each, with discount pricing available if you buy them in bulk.

2) Flavor: If you put anything but plain water in a normal reservoir you're either stuck with a tedious cleaning job, or the after-taste stuck in your reservoir (with whatever science project is growing) for months. Because these reservoirs are disposable you can put any kind of drink in them you want, knowing ahead of time that you won't have to clean or reuse it.

3) Ease of disposal: Sure, you can throw them away. But guess what? If you're in the field under conditions that permit fire, but not leaving trash behind (like all camping), these empty reservoirs provide you a fire fuel. They burn clean to not only give you an environmentally friendly fire fuel, but also less trash to hump out when you're done.

Recognizing that many outdoorsman wouldn't need a 100 ounce / 3 liter system, but would be interested in a flavorful hydration system that performs above the norm, HydraStorm teamed with Accelerade to create a 48 ounce disposable reservoir preloaded with powdered Accelerade. You can have it in orange or lemon-lime flavor. Just add water, shake it and drink. It's important to note that, unlike some "sports" drinks that only replace electrolytes, Accelerade includes protein to help reduce muscle fatigue and increase the speed of athletic recovery.

So, if you're heading out on that day hike or morning hunting jaunt, consider what you're going to drink and how. For a short day, take some Accelerade along. For a longer day, fill a 3 liter reservoir with whatever you choose and enjoy it throughout the day.

For more information about BlackHawk HydraStorm hydration products, visit their website.

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Also, don't forget to read the Tactical Equipment Evaluations:

5.11 Tactical's H.R.T. Boots-----22 August 2005
Plus others!!!

Check out this week's Highlighted Training Article about first aid equipment and information every police officer or soldier should have as part of their uniform.

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