An exploration of hydration on the trail
While hydration has proven itself to be a vital element in staying happy and healthy on the trail, it cannot be dismissed as a mechanical necessity – hydration is also heavily reliant on personal preference and taste. While many diehard outdoorsmen will accept nothing besides plain, pure water, many explorers are keen on flavored sports drinks and enhanced performance beverages. Is there a right choice? In my first interview segment with … [Read more...]
We all know that hydration is key to our survival and during the summer months the heat sucks the moisture right out of us. Water constitutes approximately 70% of body weight in infants, 65% in children, and 60% in adults. (Medscape) We lose water through tears, sweating and urination and tykes are more prone to dehydration than adults. When the temperatures are HOT dehydration can occur more rapidly. "Parents, however, should … [Read more...]
In 2010 Boy Scouting celebrated its 100th year. During those 100 years many things have changed in both Scouting and the world around it. One of the things that has changed over the years is keeping the boys and adults hydrated while at summer camp, camp outs, and high adventure outings. We continue to hear about youth athletes collapsing on the field during sporting events, or even practices, due to dehydration. What we do not hear a lot … [Read more...]
Any time a box of gear lands on your doorstep, you get a bit excited. Just recently, a box full of hydration bladders landed on my doorstep to run through the review gauntlet. There was one from the market standard, Camelbak, called the "Antidote", one from Osprey called the "Hydraform", a clear bladder from Platypus called the "Big Zip SL" and one from the new kid on the market, Geigerrig, simply called the "Hydration Pack … [Read more...]
For many outdoor enthusiasts, hydration doesn’t appear to be a pressing issue of concern, much less a notion that requires constant vigilance. It’s a no-brainer, right? We feel that familiar dry itch at the back of our throats, the inside of our mouths lose their usual moist condition – so we instinctively reach for drink of water to sooth ourselves and cool down. It may seem as simple as that, but the issues of hydration and rehydration … [Read more...]
Disclaimer: Through my experience and study, there is no “right” answer to the best way to treat your water in the backcountry. Without getting too scientific, my purpose in this discussion post is to explain the basics and give you a starting point when deciding what will work best for you. Each region of the U.S. is different as well as each country, so it’s best to research the water in the area before traveling to that particular … [Read more...]
We LOVE our hydration bladders... most of the time. We're happy when they work well and grumble when for some reason or other they fall short of delivering... or when they deliver too much. That's why we want to start the hydration summit with a nozzle off that involves you! So, What IS a nozzle off? It's a challenge, a sharing of experience, a true test of quality and of course a chance to share personal preferences... about: Which drinking … [Read more...]
There are a lot of hydration systems on the market, but only a few seem to be leading the charge when it comes to innovation of design. I've owned many hydration systems but have primarily been a Camelbak user and I have watched their designs evolve over the years. With some serious newcomers breaking in to the market, there have been some amazing strides forward in hydration system technology. That being said, we thought the Hydration … [Read more...]
