Looking for a smaller hydration pack

[two6two]

Something that goes under my chest protector or as a belt....any suggestions?

[justinhambleton]

Two suggestions (I used both, depending on the temp and distance):

Moose Racing XCR - my primary race hydration pack. Fits well under most chest protectors and hold plenty of water for a typical hare scramble:

http://www.mooseracing.com/catalog.jsp? ... up_id=7192

The Camelbak Montara - great for cooler temps and shorter distance desert races, enduros and GPs (<= 100 miles). You can also stow a small amount of tools, but the point is to keep it light. It's incredibly comfortable and actually provides a tiny amount of back support. I love wearing this thing, but it doesn't hold a lot of water. Some of the Worcs guys are starting to use this. It comes with a super long drink tube that you can cut to length. I run mine up my back and up and over the front of my chest protector then use a small plastic clip to hold the hose to my chest protector:

http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreati ... ntara.aspx

Make sure you're hydrating a full week before a race, that way you're not sucking water the entire race. I generally just use water to keep my mouth moist, taking small sips at checks and wherever there's a long straight.

[two6two]

Thanks, I usually mix 1/2 Pedialyte and 1/2 water or Gatorade/water with salt.....

[justinhambleton]

Gatorade evil. Pedialyte good.

[RichR]

Gatorade evil. Pedialyte good.

Gatorade, apple juice, and almost all "sports drinks" are hypertonic. That is to say that they have too high a sugar content to be able to empty quickly out of the stomach. The sugar has to be partly processed first before the fluid can be released from your stomach, which slows down the uptake of both the water and the carbohydrate energy. Bad. Evil? Maybe, but bad for sure.

Cutting most things like Gatorade or apple juice, or stuff like that 1:1 or even 2:1 with water renders them isotonic, meaning that they will quickly empty from the stomach and become available.

Interestingly, the same can be true of the drink's temperature. As soothing as a mouthful of ice water may be, it ain't going to leave your stomach to help hydrate you until it warms up a little to around 70 degrees or so.

[shwnhdz]

Now Gatorade has multi use drinks, 01 pre activity 02 during activity 03 after... If you want a smaller hydro system, I would say, a Capri Sun and Duct tape, you won't even know it's there

[justinhambleton]

Interestingly, the same can be true of the drink's temperature. As soothing as a mouthful of ice water may be, it ain't going to leave your stomach to help hydrate you until it warms up a little to around 70 degrees or so.

You learn something everyday! Thanks, this is something I did not know.

[JCS]

I have recently spotted a hydration system that comes from Sweden , USWE-Sports. http://www.uswe-sports.com/index.php
I currently use a Malcom Smith product , 50 oz. , due to weight I never put more than approx. 30 oz. and use only about half of that during a race. The USWE have as small as 18 oz. packs that mount securely to your body , between the shoulder blades , or to your neck brace. There are larger models availible , all with many cool accessories.
There is a US distributer as of a month ago , Cernics :
814-539-4114
chris@cernics.com
parts@cernics.com
http://www.cernics.com

Jack 3m

[brian]

I've used this on a ride once. It's nice if all you need is just hydration.



http://www.camelbak.com/government-mili ... kteen.aspx