Wilderness Hydration Pack

Hydration

  Essential to the survival of all organisms, water has always been an important and life-sustaining drink to humans. Excluding fat, water composes approximately 70% of the human body by mass. It is a crucial component of metabolic processes and serves as a solvent for many bodily solutes.

  Nearly all the bio-chemical reactions that occur in body cells depend on water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, phosphorous, magnesium, etc.) balance. These balances are not only vital to maintaining life but also affect physical and mental performance.

   Water is necessary for most life on Earth. Humans can survive for several weeks without food, but for only a few days without water. The exact amount of water a human needs is highly individual, as it depends on the condition of the subject, the amount of physical exercise, and on the environmental temperature and humidity. In the case of a backpacker, he or she will most likely encounter all three of these conditions at once. A good quality hydration pack is a necessity, not a luxury.
   In recreation and other sustained outdoor activities, a hydration system is an apparatus intended to promote its user's drinking enough liquid to support the physical effort involved in the activity. Such systems were first favoured by cyclists, but by the 1990s also had found a substantial market among hikers, campers and backpackers.
   You may also see a familiar commercial Hydration Pack being worn by Western military personnel in southwest Asia.
   In the US, the reference daily intake (RDI) for water is 3.7 litres per day for human males older than 18, and 2.7 litres for human females older than 18 including water contained in food, beverages, and drinking liquids.

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   It is a common misconception that everyone should drink two litres (68 ounces, or about eight 8-oz glasses) of water per day and is not supported by scientific research. Various reviews of all the scientific literature on the topic could not find any solid scientific evidence that recommended drinking eight glasses of water per day. For example, people in hotter climates will require greater water intake than those in cooler climates. An individual's thirst provides a better guide for how much water they require rather than a specific, fixed number.
   Performing light to moderate exercise in a cool, dry environment, you can lose about a cup of sweat or more per hour. Perform the same exercise in warm, humid weather and you can lose more than a quart of sweat in an hour.

   A hydration pack is a type of hydration system built as a backpack or waistpack containing a reservoir or "bladder" commonly made of rubber or flexible plastic. The reservoir contains a capped mouth for filling with liquid and a hose that allows the wearer to drink hands-free. Most hoses end with a "bite valve" that opens when the user bites down on it; the valve may be protected by a dust cover. Some hydration packs are insulated to keep water from freezing or becoming warm.

   When you are preparing for your next day long or overnight wilderness backpacking adventure, you can take water in bottles which are awkward to carry, or you can take a hydration pack. The comfort of carrying you water supply on your back in a hydration pack instead of various bottles dangling from your belt is obvious. Most hydration packs also have excellent storage capacity, so the one backpack may be all you need to take.

   With most Hydration packs providing 100 plus ounces of water, you will be able to remain hydrated the whole day. 

   A constant supply is needed to replenish the fluids lost through normal physiological activities, such as respiration, perspiration and urination. Food contributes 0.5 to 1 litre, and the metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates produces another 0.25 to 0.4 litres, which means that 2 to 3 litres of water for men and 1 to 2 litres of water for women should be taken in as fluid in order to meet the RDI.
   Be prepared with a hydration system / hydration pack that you can count on to keep you hydrated no matter what the activity.

                     Tips to help you stay hydrated:

   Before heading out on the trail remember to pre-hydrate. Drinking 14 to 20 ounces of fluid two hours before becoming physically active can make a big difference in performance.

   Try to start your day with a cup of hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon instead of caffeine. Caffeine in coffee and tea acts as a diuretic and causes the body to lose water.

   Always have water available; keep a water bottle with you when walking or hiking to fight against dehydration.

   Drink a glass of water before and during each meal. Not only will this help with hydration but will also make you feel full without overeating.

   If you are cold, drink warm water instead of coffee or tea which can dehydrate you.

   Don’t forget to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables as these have a high water content and will contribute to your daily water intake.

Dehydration:

   Even mild dehydration - 1% of body - which would represent approximately .75 to 1 litre of water (1% of 75 Kg = 750 ml.) can create a reduction in muscle performance and start to show dehydration symptoms. Early symptoms are headaches, dry eyes, drowsiness, loss of concentration and irritability. If the dehydration is 2 - 3 %, serious performance inhibition occurs. This is not what you want to have happen when hiking , backpacking or during a survival emergency.
   This serious situation can arise quickly when the body is in a warm environment and doing mild physical exertion, as in hiking and backpacking.  For the serious wilderness backpacker a hydration pack is the best defense against dehydration.