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The Complete Handbook of Hydration Systems
A Practical Reference for Buyers, Owners, and Sellers of Hydration Packs, Bottles, and Reservoirs
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Hydration Systems
The simplest way to understand a hydration system is to stop thinking of it as a single product and start thinking of it as a small, portable, and user-controlled water distribution network. Just as a building relies on a reservoir, a network of pipes, and a tap to deliver water where it is needed, a hydration system relies on a water bladder, a flexible tube, and a valve. The user replaces the role of the municipal pump and water tower. They provide the pressure, either by squeezing the bladder, by gravity, or, in the case of a soft flask, by simply biting down on the valve while applying external pressure to the container.
This functional definition is the key to understanding the entire category. Every product in this market, from the two-liter reservoir in a hiking backpack to the small bottle held in a runner's hand, is an attempt to solve the same core problem: how to drink water without stopping, without using both hands, and without having to fumble with a screw cap or a standard bottle. The specifics of how they solve that problem, and how well they do it, are what separate one system from another.
The Anatomy of a System
While there are several distinct formats, the most common and most complex is the reservoir-based backpack system. A typical unit consists of four distinct components: the reservoir itself, the hose or tube, the bite valve, and the carrying harness or pack.