Hydration Pack

[Laps]

Hi all!

Sorry to ask about something that probably has 1001 threads on, but I don't have much time to ask.  In preparation for a possible deployement to somewhere warm (starts with an "S", it's close to India and just got flooded), I am in a hurry to find a good hydration pack. 

I own a large CamelBack BFM, but would like something smaller (1-2L) that is quite comfy to wear and that doesn't get too in the way.  It must be easy and fast to purchase as I don't have much time to shop around and order form the Net (or it would need fast shipping!!!!!!)

Thanks to all for your time!!!

Laps

 

[Laps]

Oh, BTW, if you know of anywhere around Edmonton, that would help...

 

[PteCamp]

A good place to check is sporting good stores, like sports check if you have one near by, they sell them in smaller packs.

-KaT

 

[chrisf]

I've got the 3 litre thermo back in olive drab... it's extremely comfortable, once it's adjusted right it doesn't shift at all, yet the straps quite flat, making it easy to wear under webbing, and the 3 litre capacity is nice because while you don't have to fill it all the way if you only want 1 or 2 litres, it's still nice to have the ability to carry the whole 3 litres from time to time. It also fits into my backpack which claims to have room for the 2L camelback.

[Edit: Thought of this after posting... one design flaw that I can think of in the thermo back is that it's a bit long... but that's only an issue of you're short... should fit an average or taller person... fits me fine, and I fall into the average range.]

 

[PViddy]

If your not already deployed.  Justt check out your local bike shop, if you need itt now buy a camelbak classic.  They are relatively inexspensive, hold 2 litres, pretty bomb proof (now, this is a military forum so don't take that last one to literally  8) ) and are stream lined to the back.

If you have time Camelbak makes OD and camo versions that you can special order.  Good luck and Godspeed.

regards

PV

 

[Big Foot]

www.cpgear.com would generally be a god resource, you can get both CADPAT and OD bags to hold your cambelback bladders in.

 

[Fusaki]

I've got the 3 litre thermo back in olive drab... it's extremely comfortable, once it's adjusted right it doesn't shift at all, yet the straps quite flat, making it easy to wear under webbing, and the 3 litre capacity is nice because while you don't have to fill it all the way if you only want 1 or 2 litres, it's still nice to have the ability to carry the whole 3 litres from time to time. It also fits into my backpack which claims to have room for the 2L camelback.

Agreed. The 3L Thermobak is one of the most popular Camelbaks, and for good reason. Its simple and reliable. No fancy pockets, bells or whistles. Just a solidly built resovoir and tube, in a comfortable bag and harness. See if you can get the newest model, which comes with the bite valve cover. The "Thermobak" is designed to work like a thermos and keep your water cool in the summer or in liquid state during the winter. It does this pretty well, IMHO. When you drink out of it during the summer, the first sip is noticably warm because the very end of the drinking tube isn't insulated. But everything after that is nice and cool. The benefits of having a Thermobak over a non-insulated model become very obvious.

 

[chrisf]

The latest model of the thermo-back is what I've got... the flip cover is great... only downside is that you've got to use your hand to open it... of course, you'd be negating it's value anyway if you were to open it with your mouth... of course, if you're in conditions that aren't overly muddy or dusty, you can just leave the flip cover open and as the bite valve as per a normal camelback.

To Big Foot... have you ever actually *used* the Canadian peacekeeper hydration packs? I'll be honest... I haven't... the only thing I've ever done is try on somone elses (The original model, "#1" no idea what-so-ever what the #2 is like), but just from that, I can tell you that my camel back is far more comfortable and stable, and costs only slightly more.

 

[Laps]

Thanks all for the replies.  I looked around and I saw one from CamelBack called "stealth"; it is suposed to be low profile and kinda wrap around your back, so you can dit and wear it under a tacvest or likes.  I will probably wear it in vehicles in in the chopper, so this is the type of bag I need, in an other hand, does the ThermoBak work well in vehicles (hatch and tight spaces) and would it fit well under a tacvest?

As for the protective cap, I wished I had for my BFM in Bosnia; the mouthpiece would get pretty dirty lying around, and it's not too interesting to drink out of it... 

Anyway, once again, thanks for your help.  I should find out tomorrow whether it's a go or not.

 

[chrisf]

Thanks all for the replies.   I looked around and I saw one from CamelBack called "stealth"; it is suposed to be low profile and kinda wrap around your back, so you can dit and wear it under a tacvest or likes.   I will probably wear it in vehicles in in the chopper, so this is the type of bag I need, in an other hand, does the ThermoBak work well in vehicles (hatch and tight spaces) and would it fit well under a tacvest?

I still don't have a tac-vest, so I'll get back to you on that one... though I wear it under webbing quite comfortably... the straps aren't padded, they're flat cordura strap, so I'd imagine it would fit under a tac vest pretty well...

As far as hopping in and out of vehicles, if you're wearing it over your vest, the handle in the middle might become irritating fast, but it's not structural, or even very useful (I don't see much of a use for it anyway) so you could probably cut it off...

 

[Fusaki]

I've found my Thermobak to be quite comfortable while worn with a TV. I usually wear it on the outside, and then run the sternum strap through the inside. That might not sound like it makes sense, but give'er a try and you'll see what I mean. It sits pretty flat against your back, especially with the sternum strap. If you were really concerned you could do up the waist belt too, but I never bothered with that. I've worn my camelbak in the crew compartment of a griffon with no complaints and I've never had a problem in any vehicle for that matter.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

On my last Gulf deployment, I wore a Camelbak Thermobak 3L (it was issued to me) under my flying vest while airborne.   I put it in the freezer for about an hour before Flying Stations and found it fairly comfortable (just don't fill it too full or you won't be able to strap in properly) and had enough water for a 2.5 hr mission. the coldness on my back was really nice in an otherwise 55 degree Celcius aircraft. The bite valve could be a bit of a hygiene issue in an environment where there is lots of dust and nasty things living in the dust.

Of course, to my knowledge, no Operational Airworthiness has ever been done on the camelbak, so I took my chances a bit, too.

Good luck.   BTW are your rides going by air, or by sea?

Cheers.

 

[Laps]

SeaKingTacco,

Thanks, I was wondering how she was to fly with.  I'll order one of them from Calgary today, and ask the guy to courrier it ASAP. 

As for the rides, if it's a go, they will be Antonoved out there.  Hopefully, it won't crash and we won't lose precious Grifffons   At this time everything is just a big staff check, but if it's a go, it's gonna be a fast one.

 

[BKells]

I've got a question about rucksacks and hydration systems... is a heavy rucksack likely to pop a camelbak during a march? That's my biggest worry before I buy one.

 

[Kal]

    BKells, just throw it in the top pouch of your ruck and you're good to go.  If you don't want to do that though, don't fill the bladder to full capacity to allow for the pressure from the ruck.  Personally, I would rather have it in the ruck though, since it allows the frame to fit closer to you're back.

 

[chrisf]

Regarding rucks... I found with my camelbak that if placed in the top pouch, if it wasn't unbalanced to begin with, as I drank water from it, it would become unbalanced... I just hung mine from the back of the ruck, I lifted the top flap of the ruck, hung the camelbak around the body of the ruck with the shoulder straps, and ran the sternum strap of the camelbak under the back pad of the ruck... perfectly balanced, and didn't shift at all.

 

[Kal]

Good call Sig Op, to be honest, I never thought of doing that, (well, I guess if I did, I would have mentioned it before)  since if you needed to dump your ruck, taking your water would be much faster and easier. 

 

[chrisf]

Actually, it would probably be faster to take it out of the top pouch then remove it from the way I mentioned... the other option is to put the camelbak over the top flap of the ruck instead of under, much faster to move, more likely to shift.

 

[Fusaki]

I just run the shoulder straps on my camelback between the lid and the bag on the pouches on either side of my 82 Pattern ruck. I also do up the camelbak's sternum strap round the top of the ruck so it doesn't shift around. Its quick, easy, and it makes your rucksack "wear" the camelback in the same position it would be in if you were wearing it yourself.

When I get back to Pet I'll snap a few photos of my ruck. There have been a few questions around here that I've overcome, but can't explain without photos.

 

[Kal]

Sorry, Sig, didn't read over your post carefully enough. I thought you meant carry it on the outside the first time.  Thanks for the clarification.