By THOM GABRUKIEWICZ
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The searing heat of summer has given way to the coolness of fall - and that means different opportunities for outdoor pursuits.
Less backpacking, sure, but more snowshoeing. Paddling is paddling, and so is cycling - weather and participant dependent - and there's always time to get in a hike.
And as important it is to stay hydrated when summer temperatures soar over 100 degrees, it's equally important to water the body when it's cold.
That's why, for a few months now, I've been testing new hydration packs. And the clear winner, taking anyone from spring through winter in a variety of pursuits, is Hydrapak's Glacier ($79.99, www.hydrapak.com).
The Emeryville, Calif. company has 16 packs in its 2006 model line, from the performance AS Race to the cycling-specific Roost.
But for me, the Glacier does it all - from keeping my whistle wet while fly fishing to a little Saturday morning singletrack along the trails. I've hiked with the Glacier, as well as paddled in a lake with it strapped over my personal floatation device.
The pack features an 100-ounce bladder, expands to accommodate 875 cubic inches of gear and weighs 1 pound, 8.5 ounces.
The Glacier really is two packs in one - excellent hydration when out for a quick hike, as well as a gear hound when fully expanded.
And the technology behind this pack, its ease of features, is what really will win you over, too.
The bladder is reversible, meaning you can turn it inside-out to clean (which no more funky science lab projects); there are baffles built into the bladder that prevents the movement of the liquid, meaning no more annoying sloshing sounds; the tubing features a plug-and-play attachment that means you can plug in the tube even when the bladder is full; and with the Glacier, the tubing is insulated, meaning that last sip will be as temperate as the first.
Hydrapak also guarantees its reservoirs, drink tubes and bite valves and will replace any part of the system should it fail, at no cost. You can't beat that.
