By Natasha Nowakowski
July 3, 2003
Portland, OR is having one of its hottest summers already. On a recent paddle along the
Columbia River shoreline, I found myself sucking on my water bottle. Stopping every 5 or
10 minutes for a drink was getting to be a pain, and I promised myself the next time I went out,
I would bring along a proper hydration pak for hands-free drinking.
Sure enough, on my next few trips I tested several paks; Platypus' PFD Hydrator and Kayak
Hydrator, and CamelBak's HydroBak. I was in hydration heaven. Below is my take on each pak.
Upside: Attaches right to your lifejacket
Downside: Smallish fluid capacity
Rating:^^^^^ (5 out of 5 peaks)
Ideal User: Sea kayakers out on long trips or paddling in hot weather
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Platypus PFD |
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The Platypus PFD Hydrator was my favorite of the bunch. This hydrator attaches directly to your
PFD by way of clips around the PFD shoulder straps. These clips can be tighten for a snug fit. I hardly felt the pak on my back,
and by wearing it over my life-jacket, I was able to keep my kayak deck space free for my camera and maps.
The Hydrator has a water capacity of 35 oz and weighs 7oz. A hang loop at the top of the pak allowed me to hang it up in camp as
a central water supply. Platypus thoughtfully created a mesh back to drain the water in case of an impromptu swim. The label attached
says you can wear the pak under your lifejacket, but I found it much more comfortable on the outside.
As with all Platypus paks, it comes with a Big Zip reservoir, a HyperFlow bite valve, and a lapel clip. The reservoir is fully
insulated with closed-cell foam that won't soak up water.
MSRP: $29.95
www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus
Upside: Large fluid capacity
Downside: Still looking for one
Rating:^^^^^ (5 out of 5 peaks)
Ideal User: Sea kayakers out on long trips or paddling in hot weather
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Platypus |
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With a fluid capacity of 60 oz, the Platypus Kayak Hydrator can carry a lot more fluid than the PFD Hydrator. More than enough
for my regular three-hour paddle on the Columbia. Unlike the PFD Hydrator, this pack mounts directly to the deck with four snap
hooks to secure it in place. You can also mount the pak inside the cockpit, but I found this uncomfortable. The neat thing about
this pak is it features hidden shoulder straps that converts it into a basic, on your back, hydration pak. Perfect if you plan
to explore the island you've just reached by kayak.
As with all Platypus paks, it comes with a Big Zip reservoir, a HyperFlow bite valve, and a lapel clip. The reservoir is fully
insulated with closed-cell foam that won't soak up water.
MSRP: $29.95
www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus
Upside: Large fluid capacity
Downside: Not specifically designed to go over lifejacket
Rating:^^^^ (4 out of 5 peaks)
Ideal User: Sea kayakers out on long trips or paddling in hot weather
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CamelBak |
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The HydroBak is one of CamelBak's most versatile hydration paks and can be worn over your PFD. However, it wasn't specifically
designed to be worn with a PFD. While I was comfortable wearing the HydroBak over my Lotus Designs life jacket, it may not be so
comfortable for someone else with a larger or thicker PFD. Fortunately, the pak's low-profile design and wide shoulder straps
make for a generous fit over a PFD.
The HydroBak has some nifty features, most notably, a hydrolock on its valve, which keeps the fluid from dripping out. Its
50 oz Omega reservoirs feature large, screw-on caps, which make for easy filling.
MSRP: $30
www.camelbak.com
— Reviewed & Written by Natasha Nowakowski, WetDawg.com Staff
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