Gear Review: Geigerrig RIG 500 with Hydration Engine

Geigerrig's innovative way to drink water

There are a plethora of daypacks on the market so having something that lets the pack stand out is important in this market. Geigerrig packs is just such a company that lets their packs stand out in the market. The packs come with a hydration engine allowing the user to pressurize the water bladder and no longer have to suck to get water. This also means not sharing a mouthpiece or being able to squirt water while biking. Having the water come to you means breathing doesn’t have to stop while sucking in water.

Gear Review: Hydroflask with Filtration Straw

Hydroflask and filtration straw

I am a water snob, I admit it. I love cold water, the colder the better. And I love water that has no chemical taste to it. Short of spending a fortune on bottled water, I generally make do with filtered water in a glass which eventually gets warm. This is where Hydroflask enters the picture. Hydroflask has double-walled stainless steel flasks that keeps cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot. Hydroflask recently came out with a filter straw to fit into their flasks to filter tap water while keeping the water at the temperature I like.

Gear Review: CamelBak PowderBak

PowderBak from the back

The PowderBak is CamelBak’s latest innovation in their wearable hydration product line. The PowderBak is a full-zip mid layer vest that has an integrated Hydropouch on the back. The Hydropouch is a pocket that holds a 72 oz (2.1 L) CamelBak reservoir. The PowderBak is designed to keep the hydration bladder from freezing in cold temperatures by keeping it close to the body. Body heat generated by the user prevents the reservoir from icing up and allows the person wearing it to stay hydrated.

Gear Review: Camelbak Groove

I hate tap water. Almost every place I have ever lived has had terrible tap water. Maybe I am sensitive to the taste of chlorine in my water, but I have had to resort to filtering my water. I was really happy to get a Groove personal filter bottle as this meant I could fill up at any tap and not worry about the taste of the water.

Gear Review: Camelbak Antidote Bladder and Octane 18X Daypack

Day hiking in the desert can be a challenge. I have a hard time packing enough water for a trip without it sitting awkwardly in my pack. With the Octane 18X pack and Antidote bladder from Camelbak, I find this isn’t an issue anymore.