No More Furry Hydration System...

More new stuff from the show in Friedrichshafen and this one's for all those people who leave the insides of their hydration systems to grow weird furry cultures which they then never quite really get rid of.

Well, seems like the answer is at hand, or at least will be early in 2004. The nice people at Camelbak, who invented the hydration system in the first place, have invented something called HydroGuard, which should kill microbes well dead.

The system uses an embedded silver-ion compound in the bladder material which inhibits the growth of common micro-organisms - it kills 99.9 per-cent of nasties say Camelbak - but is harmless to people. Used with occasional help from Camelbak's handy reservoir cleaning brushes and a good sterilising solution, it should mean fur-free drinking, even with energy drinks which are a bugger for micro-growths...

The company also has a cluster of new hydration packs including the Day Star and the Isis, which are both women specific models for day outings at 20 and 26 litres respectively. Straps are adapted to fit narrower female shoulders and the waist belt has been adapted to sit comfortably on women's hips. There's also a sternum strap that sits higher on the chest for greater comfort.

There are plenty of other new models too, but the big news, we reckon, is the silver-impregnated bladder. More Camelbak info at their web site.