By Dan Sanchez

The ten essentials has been the rule for must-have items since the 1930’s by Boy Scouts and mountaineers. The items are often altered or changed over time, depending on the conditions of your trip and its location. But the bare minimums do make a difference, especially in emergency situations. 

While the ten essentials should be used as a guideline, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to only ten items. You can add items that you may think you need given the situation you’ll be in.

THE TEN ESSENTIALS

1. Pocket knife: A good knife will be one of the most useful tools you can carry. It’s good for cutting rope, using as a screwdriver and many other uses. Folding knives tend to work best as they can be kept in your pack or clipped to your pant pocket. A knife with a two or three inch blade should suffice. Keep it sharp, clean and always cut away from your body. We like the Benchmade Rift 950, but there are many other knives you can consider. Some also have added tools such as a can opener, toothpick, file, and other stuff. Keep in mind that the more features it has, the heavier and bulkier it gets.

Adventure Medical Kit's AFA 2.0 is perfect for a group of up to four people and features antiseptic, wipes, bandages and more.

2. First Aid Kit: You should actually have two. A larger one to keep in your vehicle and a smaller one in your pack. Many lightweight kits come with tools and instructions to treat injuries ranging from headaches and sunburns, to a broken leg or lacerations. Most “essential” style kits have everything you need. Larger versions often just have more of the same items. A smaller kit works well if you replenish the items  you’ve used.

3. Extra Clothing: Following the basic techniques to layering allows you to adjust to the temperature and situation. An extra insulating layer and lightweight jacket don’t take too much room in your pack, but will come in handy if you’re stuck somewhere and need to stay warm. Even in summer conditions, there are areas where temperatures may drop to near freezing as the sun goes down.

4. Rain Gear: Always bring a rain jacket if you know there is slim  chance of showers in the horizon. In dry areas or in the summer months, a garbage bag can also serve as a make-shift, lightweight rain poncho in case a freak storm rolls in. A garbage bag can also serve as temporary shelter.

5. Flashlight: If you ever get lost or stranded, a flashlight can help you find your way when the sun goes down. It can also be used to signal for help. Make sure the batteries are always fresh. Some flashlights with a push-button switch can be turned on accidentally. We had a situation where one turned on in our backpack and it actually burned a hole in it and could have started a fire. So it’s a good idea to remove the batteries when it’s stored.

6. Extra Food: On a backpacking trip you always plan your meals. Make sure to bring at least one extra one just in case. Trail-mix and energy bars make for easy lightweight extra food that won’t spoil if you have to spend an extra night out. They’re also great for day hikes where you may only be planning on bringing a lunch.

An aluminum water bottle can come in handy to gather water and to also be used with a water purifying device.

7. Water Bottle: Most people will have water in their camp and may take along a 1-liter plastic water bottle on a day hike. Backpackers typically have a 2-liter water bladder, but it’s always a good idea to have a small bottle to gather water in case of an emergency.

8. Matches or Lighter: Carry a handful of wooden strike-anywhere matches. Keep them in a plastic container so that they don’t get wet. A lighter also works great, but make sure it has plenty of butane. Regularly switch out old matches for new ones as they are harder to light with age.

9. Sunscreen: While there are many types, a small bottle that protects against UVA and UVB rays will work best. Natural sun screens may require more applications if you perspire so read the labels carefully and don’t forget a hat and sunglasses.

10. Map and Compass: We hardly see people on the trail with a map and compass anymore. Most know the trails inside out, but it only takes one missed sign post or carin and you’re lost. Take the time to learn how to read a map and use a compass. It’s easy and could save you from getting lost.  We’ve also seen people with hand held GPS units that they don’t know how to use. Make sure you test it out at home and familiarize yourself on how to use it, and that the batteries are fresh.

OTHER ESSENTIAL GEAR TO CONSIDER:

Water Purifier: Being able to find water in an emergency situation is great, but you won’t be able to drink it without purifying it first. Some lightweight alternatives to carry, can be as simple as some iodine tablets or a small portable filter. We like the SteriPEN Journey as a lightweight solution to purify water with UV light, but there are others available that are also effective. See our guide to choosing a water treatment system.

Cell Phone:While you may not get good reception in a deep canyon or ravine, you can climb to the top of a hill or rock outcropping to make an emergency call. Keep in mind most cell phones have a built-in GPS system. If you have a Blackberry or iPhone, you can always Tweet for help or post it on your Facebook page.

Mosquito Repellant: This is a must during spring and summer months. There are many deet and deet free repellants available so choose what you like and what works best for you. We like the All Terrain repellants as it uses natural ingredients and has a unqiue time release application.

Take a look at the Kelty Pawnee 3300 backpack. It is an ideal pack for hikers and backpackers looking for the most bang for their buck ($129.00). The Pawnee 3300 is lightweight, sturdy, comfortable, and versatile. Pawnee gets high marks from overnight hikers far and wide, and with good reason. It is an ideal pack for every type of application, including members of Search and Rescue Teams, which this particular pack is used for.

Pawnee 3300 is an internal frame pack which sports an aluminum stay and HDPE (high density polyethylene) frame sheet for support. There is a removable waist belt which fits waist sizes ranging 18.5”-21+” for additional support and stability while hiking. The backing, straps, and waist belt are well padded with breathable mesh.

Kelty’s Pawnee 3300 features three storage areas: one main central compartment, one front pocket, and a top loading compartment. There is an internal sleeve in the main compartment which allows a hydration bladder (sold separately) to be stored within. The Pawnee comes in two colors: Nite Sky (dark blue and gray) and Russet (red/orange and gray).

The Pawnee 3300 is also an ideal pack for beginning backpackers as it is versatile, durable, and wallet-friendly. Looking for a new pack can be quite a daunting experience for any first-time buyer as there are many different models available. Many packs feature the latest innovations and a labyrinth of pockets and compartments. The multiple pockets on other packs allow experienced hikers to organize the gear for easy access yet can confuse and overwhelm beginning hikers. The three storage compartments of the Pawnee 3300 are simple and effective while providing ample storage room for any overnight hike or all-day alpine assault with its 3300 cubic inches of storage.

Pawnee quick-adjust shoulder straps.

Of all the features to look for when considering a new backpack, the most important feature, however is comfort. It is absolutely essential that hikers find a pack which fits their anatomy well and distributes weight without causing pain. A pack that does not fit well can cause serious back, neck, and shoulder injuries. The Pawnee 3300 distributes weight down the back with the aluminum stay and into the hips which are secured tightly with the adjustable hip belt. Kelty features their reliable Scherer Cinch on the hip belt which is a sturdy adjustable strap system that allows the pack to fit nearly any body structure like a glove.

Pawnee 3300 on Continental Divide trail in New Mexico.

The Pawnee 3300 was recently tested by FreshAirJunkie for use in search and rescue missions. Members of search and rescue teams look for features in packs that most hikers look for including durability, afford ability, versatility, and comfort. There are some unique features that search and rescue teams look for in packs including coloration, easy access, and quick packing/unpacking.

Pawnee is designed with water tube exit at top of pack.

Appearance should be one of the least important criteria for selecting gear; however it is a good rule of thumb to use gear which is easily noticeable from a distance when venturing into remote and precarious environments. Members of search and rescue teams often cover vast a distances in remote areas during missions and must coordinate operations between various search parties and aerial assistance.

Members of S&R teams often wear brightly colored uniforms such as hunter’s orange or red and prefer their gear to be just as easily recognizable. The Russet (red/orange) Pawnee 3300 is therefore ideal for members of the search and rescue teams. Our Night Sky Pawnee 3300 would simply use a bright red, orange, or yellow rain cover if and when the pack is set down on a ridge or as a search-point reference to be seen at a distance. Search and    Rescue team members own a wide array of gear for whatever each mission may warrant. Team members must often pack their gear quickly and efficiently at a moment’s notice.

Mesh pockets on both sides.

Pawnee offers many lash points for external gear.

The simple 3 compartment system of the Pawnee 3300 allows team members to pack all of the gear necessary for any type of mission. The main compartment can hold gear ranging from ropes to blankets. The front compartment provides easy access for food, knives, or flashlights. The top loading compartment provides easy access for to a first aid kit for any EMT in the field.

Overall, the Kelty Pawnee 3300 is a solid backpack for any hiker regardless of their experience or needs. The pack offers ample of storage with easy access. The aluminum stay, HDPE, and breathable mesh padding provide the hiker with a comfortable hiking experience suitable for any terrain. The Sherer Cinch straps allow the weight to be distributed evenly and adjust to any body type. The Pawnee 3300 has been tested in harsh climates by hikers and rescue professionals and it offered good durability. The affordable price should place this at the top of hiker’s shopping list.

By Kevin Varn

Photography by Rick Shandley

Gear List:

• Cloudveil Inversion Down Jacket
• Mountain Hardwear Hydra Gloves with OutDry
• Kelty Foxhole 3 Four Season tent
• Camelbak two-liter Omega hydration bladder
• Eco Usable Stainless Steel bottles
• SIGG Water bottles
• Gerber camp ax
• Benchmade K5-Tactical Marc A. Lee knife
• Alpine Air dehydrated food
• Natural High dehydrated food
• LOWA GTX Expert boots
• Ahnu Westridge Trail Running shoes

For your journey to higher performance levels, the Hydrapak 2010 Morro series is serious about the climb!

Hydropak’s new Morro was designed for all-day mountain bike missions where keeping hydrated and nourished is just as important as that helmet on your head.  And for you day hikers, the need for water is no less critical. And you are going to need some carrying capacity to store your fleece pullover, Power Bar’s, and anything you don’t want to carry in your pockets. The team at Hydrapak have been building hydration and storage gear for the mountain biking for years now, and the Morro is their flagship day-pack that let’s you know Hydrapak gets you.

Hydrapak sought to design a pack to accommodate a daylong supply of water, and with enough storage capacity to keep all the gear you’ll need for a long day of busting trails on a mountain bike or on your feet.

So we took the opportunity to take the Hydrapak Morro on a couple day trips that included bike rides and trail hikes. Our overall take on the Morro is that it’s well thought out, sturdy, and held enough water and gear to last a long day. Here are some of our observations:

All around Storage:

Nylon interior of main compartment is roomy enough to accommodate additional clothing items for change in temperature.  Sweatshirt, gloves and hat are easily stored while textured pull grips on the zipper allow tired hands to retrieve items quickly.

Inside flap of the main compartment houses a soft line pocket with Velcro closure for cell phone and there are also two sleeves for pens and pencils.  Two additional zippered pockets are located at the top and bottom of inside flap, where continuous necessities such as First Aid may be kept.

Morro is a hydration pack designed for Mountain Bike excursions, but it's great when you're on foot.

Side Storage compartments are ideal for snacks and held secure with adjustable straps so items remain intact.  While these side compartments are beneficially constructed, two are not really necessary. An outside meshed drink holder in lieu of one side compartment would be advantageous, as it would allow for additional thirst options.

At the back of pack, a side-loading zippered pocket cradles an inside mesh pocket.  For the music enthusiast, iPods or portable devices are held secure with elastic bands and clip.  A three  -tiered outlet for headphones makes it easy to pull the wires in and out.  Sunglasses may be tucked away in another arc-shaped  pocket at the base of pack.  A beneficial addition to the back of the Hydrapak Morro would be greater reflected material for evening outings.

Plenty of Hydration:

A sturdy, pliable, bladder offers almost three liters of water storage capacity. Bladder was a cinch  to fill up, and easily secured with flap and sliding enclosure.  A hook is provided to hang inside the second main storage compartment. The water tube is strong and can well serve the thirsty traveler, though the positioning of the hose opening at the bottom of pack makes for a lengthy, but necessary, route.  The hose opening  on the Morro pack could also be a little larger, as it was a bit of work to pull the (mouth piece) bit in and out. However, the soft plastic bite valve feels comfortable and easy on the teeth and gums.

Breathable Fabrics:

Material used on the Morro shoulder straps and backside of the pack absorbed perspiration on upward climbs and strenuous calorie-burning sessions, but additional padding would have been an added benefit to the pack, especially on the shoulders.

Compact in size without compromising space, Hydrapak 2010 accomplishes intended goals.  The day hiker or cyclist can be assured they will be well hydrated and able to safely stow personal items to their ultimate destination.

By Mary Webb

Specifications:

• Capacity: 800 cubic inches (13.1 Liters)
• Volume: 100oz water bladder (2.96 Liters)
• Drink hose: Big Bore
• MSRP: $110
• Colors: Black (as tested); Orange/white

Three liters of water flow through big bore tubing to get you hydrated when you need it; the Hydrapak new surge bite valve (mouthpiece) gets the water to you and keeps the water in the tube when you don’t.

2010 marks Hydrapack’s tenth year serving, focusing, and delivering top hydration systems to the cycling industry. But if a piece of gear is worthy of serious cyclists, by all means it’s going to work when you’re on your feet.

Morro is not only a great choice for single-track mountain bikers, but it’s ideal for those 10 mile day hikes and trail runs where you need just enough storage for your wind parka, a fresh pair of socks, and some nutrition to keep your energy up. Check out the full 2010 Hydrapak lineup of hydration and pack systems at Hydrapak dot Com.  

Specifications:

• Capacity: 800 cubic inches (13.1 Liters)
• Volume: 100oz water bladder (2.96 Liters)
• Drink hose: Big Bore
• MSRP: $110

Long Trail Hauler… Cerro Torre TFX 10

 Lowe Alpine’s 2010 Cerro Torre 65:85 TFX 10 (Torso Fit Expedition) backpack is a thoughtfully designed, internal frame, platform built to perform on multi-day treks with moderate to heavy loads up to 66 pounds. And deliver it does. We’ve had the Cerro Torre 65:85 on several alpine hikes where any lapses in pack comfort and durability would be revealed by the end of any one day on the trail. Check it out now for your consideration as this pack should be available by March 2010 or early spring. 

Cerro Torre is a top-loader pack designed with dual vertical aluminum stays providing rigid support for the internal frame to work with the TFX multi-adjustment suspension system.

Fitting the Cerro Torre to your body type is a simple procedure. With the pack off, and the shoulder straps facing you, just flip the lumbar pad up, loose the buckle to slide the color-coded back-plate up or down to fit your torso according to the horizontal lines (Medium, Large, X-large) on the back-plate. Your torso measurement will appear in the buckle. Next you re-fit the lumbar pad and you’re good to go.

Back balance is handled by the Torso Motion system designed to let the waistbelt move relative to your spine as the internal frame of the Cerro Torre TFX moves and rotates with your torso. As part of the TXF system, high performance foam inside the lumbar pad forms to the natural curve of your lower back, and the upper pads offer cushion to your upper back while allowing the pack to ride close to your body.   

Torso Fit Expedition (TFX) adjustment system shows lumbar pad, buckle, and back support.

Cerro Torre can expand from 65-Liters of cargo space, to 85-Liters when you require more carrying capacity. This 20-Liter’s of extra/optional cargo space has closures at the top of the main pack compartment and at top of the pack extension. This double-collar closure system protects cargo (in addition to the top lid flap) whether the Cerro Torre TFX 10 is at maximum load capacity or not.

The pack lid is removable, and the entire depth of the pack can be used for packing bulky gear, such as setting up a base camp where each person carries entire loads dedicated to food, tents, sleeping bags, water, etc. Zippered compartments at top, bottom, and the middle of the pack permit total access to gear without unloading the entire pack.

At the bottom of the main pack, where your lighter load items should be packed, an ample sleeping bag compartment has enough room for a down sleeping bag and additional gear. For our trips, the sleeping bag compartment was loaded with a Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag in its stuff sack, the new Therm-A-Rest NeoAire sleeping pad (very compact and light) as well as a down sweater and Adventure Medical First Aid kit.

Bottom sleeping bag compartment held a Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30 down bag, a Therm-A-Rest NeoAire pad, and then some.

A separate sleeping bag compartment is a feature so many backpack designs don’t include, but it makes pack organization and protection for the sleeping bag so much more efficient, and allows you to keep potential spills or wet gear from your sleeping bag.

The Cerro Torre TFX 10 comes with a rain-cover that stores in its own zippered pouch on the frame-side of the main pack flap. The rain cover has elastic material around its circumference to cling onto the Cerro Torre in whatever phase of load capacity it has onboard, with enough room to cover gear (there are exceptions) you might have lashed onto the outside.

On the pack exterior, lash points and well-designed gear loops are located at every logical position you’ll need on the pack exterior for those treks where you’ll want to secure poles, ice ax, snow shovel, sleeping pads, or any piece of equipment that is not practical for storage in the main compartment.   And without going through the top of the pack to get at gear, heavy nylon zippers on the central pack main panel allow you to get at gear inside the main compartment without unpacking the Cerro Torre. For example, if your stove is at the bottom of the main compartment and you need a mid-day cup of hot tea with your lunch, you simply lay the pack on the ground, straps-down, unzip the main compartment and pull your stove, cook kit, and food out. When it’s time to get back to the trail, you’ll replace the gear into the main compartment and zip it back up.  The load cinching compression-straps with side-locking nylon buckles are easy to hook back up to keep your entire pack-load tight and secure; and you are on your way again.

The Cerro Torre TFX 10 comes with its own onboard rain cover. That's always nice to have.

That’s another detail we liked about the Cerro Torre TFX, there are enough compression straps located at the sides, bottom and top of this pack to completely secure your pack load from wiggling or load-shifting . All the side-locking buckles, including the hip-belt, shoulder straps, chest strap, and all the load-securing strap buckles are constructed of lightweight composite materials which contribute to a light overall empty pack weight of about 6 pounds. To achieve this low empty pack weight-to-load carrying capacity, Lowe Alpine uses 1000-denier nylon, 600-denier ripstop polyester, and 600-denier hexagon-patterned polyester fabrics for the pack itself.

 However, because the lightweight nature of the side-locking buckles and nylon straps, you should pull the straps in a straight line to tighten, not just yank them at any odd angle. We did yank one of the load-tightening straps at an off-angle and broke it. You must take that into consideration with any backpack you choose to own.  We’ve owned packs with heavy-duty side-locking strap connectors such as those found on the Kelty Trekker or the Gregory Spear (military) that are almost bomb-proof. But they add accumulated weight to the empty pack. There’s always a design tradeoff, and the buckles used on the Cerro Torre are plenty strong and durable long as you are conscious of how you treat them.

Inside the main cargo chamber of the Cerro Torre, on the frame side, is a pocket for your water bladder along with a fabric hoop at top to suspend the bladder, and a clearly marked exit hole in the upper right side of the pack to thread the drinking hose through. We were using a 2-liter Camelbak water bladder for our trips, but the pocket will easily hold two 2-liter bladders or a 3-liter. This is merely another example of the design being thought out by a team that has been at it for several decades and tons of real-world testing experience to draw from.

Different trip, different gear, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 is a comfortable long-haul backpack.

Torso Fit Expedition lumbar and back suspension view.

Another, zippered, pocket is located on the inside-front of the main cargo chamber for easy access from inside the pack or, by unzipping the front panel, the exterior of the pack to accommodate small, flat, gear items you want to keep separate from primary gear. At the bottom of the main cargo cavity, which is the top of the sleeping bag compartment, is a zippered false-bottom that you can open up and literally use the entire 85-liters (5,187 cubic inches) of the Cerro Torre volume capacity.

We found that with the storage pockets on the inside, bottom, and top of the Cerro Torre, you have enough compartments to organize your gear without the need for exterior side pockets. On the exterior of the pack lid there is a large pocket for your map, compass, and quick access items. Another large pocket is available on the underside of the pack lid; with international distress signal procedure stenciled in clear instructions in French and English.

ON THE TRAIL

The Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre TFX 10 packed great on the trail. On a 12-mile hike in the Sierra Nevada, the Torso Fit Expedition pack fit system is straightforward, allowing easy adjustment and fit-tuning on the trail. By extending the color-coded lumbar support adjustment to fit a long torso, this Cerro Torre, loaded with approximately 40 pounds, rode close to the body and distributed the pack weight across the top of the hip. There was no tendency to bind clothes or chaff the lower back skin when using a leather waist belt to hold up the Mt. Khakis Original Alpine pants. Working in combination with the adjustable hip pad, shoulder straps, and sternum strap, we found the Cerro Torre easy to adjust and cinch up while hiking with the pack on.

On the trail, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 fit close to the body and did not bind or chaff, even in hot weather.

The pack was loaded light at the bottom with the heavier items up towards the top. Compression straps are also located over the bottom sleeping bag pocket of the Cerro Torre. These two vertical straps not only allow you to cinch up to keep gear from moving around on the hike, but they also make a convenient place to hold your jacket or long pants once the sun comes out and you’re shedding clothes by midday.

Whether it was due to incorrect pack adjustment, hunched shoulders, or shoulder-bulk, the shoulder straps seemed to taper too narrow, too quickly, from where they contact the top of the shoulder to the front of the chest. There is plenty of shoulder-strap padding where the straps are at their widest point; but that point was not where the pack rode on this trip, even when the shoulder straps where adjusted very snug. This is the one potential downside we observed with the Cerro Torre, but it’s a subjective observation for one individual that certainly will not apply to most body types it is designed to fit.

Notwithstanding, the Cerro Torre TFX 10 handled the pack weight, had plenty of room and carrying capacity for more gear, and it was comfortable on a hike that was well above 10,000 elevation. The trail itself was rock-strewn and ascended at steep inclines in various places. Both the altitude and the trail were challenging enough to require significant physical effort. There were few trail sections where strolling upright was the norm, most of the time it required leaning into the trail, burning calories and hauling like a misunderstood donkey.

Burning calories and perspiration, especially in summer and early fall seasons, comes with the freedom of backpacking. The Cerro Torre torso and lumbar padding did a good job of wicking away sweat where the pack is in contact with your body.

Deep mesh pockets on either bottom sides of the Cerro Torre held two EcoReusable stainless steel water bottles. This pocket shows the Benchmark Marc A. Lee Glory knife.

A sturdy nylon loop at the inside top of the Cerro Torre and two nylon loops at both sides of the pack bottom facilitated getting the pack on and off, with or without the help of another person. When pack-loads get really heavy, it’s always a good idea to have a friend help you get into the pack or take it off, and those grab handles can come in real handy. The grab handles at the pack bottom are also good lash points for securing gear outside the pack, as are the other built-in lashing points you can employ to tie down your early morning outerwear, ice ax, or trekking poles when not in use.

Two deep pockets at either bottom side of the Cerro Torre are convenient for storing water bottles, gloves, and anything else you want easy access to. On this trip, two stainless steel EcoReusable liter-sized water bottles rode in these pockets and secured with small carabiners onto the compression straps outside the pockets. With the elastic pocket tops, the compression strap, carabiners, and deep pockets, there was no worry about losing the water bottles.

Final Thoughts

We found the Cerro Torre TFX to be an extremely capable, multi-day backpack that is fully able to perform on long-mileage hikes. The pack is able to take on heavier loads, adjusts very well with the compression straps to secure the load and size-it down as you use up food or simply take it on an overnight hike with minimal gear.

Because the upper, expandable section of the Cerro Torre uses dual enclosures to seal the top of the pack, we found this a great location for carrying a three-man Hilleberg Kaitum 3 mountaineering tent. Plenty of cargo room and enough pack adjustments for long trips made the Cerro Torre one of the best long mileage, internal-frame packs we have enjoyed this year. It’s a pack you can so easily adjust to fit several torso sizes that you can grow into it, if you are a youngster, or make it available to friends who want to get into backpacking and may not own their own backpack just yet.

Asolo Lowe Alpine and the gear they produce are known for reliability and comfort. The new Cerro Torre TFX 10 is a backpack we will definitely take on future backpack and alpine trips. And you will be seeing this pack in the gear list on trail stories going forward.

 Review/Photos by R. Shandley

End of the day. We found this big flat rock to cook on and sort out the gear. A Hilleberg Kaitum 3 tent sits at top of the Cerro Torre TFX 10.

Cerro Torre TFX 10 loaded up and ready to hike.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Price: $299.99

Dimensions: 29” x 15” x 11”

Weight: 6 pounds (empty)

Access: Top / Bottom / Front 

Volume: 65L (3,967 cu in) expandable to 85 L (5,187 cu in)
Torso: 16 – 23 in (41 – 59 cm)

Frame: Internal frame

Materials: Ripstop Nylon/ Ballistic

Colors: Croc-Green, Terracotta, Black
Features:

Load range: 55 – 70 lbs.

Expedition quality: Yes

Expandable Capacity: Yes

Exterior Lash Points: Yes

Fully Adjustable: Yes

Full Access: Yes

Hydration Compatible: Yes

Ice Axe Loops: Yes

Dual Trekking Pole Loops: Yes

Sleeping Bag Compartment: Yes

Rain Cover: Yes

Compression Straps: Yes

Grab Handles: Yes

So if we can safely consume our own tap water from our own sources, then we need to look at what kind of container is reusable and not potentially detrimental to our health. The following is one alternative water container type that uses BPA-free Tritan™ plastic and stainless steel in the new CamelBak Better Bottle products involved in a study at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Taken at face value (there’s a slight sense of bias towards the new product)  – the study does open the doors to the potential for consumers to break away from the costly ruse of paying premium prices for bottled water that comes straight from the tap at the back of the warehouse.

This study conducted at Pepperdine University revealed that participants drank up to 24 percent more water with CamelBak reusable water bottles than with other reusable and disposable bottles tested. Dr. Holden MacRae, professor of sports medicine at Pepperdine University, conducted the first-of-its-kind study to test the effects of water bottle design on personal fluid consumption.

More study subjects preferred the CamelBak Better Bottle, saying it was easier to use, easier to drink from, didn’t spill even when open, and that the bottle’s Big Bite^TMValve mouthpiece was more fun to drink from.   One participant noted, “The CamelBak is quick to open and easy to drink from without distracting myself from whatever else I’m doing.”

Study subjects used each of the following four bottles for a two-week period: 

- Reusable screw-cap plastic bottle

- Reusable screw-cap metal bottle

- Disposable screw-cap PET bottle

- CamelBak Better Bottle with the Big Bite Valve mouthpiece

With the CamelBak Better Bottle, participants drank 24 percent more water than with the disposable bottle, 18 percent more water than with the reusable metal bottle and 15 percent more than with the reusable plastic bottle. 

“Drinking water is one of the greatest gifts you can give your body – it’s essential for everything from heart health and fat metabolism to complex brain functions,” said Dr. MacRae.  “The results of this study were quite surprising in that a simple difference in design enabled people to do something that’s good for their bodies without any extra effort.” 

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Pepperdine University.  Dr. MacRae earned his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.  He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and is on the editorial review board of the Journal of Sports Science and Coaching.  Dr. MacRae expects to publish his report on the study in late 2009 or 2010.

Dehydration is a significant health concern, especially in the summer, as temperatures rise and outdoor activity levels increase. The benefits of hydration include body temperature regulation, fat metabolism, cardiovascular support and improved focus, concentration and alertness. Even mild dehydration can affect physical and mental performance. 

About the CamelBak Better Bottle

CamelBak Better Bottles are made from BPA-free Tritan^TMplastic and Stainless Steel, featuring single-walled and insulated options. Adult and Kids’ versions of the Tritan bottles are available now starting at $12 (MSRP). Adult Stainless Steel bottles start at $24 (MSRP); Kids’ Stainless Steel bottles will be available beginning in July at $20 (MSRP). All CamelBak Better Bottles feature the exclusive Big Bite Valve, which offers non-tip sipping and won’t spill, even when open.