Hands-free hydration pack

Specialty Fabrics Review | December 2009

In desert heat, on rugged mountain trails, or through sweltering jungles, soldiers depend on drinking water—and many have to carry it on their backs. CamelBak®, Petaluma, Calif., invented a hands-free hydration pack that allows users to drink while in motion or with their hands occupied. Everyone from mountain climbers to motorcycle riders to the military can recognized the advantages; the only problem is that water must be carried, leaving soldiers to choose between drinking enough and carrying too much. Since water’s weight is constant, CamelBak focused on lightening the pack.

CamelBak asked INVISTA, Wilmington, Del., the manufacturer of the rugged CORDURA® fabric line, to help with its weight-reduction goal. The result is an upgraded CamelBak using 500D CORDURA Classic fabric, which has the same strength-to-weight ratio as the previous 1000D CORDURA—with 35 percent less weight per square yard. The strong, tear- and water-resistant fabric also offers near infrared reflectance visibility protection, allowing wearers to blend into the background while on the move during day or night operations.

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