Staying Hydrated
January 15th, 2008It covers 71% of the earth’s surface. The human body contains anywhere from 55% to 71% depending on its size. As Canadians we use 343 litres of it a day, and as a country we own seven percent of the world’s renewable fresh water. Water, it’s essential to life.
Staying hydrated can be a tricky proposition, given the growing concern over plastic water bottles. The U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends women consume 2.2 litres of water a day (more if they’re nursing), whereas men should consume 3.6 litres a day.
I have discovered a great way to have my water and avoid buying plastic water bottles. Mountain Equipment Co-Op’s Tour Hydration Pack, is basically a water backpack. Its light weight canvas design contains a 2L plastic bladder that can be filled with water and still leave room for a sandwich, small camera, keys and a cell phone.
I’ve used the hydration pack hiking in Utah in 90 degree temperatures, biking, and skiing; the trick is to fill it full of ice water. I especially love it for downhill skiing, where the water stays icy cold. I also like the drinking tube design, as I can drink on the go and don’t have to worry with lids, storage or leaks. It’s also good to periodically rinse it with vinegar to kill any bacteria. I also dry it out after each use. The bladder’s and tubing can be replaced for $12.
The pack sells for $46 but I have seen similar models for almost double the price. I estimate it’s more than paid for itself, considering the price of a bottle of water. Mostly, I just like the convenience of always having fresh water to drink.
Cheers,
Julie
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January 15th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Researchers are now telling us to avoid plastic and a new company is producing glass products for this purpose. Perhaps the makers of the backpack can come up with an alternative to the plastic.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I have been trying to find a good vessel for taking good old tap water with us that is not plastic nor made in China. Everyone is suggesting the sigg bottles www.mysigg.com which are what I plan to pick up this week. It is so hard to avoid plastic…it’s everywhere!
Sheryl
January 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Very cool design, Sheryl, but at $17 a pop, it’s going to hurt if your kids are like mine, and they get left behind at school. I see Stong’s is selling aluminum bottles now.
Debb, are you there? Any thoughts on this?
Cheers,
Julie
January 16th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Yes, that is a concern, but they would look fab with the pink helmets
Also, that is the US website; I think they are >$20 locally. Guess the flights from Switzerland have to travel that much further to Canada.
I’ll check out Stong’s before I get hooked on the European import
January 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Agggh, I just typed out a long reply and lost it!! Here goes again……….
I just bought an aluminum bottle at our local outdoors store. I paid $8.99. It’s officially a FUEL bottle [for gas/camp fuel, etc], but I’m using it for drinking water. Only drawback is the screw-top lid. It takes a good 8-10 turns to open it! Not so conducive for drinking, but I guess pretty safe if there was actually fuel in it. I love the mysigg bottles, but not at that cost. I’m going to keep looking here in Sudbury for more aluminum bottles. No luck so far, but I am still on my plastic bottle boycott, so I look forward to new alternatives!!
January 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Thanks Debb for your input, I figured you’d have researched this one. Now I’m not sure about this, but isn’t aluminum linked to Alzheimers (www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/causes-alumi.htm).
Can we not go back to glass?
Cheers,
Julie
January 16th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Julie, that’s what my first concern was about aluminum.
From the Alzheimers.ca site — “Most researchers no longer regard aluminum as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. However, some researchers are still examining whether some people are at risk because their bodies have difficulties in handling foods containing the metals copper, iron, and aluminum.”
The way I see it, I don’t drink THAT much water from my travel-bottle. I don’t cook in aluminum.
What’s worse? Alzheimers or a life without mother earth? It’s a risk that I’m willing to take at this point.