Staying hydrated on the water is vital to an athlete’s safety, health, and wellbeing. But while training out to sea, having quick and easy accessibility to fresh water is not an easy task. Water bottles can be bulky, heavy, and when moving around inside a vessel, can cause significant damage. Keeping that water bottle within arm’s reach and secured to the boat can also be challenging.
Here at Vaikobi, we are paddlers, sailors and ocean addicts ourselves, so we’ve designed a Vaikobi hydration bladder ideal for paddlers, kayakers, and ocean athletes of every sporting discipline.
What are hydration bladders?
A hydration bladder is a soft and durable bag that holds water comfortably on an athlete’s back during sport. Using a hydration pack allows paddlers to carry large amounts of water for long periods of time and provide fresh water via a tube, meaning the bag doesn’t have to be removed to take a drink. As your very own personal hydration system, a water bladder is a great addition to the inventory of any training athlete, particularly for long-distance sessions.
The Vaikobi hydro system has a 1.5L reservoir capacity with a structured area that retains its shape and minimizes bounce. It is designed in combination with our paddling PFD life jackets, which contain hydration pockets on their backs and hose tabs for maximum convenience. Its 90cm length insulated tube allows you to route it through a PFD and locate it in an accessible position near your mouth, ready for use. This is ideal for paddlers who wear a PFD out on the water without having to carry an extra backpack. They are compatible with the VXP Race PFD Lifejacket and the V3 Ocean Racing PFD life jacket.
It also has a high-flow mouthpiece that is leak and drip-free and comes with a cover. It contains no harmful chemical BPA, PVC, phthalate and is bisphenol-free. The hydro pack is made from food-grade TPU polyurethane that has no taste or smell.
Can you put a water bladder in any backpack?
A backpack or lifejacket with a hydration pocket is the most effective way to carry a water bladder. If you place a loose water bladder in a bag, it can spill if the bag comes loose or comes into contact with other valuables in the pack. It is possible to put a water bladder in any backpack, but it should always be stored in a separate pocket and may require an extra clip or pocket on the backpack to hold it upright or secure it in place.
How to use a hydration pack inside a life jacket:
- After unpacking your hydration pack, connect your hose to the bladder.
- Remove the circular cap at the top of the bladder, and fill the central bag with water. Re-secure your cap to prevent leakages.
- Secure the black attachment clip by sliding it into the top of the hydration pack - this will keep the bladder from moving inside or sliding out of the hydration pocket.
- Slide the full hydration bladder into the pocket located on your PFD.
- Feed the hose through the tabs located on the lifejacket, first passing over the shoulder and then to the tab on the front of the chest near the chin.
View the Vaikobi hydration bladders system instructional video here.
How to clean a hydration bladder:
The Vaikobi hydro pack contains a four-piece cleaning kit that includes a dry rack, a long flexible brush, as well as a large and small brush. Use the brushes, a small amount of dish soap, and warm water to scrub the inside of the bag. This will prevent the build-up of bacteria over time. Clean the mouthpiece and run warm soapy water through the hose after use. At the end of cleaning, rinse the bag entirely with fresh water. The dry rack can be inserted in the bag to open the hydro pack, allowing the inside to air dry, ready for its subsequent use.
