FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

2December2011
By:SalPalma

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CamelBakThermoBakAla Mode.

As2011comestoaclose,Ihavetoreflect backondayswhenpriortorunninganight operationIinstructedmembersofmy squadtofilltheircanteenstoreducethe noiseaswemoved.Insomeinstances, canteensweresimplyleftbehindwhether outofignoranceoraperceivedoperational necessity. Theneedtohydrateismorebasicthanthe dynamicsofasoldieroperatinginarid regions.Hydrationisalifeform requirement,afundamentalnecessityofall livingorganisms. Iamalwaysamusedbytheclassicwesterns wherethevillain,orattimesthegoodguy, islostinadesertandisbeatentothe groundbyascorchingsun,grabbingonto

histhroatasheexpires.Althoughvery dramatic,realworlddehydrationisfar moreinsidious. Anormalhealthymalecansurvivein43C to49C(110Fto120F)temperaturesfor2 days 1 withoutwater;ofcourse,thisisan extremecase.However,studieshave shownthatperformanceisimpaired,as muchas25%,byloosingaslittleas2.5%of yourbodyweightinwater.Letstranslate thattovolume. Ina190poundsoldier,2.5%ofhisbody weightinwaterisapproximately4.75 pounds.GivenoneU.S.gallonweighs8.35 pounds,thelossof4.75poundsofwater translatestoalossof.57gallonsorroughly 2.2liters.So,themerelossof2.2litersof waterresultsina25%reductioninyour bodysperformance;thatstheimportance ofhydration. Extendedexertionorexposuretoheatin aridclimatesdoesnotalterthedynamicit acceleratesit,makinghydrationevenmore important.Letstalkaboutthephysiology ofhydration. Waterentersthebodyorallywhereitis absorbedintheinvaginationsofthesmall intestinesmucosa.Itistherewhere nutrientsandelectrolytescombinewith waterandaresubsequentlyabsorbed.In discussingwaterabsorptionweneedtotalk aboutasoluteandasolvent. Nutrients,mineralsandelectrolytesare solutesandwateristhesolvent.Thinkofit asputtingateaspoonofsugarand dissolvingitinacupofwater. Watermoleculesmovethroughthe intestinalwallwiththesolutes,and generallyincreasingtheconcentrationof thesoluteintheintestineincreasestherate atwhichwaterisabsorbed.Yourbody
1

This number increases as temperatures decrease up to a maximum of about 10 days.

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, dba Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.

FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

regulatestheamountsofsoluteandsolvent itneeds;discardinganyexcessaswaste matter. Yearsago,athletesresortedtoingesting massivedosesofvitamins,andother supplements,inanefforttoenhance physicalperformance.Sadly,thatstrategy hadlittleeffect,andquiteoftencreated toxicityissues.Whattheseathletesand theircoachesfailedtounderstandisthat theywereplacinganenormousloadon theirkidneys.Thebodysresponsewasto disposeoftheseridiculousexcessesinurine andfecalmatter.Hence,thedrasticcolor changesinurine. Whatyoucandrawfromthisdiscussionis thatslammingdowngallonsofelectrolyte supplementswontdomuchforyou,butit willhelpthesellermakeboatpayments! Yourkeytowellbeingistohydrate continuouslythroughouttheday,andeata balancedmeal. Doesthismeanthatelectrolyte supplementsarebad?Theanswerisno,but inmoderationandproperlyapplied. Ifyouareoutandabout,runningorpacking aheavyloadandloosingwaterthrough perspirationforextendedperiods,an electrolytesupplementisusefulandwill helpyourbodyabsorbwater,keepingyour muscletissuefunctioningatitsbest. However,keepinmindthatyourbody providesalltheionsitneedsduringthe courseofnormaldigestion,andyourdiet reignssupremeaboveanyformof supplement. Onesentencetransitionsbestintomy reviewofCamelBaksThermoBakAB hydrationsystemthekeyistohydrate continuouslythroughouttheday Inordertomeetthatobjective,the hydrationprocessneedstobereliable, simpleandefficient(enterCamelBak).

TheheartandsouloftheThermoBakisits WaterBeastreservoir.

Thisruggedbladderisthedeliverysystem for3.1litersoffluid. TheWaterBeastfeaturesawidemouth foreaseoffillingandcleaning,andan internalbafflesystem,whichdoesagreat jobofspreadingtheloadevenlyacrossthe back.Inolderbafflelessdesigns,the reservoirhadatendencytostackandroll onyourback.Because,itusesalargerarea ofyourback,thereservoirdoesntstackas highandismorestablethantheolder designs.Itpresentsamuchlowerprofile. InmytestingandevaluationIinstalledthe ThermoBakABonalowprofileplate carrierthendonnedajacket,justtosee whatitwouldlooklike.Candidly,Iwas expectingaJacquesClouseau,Hunchback look,whichwasnotatallthecase.Myback wasreasonablyflatwithamoderate extensionnotbadatall.

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, dba Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.

FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

Theinternalbafflealsodampenedthe sloshingasthebladderempties.

Aquickconnectfixture,orHydroLinkExit Port,islocatedatthebottomofthe reservoir.Thisisakeycomponentof CamelBaksHydroLinkstrategy,which lendsahighdegreeofenduser customization.UsingtheHydroLink system,theoperatorcaninstallwater purificationfilters 2 ,flowmeters,portplugs andavarietyofotheroptions.The HydroLinkisalsousablewithCBRNmasks byinstallinganoptionalvalve.

Thehydrationpackismadefrom500D Cordurafeaturingexcellentconstruction andstitchingthroughout.Straps,zippers andseamsarefirstrateandwilltake whateveryoucanthrowatthem.The materialsselected,includingbuckles, presentalowIRsignaturetominimizethe operatorsexposuretothermalimaging. Thepacksdesignsecuresthebladderand PureFlowtubesotheresnoshifting,and permitseasyaccesstothehydration reservoirforremovalandsubsequent cleaning. TheThermoBakmayalsobewornonthe backasastandalonehydrationsystem usingtheshoulderharnessprovided,orit canbemountedonanIOTVorMTV,using thearmorssystemofPALwebbing.

In the absence of a filter, or reliable water supply, chlorinate your water as follows. Place a cloth over the mouth of the bladder and slowly pour in water. Allow the water to stand for 15 minutes. This allows particles to settle. Add 8 drops of Clorox. If you notice that your water source is cloudy or murky increase the dosage to 18 drops. When you are on patrol be sure to carry a small plastic bottle with Clorox bleach and an eyedropper. It will serve as your emergency water purification system. You can also use the Chlorinated water in the reservoir as a mouth rinse to kill oral bacteria and keep you gums in great shape.

CamelBakcoineditsflexiblemounting systemDirectArmorAttachmentSystem or(D.A.A.S.).

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, dba Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.

FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication

Conclusion Theneedforcontinuoushydrationiswell understoodandessentialtoyourwell being;thefolksatCamelBakunderstand thatrequirement.Usingthoughtfuland uncompromisingdesignandfabrication standards,theyhaveremovedimpediments towardsthatgoal;fieldingproductsthatare specificallydesignedtowithstandthe environmentsyouoperatein. CamelBaksThermoBakABisbutone product,ofmany,designedtomake hydrationanobrainer. CamelBakProductsLLChascomealong waysincethatbicycleshopinTexas.Today, theydominatethemilitaryandcommercial marketswithproductsembracingjust aboutanyactivityimaginable. HydrateorDieisnotjustacatchyslogan itsawayoflifeandCamelBakisthere; leadingthewaywithinnovationand excellence.TheThermoBakABisbutone clearexampleofthat,andatanM.S.R.P.of $94,howcanyougowrong? SP

ManufacturersSpecifications HydrationCapacity:102oz(3.1L) TotalVolume:189cuin(3.1L) Includesthe102oz(3.1L)low profileOMEGAWaterBeast ReservoirwithHydroLinkExitPort PackWeight:1.4lbs(.64kg)with emptyreservoir. Materials: 1. 500DCorduraFabricfront panelandyoke. 2. 420DHighDensityNylonback panelandflapforreservoir. 3. 420DHighDensityNylonstow away,panelforshoulder harnesswebbing. 4. 210DNylonlining. 5. Nylonwebbing. PackDimensions:16.25inx10.25 inx4.25in(415mmx265mmx 108mm) CompanyWebSite: http://www.camelbak.com/Military Tactical

Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, dba Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.