I don't plan to do a bunch of product reviews in these pages but if some device or supplement comes along that seems to truly make a difference I will offer it up to readers.
The need to stay hydrated in endurance sports is a no-brainer. In most activities and seasons it's simply a matter of putting your lips to the vessel of liquid and sucking it down. I'll spare you my treatise on fluid replacement beverages, carbs and protein contents, gastric emptying rates, etc. and just give you the latest "vessel" device.
Getting liquids during the winter months is complicated by said liquids freezing. This can be catastrophic during a race lasting more than 90 minutes. The Camelback and similar bladder products revolutionized drinking during activity many years ago. In warm weather, they really are the answer for most hydration needs. In colder climates, however, the damn hoses freeze and you end up carrying penalty weight for the rest of the race with the sloshing liquid taunting you in its inaccessibility through the frozen hose. Several insulating products have come out with varying degrees of success. Still, in ski events early in the morning at high altitude venues like Colorado, they all freeze eventually. This is complicated by fast downhills where convective heat loss is accelerated exponentially.
Recently, under the advice of Brian Wickenhauser, I started experimenting with wearing a bladder under all my layers and running the bite valve out under my chin. It worked great as long as I remembered to stuff the hose back under my collar after I drank. Because rando race packs are so light there was no issue with having the pack over the bladder while skiing. In fact, it further insulated the whole set up.
Now, Camelback has further refined the concept with the product pictured below. ;)
;)
This was originally designed for competitive road cyclists to stay hydrated during long time trials where bottles create wind drag and even the act of reaching for one slows the rider down. Wearing a bladder on one's back actually improves the rider's aerodynamic profile. I was recently given one of these and used it yesterday while training in the bc.
Aside from being a little difficult to get on, it worked perfectly. It holds 72 ounces. It's crazy that even in sub zero temps, the liquid remains close to body temperature making freezing very unlikely. Wearing this under a heavier bc pack is not out of the question but does take some getting used to. Many people feel that they can stop and drink from bottles when the skiing is more relaxed and not hassle with the time saving benefits of a bladder set up. Still, if you are into fast tours with lots of vert and don't want to screw around taking your pack off everytime you want a drink, this is a good option. - Brian