Hardside Hydration solves the problem of leaky hydration bladders

Built for Adventure, the rugged & dependable Hardside Hydration works with Nalgene & Camelbak bottles.

In the ’90’s we upgraded from carrying canteens in the Army to using hydration bladders. Camelbacks were all the rage and made not only carrying water easier but consuming it easier as well. I recall stuffing a hydration bladder into the sleeve in my 3-day assault pack before a mission. Only to find out one of the seams burst after a “sporty” fast rope insertion. And no, I wasn’t using a waterproof bag for the contents of the pack. So everything in my pack was soaked except for a couple shitty MRE’s (meal-ready-to-eat).

I’m sure hydration bladders have come a long way since the 90’s. But they all have the ability to get punctured somehow. That’s where Hardside Hydration comes in. The beauty of this system is its simplicity. Utilizing already available containers, like the Nalgene wide mouth bottles, their Swig 63 lid converts a bottle to a hydration system. Nalgene wide mouth bottles are ridiculously durable, inexpensive, widely available and made from recycled plastic right here in the US. Add the Swig 63 lid and Hose Kit from Hardside Hydration and you have a burst proof hydration system.

Hardside Hydration Swig Rig Video Demo:

Hardside Hydration also offers the complete Swig Rig ($45) with an optional 48 ounce Nalgene Bottle adorned with the company’s unique graphics. This is the turn-key unit I tested and really came to appreciate. Although I don’t think this size bottle would have fit inside my old assault-pack, most current packs can accommodate a Nalgene bottle in an outside pocket. Plus, the straw that comes with the Swig63 can be trimmed for use with smaller bottles. A 40″ TPU hose is plenty long enough to get from point A to B.

One thing I was initially concerned with was how difficult it would be to draw the water out of a hard container. Fortunately, my concerns were put to rest quickly. A small silicone valve on the lid allows ambient air into the bottle when drawing a sip. A dog-leg bite valve on the user end of the hose is comfortable to drink from. It easily swivels to any position desired and features a simple on-off valve. Simply pull to open the valve and push it shut when done. Hardside Hydration even includes a dust cover to keep the bite valve pristine.

Swig Rig Includes:

• Swig 63 Cap
  • 2-Piece Cap
  • Straw (ready for 48oz. bottle, cuttable for 32oz.)
  • Silicone Valve (+ spare valve)
  • Barb Cap
• Hose Kit
  • Dog-Leg Bite Valve
  • Dust Cover
  • 40″ TPU Hose
• OPTIONAL: 48oz. Tritan Nalgene w/ HH Mountainscape

Specifications:

• Assembled Weight: 3.2 oz.
• 32oz. Nalgene EMPTY/FULL
  • Tritan: 6.25 oz. / 38.25 oz.
  • HDPE: 3.75 oz. / 35.75 oz.
• 48oz. Nalgene EMPTY/FULL
  • Tritan: 7.375 oz. / 57.455 oz.
  • HDPE: 4.75 oz. / 54.83 oz.

Final thoughts:

I think this a great solution for those users looking for a more durable, long-lasting hydration system. I can see military, law enforcement and firefighters utilizing such a system. It sure would have saved me from a few uncomfortable situations when I experienced failures with a busted bladder. The nice thing about this kit is all the parts are available separately. So if you already have a collection of bottles with 63mm lids, you can get just the parts you need to convert one. Extra straws and valves are available too for maintenance. And best of all, everything is very reasonably priced.

Take a look at Hardside Hydration and support a small American business. And let me know in the comments if you can think of any additional applications for such a system.