A jacket includes an inner harness, a jacket for wearing over the harness, and a load for attachment to the harness through attachment openings in the jacket. The load can be an airbag, a backpack, or other load or load carrying member for attaching to the harness. The jacket has at least one back opening providing access to the inner harness, to facilitate the attachment of the load to the harness. The jacket can be readily removed without disturbing the harness or its load. The removed jacket is effectively carried by the load and/or harness to which the load is secured. The inner harness can be used to carry loads without using the jacket.

Provided is a buckle for a chest strap of a knapsack, including a plug member including a plug plane portion formed at a front side of a base so as to be connected to the base via a plug inner-side slope, a plug front-end slope extending forward from the plug plane portion, a first magnet embedded in a middle portion of the plug plane portion, and coupling protrusions protruding from opposite sides of the first magnet, and a socket member including a socket plane portion formed at a front side of a base so as to be connected to the base via a socket inner-side slope, a socket front-end slope extending forward from the socket plane portion, a second magnet embedded in a middle portion of the socket plane portion, and coupling recesses formed in opposite sides of the second magnet so as to correspond to the respective coupling protrusions.

A hiking survival pack system that may be used for hiking, trail-running, backpacking, biking, hunting, fishing, or other indoor or outdoor activities is disclosed. The hiking survival pack has two chambers that are worn over the user's shoulders and secured to the user with a plurality of attachments. Each chamber has an access that allows the user to store and remove items. On the back of the hiking survival pack, there is a storage sack that may hold a fluid container. The fluid container has an opening that allows for a tube to be connected to it. The user may drink the contents of the fluid container via the tube.

A flotation-hydration system to be worn by a user, particularly in a water borne environment, includes a vest assembly dimensioned to at least partially surround the user's upper torso while donned by the user in an operative manner. The vest assembly comprises a plurality of panels securely attached to one another, and a flotation assembly comprising at least one flotation member having a buoyant material of construction disposed in one of the panels of the vest assembly. A hydration support assembly is disposed substantially within the vest assembly and includes a chamber support unit, wherein the chamber support unit is dimensioned and configured to receive a hydration chamber in a supported relation therein. A dispensing tube is routed from the hydration chamber to the front of the vest assembly, for ready access by the user, through a dispensing tube retention channel.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, components, and methods are disclosed for heating a drinkable or other fluid, such as water and/or ice in a hydration system. Such embodiments include heating assemblies for hydration systems, hydration systems with heating elements, electronic control assemblies for hydration systems, and various methods of heating a drinkable or other fluid, gel or semi-solid.

The invention is directed to an improved hydration dispensing device and method for preventing the freeze-up of the hydration line, to dispense potable fluids, such as water, from the hydration dispensing device, eliminating freezing by routing the line under the user's clothes with the line accessible section and extending beyond user's cuff, to be accessible at any time. The device and method comprise a remotely actuated valve mechanism adapted worn and remotely actuated, having a valve means for controlling the flow of potable fluid through the mechanism and a shell, defining an interior cavity, providing a valve seat projecting into the interior cavity, adapted to cooperatively seat the valve means, and operationally adapted to selectively open and close a hydration line when operated. The hydration line attaches to a hydration reservoir, or pack liquid-filled bladder, containing the potable fluid.

A hydration reservoir is provided. The hydration reservoir may include at least two panels of resilient material joined together at edges to define a bladder and a bladder volume for storing a liquid. The at least two panels may be deformable as the bladder is emptied of liquid. One of the at least two panels may be molded into a three-dimensional shape.

A mixing and dispensing apparatus configured to be used in conjunction with a hydration backpack or similar liquid containments are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reservoir containing a solvent positioned within the hydration backpack. The apparatus further comprises a housing with cartridges, which is in fluid communication with the reservoir via an inlet tube attached to one end of the housing. The cartridge configured to store a solute, which is in fluid communication with the housing via a mixing interface positioned on each cartridge. The opposing end of the housing is attached to an outlet tube, aiding in fluid communication with the housing. The cartridge is pressurized to allow the solute to be extruded through the mixing interface, thereby dissolving the solute with the solvent within the housing. A bite valve is distally positioned to the outlet tube, in which a user suctions the bite valve to allow the transfer of the dissolved solution to a user's mouth.

A system and process for taking a liquid such as water from a source and supplying the liquid by, for example, pushing the liquid through a filter provided inside a reservoir in order to render the liquid clean and potable. The reservoir and filter may be surrounded 360-degrees by a pressure bladder that may be wrapped with a material such as nylon, so that substantially all pressure goes inwards towards the filter.

The invention comprises devices and methods for carrying quantities of materials preferably fluids. The device of the invention is preferably a wearable garment such as, preferably a vest or poncho, with one or more bladders or compartments adapted to hold a fluid. Preferably the garment comprises fluid connections between the bladders. The connections allow for the distributing the load over the carrier, which is preferably a person. The invention is designed to be inexpensive to manufacture, capable of easy manufacture in large numbers, and, if desired, disposable or repurposed. The device significantly enhances the ability of an individual to provide water or other fluids or materials to individuals or groups such as families. Preferably the invention allows for the transport of potable water from a supply point to the point of end use with minimal or no discomfort to the wearer. Preferably the invention supports the heating and/or cooling of the fluid or other applications, including use of building materials.