A personal hydration assembly includes a pair of reservoirs that each respectively contains water or fluid electrolytes and each of the reservoirs is removably attachable together. A pair of shoulder straps is each coupled to a respective one of the reservoirs and each of the shoulder straps can be extended over the user's shoulders thereby facilitating the pair of reservoirs to be worn on the user's back. A pair of drinking tubes is each in fluid communication with a respective one of the reservoirs thereby facilitating the user to drink either the water or the fluid electrolytes. A pair of waist belts is each attached to a respective one of the reservoirs for wearing around the user's waist when the shoulder straps are worn over the user's shoulders.

Disclosed fluid reservoirs include closure mechanisms for sealing an upper opening of the reservoir. The reservoir can have plates adjacent the upper opening. When the upper end of the reservoir is folded, the plates can be positioned on opposite sides, and a closure frame can be slid over the plates to pressure them together. The plates can have pins that engage with slots in the closure frame, and a separate closure lock can be slid over the end of the closure frame to prevent the pins from exiting the slots. The plates can also bias the opening open when the closure is not engaged. Also disclosed are flexible fluid reservoirs that include structural elements, such as baffles, that help retain a desired shape of the reservoir when filled or empty. Some baffles can be elastically deformable to allow flattening and expansion of the bladder while biasing toward a neutral position.

A wilderness survival apparatus is provided which serves as: (a) a container for potable drinking water; (b) a container for pasteurizing liquids; (c) a burning lens for firestarting; and (d) a rescue signaling device. The apparatus comprises a low-cost, lightweight, compactible and reusable system which can be easily integrated into, or replace, existing outdoor gear such as pillows or padding and whose manufacture is readily integratable with existing outdoor gear manufacturing.

Personal hydration systems with cooling and/or warming capability, and the components thereof are disclosed. The personal hydration systems may include a liquid transport system for transporting cooling or heating fluid between a reservoir and a pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body. A pump is provided for pumping the liquid through the system. A drinking tube is connected to the system for removing liquid from the system. Liquid can be removed from the system for drinking by sucking on the end of the drinking tube. A check valve is used to bypass the pump so the user will not have to suck the liquid through the pump. Alternatively, liquid can be removed by spraying the liquid out of the drinking tube using the power of the pump.

Aspects of the disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing variable strength mixtures of fluids. In an aspect of the disclosure, a fluid combining device allows for the relative volume of a first liquid to be varied with respect to a total volume of fluid being delivered to a user (such as a combination of two or more liquids), which in turn changes the fluid ratios.

Personal hydration systems with cooling and/or warming capability, and the components thereof are disclosed. The personal hydration systems may include a liquid transport system for transporting cooling or heating fluid between a reservoir and a pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body. A pump is provided for pumping the liquid through the system. A drinking tube is connected to the system for removing liquid from the system. Liquid can be removed from the system for drinking by sucking on the end of the drinking tube. A check valve is used to bypass the pump so the user will not have to suck the liquid through the pump. Alternatively, liquid can be removed by spraying the liquid out of the drinking tube using the power of the pump.

A combined upper torso covering having a hydration assembly secured thereto which includes a camelback to provide a hydration source for users of the assembly. In one embodiment the upper torso covering is an athletic chest protector which handily provides access to any liquid stored in the camelback via a delivery line and nozzle placed in proximity to the mouth of the user

A “Wing-shaped” liquid bladder device is disclosed having angular shoulder wings on the left and right sides. The wings join at an angle creating a substantially “V-Shaped” hollow volume for storing liquids. A re-sealable opening receptacle can be found on top the bladder for filling the hollow volume. One or more additional arms can be added to the wings. The wings and arms meet at a lower distal end to create a substantially “V-shaped” funnel that is attached to an outlet pipe. In the front, shoulder straps are attached to the wings and they go over and across the front of the wearer's body to a lower portion of the arms of the bladder. The outlet pipe is attached to the funnel and extends up to the wearer's shoulder. A drinking straw can be attached to the outlet pipe to allow the user to easily access the liquids inside.

A training device includes a backpack having a first compartment for storage, and a second compartment for hydration, a pair of diagonal braces configured and arranged to accept a number of free weights, a pair of lower support members coupled to ends of the diagonal braces, a spool coupled to each of the lower support members and pivotable and translatable relative thereto, and a resistance band coupled to each spool and terminating in a handle.

Disclosed fluid reservoirs include closure mechanisms for sealing an upper opening of the reservoir. The reservoir can have plates adjacent the upper opening. When the upper end of the reservoir is folded, the plates can be positioned on opposite sides, and a closure frame can be slid over the plates to pressure them together. The plates can have pins that engage with slots in the closure frame, and a separate closure lock can be slid over the end of the closure frame to prevent the pins from exiting the slots. The plates can also bias the opening open when the closure is not engaged. Also disclosed are flexible fluid reservoirs that include structural elements, such as baffles, that help retain a desired shape of the reservoir when filled or empty. Some baffles can be elastically deformable to allow flattening and expansion of the bladder while biasing toward a neutral position.